The U.K. Bans Microbeads

If you’ve ever exfoliated your skin or brushed your teeth with toothpaste, you’ve probably used a microbead. Microbeads are the tiny plastic spheres found in many exfoliating facial scrubs, shower gels, toothpastes and other rinse-off skincare products on the market. They are in the class of microplastics, pieces of plastic less than five millimeters, or 0.2-inches, long. Found in chewing gum, glitter, industrial cleaning products, synthetic clothing fibers and even tires, microplastics are everywhere, and that’s a big problem for the world’s oceans.
Because they’re so small, microbeads cannot be filtered out by wastewater treatment plants and end up in the watershed. From there, they are inadvertently eaten by fish and other marine animals—the very fish and marine animals that are an important part of the food chain. This means humans ultimately end up eating the very plastic they were using to wash their faces. This can cause hormone disruptions and cancer. In response to health concerns, the U.K. government pledged to ban the manufacturing of cosmetic products containing microbeads in 2016. The ban just took effect on January 8, 2018 and joins similar bans enacted by the U.S., Canada, and New Zealand.
While this move is certainly a positive for the world’s ocean ecosystems and our own food chain, plastic in its many forms remains a problem for the environment, for ocean animals, and for our own health. Some municipalities are looking to tax or ban plastic grocery bags or plastic-coated cups, and leaders are calling for a reduction in the use of bottled water packaged in plastic.
Latest
Verizon Leaders: Unlocking Connectivity with the Verizon Partner Network
For a special episode of The Verizon Partner Network the focus was on the considerable role of partnerships in the Verizon Partner Program and the leaders shared their perspectives on the initiative. Their conversation brought about a lot of thought-providing context on the evolving telecommunications landscape. In today’s era, collaboration and integration are key to […]
Mark Tina Envisions Differences to the Verizon Partner Network in 2024
In the dynamic telecommunications landscape, Verizon’s Partner Network continues to evolve, adapting to new trends and opportunities. For another segment featuring Mark Tina, VP of Indirect Channel Distribution and Channel Chief at Verizon Business Group, he explores exactly what types of significant changes and advancements the Verizon Partner Network will see in 2024. In this […]
Mark Tina Explores the Importance of Partners in Verizon Business Group Success
A special episode of The Verizon Partner Network focuses on an examination of an industry marked by fierce competition and rapid innovation. But most importantly, how the role of partnerships in a company’s success is increasingly vital. Mark Tina, the VP of Indirect Channel Distribution and Channel Chief at Verizon, details why partners are essential […]