We can wrap a lot of make-up wipes around it, apply thick layers of greenwashing on top, conceal things with heavy make-up, but the fact remains that many (large) companies in the cosmetics sector deliberately continue to add rubbish to cosmetics, shampoos, and skincare products.
Microplastics are forever plastics and non-biodegradable. This is a big problem because they end up in the water via your shower drain. And because they are too small to be filtered out of the water, they end up in our entire ecosystem. That is why microplastic-free cosmetics are better for you and the earth.
The hidden reality behind microplastics
Plastic microparticles are deliberately added to cosmetic products. Microplastics are mini-particles of (liquid) plastics. In 2013, the larger particles (previously used in scrubs, among others) were fortunately already banned, but today, more than 500 types of microplastics are still deliberately added to cosmetics and other products.
Is the cosmetics industry allowed to use microplastics just like that? By continuously developing new forms of microplastics - increasingly smaller and increasingly liquid - it is still possible to add microplastics to cosmetic products. The law currently only prohibits those old/larger particles, but manufacturers have since been clever enough to create all sorts of new forms that do not fall under this legislation.
Because manufacturers use this limited definition of microplastics, some still claim to add 'no microplastics' to their products. It is necessary that we create a clear definition of microplastics so that manufacturers can no longer hide behind these empty words.
Consequences of microplastics for your health
In March 2022, a new study from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam also showed that these plastics can end up in human blood. Source: Environmental International, Heather A. Leslie et al.
There is still uncertainty about the possible health risks of these plastic particles, but many scientists are concerned about the consequences for human health. Research needs to show if and how easily these particles spread to organs such as the brain, or what the effects on immune cells are.
Environmental consequences
The Plastic Soup Foundation does groundbreaking work to ban microplastics from cosmetics. They have the Beat the Microbead app with which you can easily scan your products, but they also do a lot of research.
For example, they made this report which examined, among other things, 10 well-known brands down to the smallest microplastics. Spoiler: in almost 90% of these brands, microplastics are found in their products.
Microplastics accumulate massively in oceans and pose a major environmental problem. They float in water bodies, sink to the seabed, or are ingested by plankton, fish, and shellfish. This leads to them entering the entire food chain and disrupting ecosystems: animals become weakened, plants have fewer growth opportunities, and biodiversity decreases. According to the Plastic Soup Foundation, between 5 and 13 million tons of plastic enter the major oceans annually. This not only affects marine animals but also coral reefs and coastal areas, putting entire ecosystems under pressure.
Why choose microplastic-free cosmetics?
We believe that companies should take responsibility and stop producing products with microplastics. But as a consumer, you definitely have power and influence! With your purchase, you determine what continues to be produced, and in this way, you can make an impact. We use cosmetics (toothpaste, deodorant, creams, serums, cleansers, sunscreen) every day. Every day you can prevent these from ending up in the environment by choosing (skin) care without microplastics.
Food for Skin's mission: cosmetics without microplastics
What makes Food for Skin produce entirely microplastic-free facial care?
- Food for Skin adds absolutely no microplastics to its ingredients. In fact, all our ingredients are of natural origin and are used in the purest possible form.
- We use glass bottles and jars to prevent the risk of contamination with plastic. Not every product packaged in plastic automatically contains microplastics. The risk of 'contamination' certainly exists, but it depends on the type of plastic and whether there is a protective layer inside.
- The sunscreen tubes made from 100% recycled plastic from the Netherlands have a biodegradable layer on the inside to minimize the risk of contamination.
- The Plastic Soup Foundation has checked all our products, and we have received the 'No plastics inside' label for all products.
Conclusion: your choice makes a difference
Small steps make a difference! Shop consciously and choose care without microplastics. Do you want to know how to recognize microplastics in ingredient lists and what alternatives there are? Then read our practical step-by-step plan for microplastic-free skincare.
