We can wrap a lot of make-up wipes on it, spread thick layers of greenwashing on top of it, conceal things with a lot of low make-up, but the fact remains that many (large) companies in the cosmetics sector deliberately continue to add rubbish to cosmetics, shampoos and skin care products.
What is microplastic?
In addition to potentially hormone disrupting and dangerous substances, plastic microparticles are deliberately added to cosmetic products. Microplastics are mini-particle (liquid) plastics. Fortunately, the larger particles (previously used in scrubs, among other things) were banned in 2013, but today more than 500 types* of microplastics are still deliberately added to cosmetics and other products.
Microplastics in cosmetics
Microplastics have three purposes:
1. Improve the spreadability of a product
2. Making products waterproof
3. Serve as a filler for a product, to make it slightly thicker
In addition, it is an easy ingredient that costs little. The large multinationals often use the counter argument that 'it is not that harmful' and that the microplastics they use are 'below the standard'. Yet it is their choice whether they want to maximize their profits or market products without microplastics and thus help people and nature.
Why is microplastic a problem?
Microplastics are forever plastics and non-degradable. This is a big problem, because they end up in the water through your shower drain. And because they are too small to be filtered out of the water, they end up in our entire ecosystem. In March 2022, a new study from the Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam was also published which showed that these plastics can also end up in human blood.
*Image frombeatthemicrobead.org
Cosmetics without microplastics
Can the cosmetics industry just use microplastics? By continuously developing new forms of microplastics - smaller and more fluid - it is still possible to add microplastics to cosmetic products. The law currently only prohibits those old/larger particles, but manufacturers have now been smart enough to create all kinds of new shapes that do not fall under this legislation.
Because manufacturers use this limited definition of microplastics, some still add 'no microplastics' to their products. It is imperative that we create a clear definition of microplastics, so that manufacturers can no longer hide behind these empty words.
Beat the Micro Bead app
As a consumer, you must be a chemist to find out whether there are microplastics in your products. Those ingredients can't even be pronounced anymore. That is why we are so happy with the Beat The Microbead app from the Plastic Soup Foundation. With a photo you can immediately see whether your favorite shampoo, cream or toothpaste contains microplastics. And not only microplastics that are not allowed by law, but also all those other 500 types that are still allowed by law, but are really not nice for nature and people.
The Plastic Soup Foundation is doing groundbreaking work to eliminate microplastics from cosmetics. They already created the above app, but they also do research. For example, they announced the following study in which, among other things, 10 well-known brands were examined down to the smallest microplastics. Spoiler: almost 90% of these brands appear to contain microplastics in their products.
You can help by ordering from Food for Skin
We donate 1% of our gross turnover annually to the Plastic Soup Foundation to support them in their important research into microplastics. You also contribute indirectly by ordering from us!
The Plastic Soup Foundation has already achieved great success with their donations in shaping new legislation and tackling deliberate microplastic polluters. Read more about our collaboration here .
Petition against microplastics
The European Union is currently preparing a bill to ban all types of microplastics in cosmetics. Logical, right? But unfortunately this does not seem to be going in the right direction and the lobby of major players from the cosmetics and oil industry is very strong. It seems that there will soon be all kinds of exceptions for microplastics that are allowed again according to the law. So please help us and sign the petition here.
Care products without microplastics
At Food for Skin we only make 100% natural skin care products, without microplastics of course! View the range of products in our shop , or start with a sample set to try it out.
