Damon Mcknight
Microbeads are small, solid plastic particles that are less than 5mm in diameter and do not degrade or dissolve in water. They are commonly found in household products such as sunscreen, facial cleansers, body wash, toothpaste, and cosmetics. Due to their small size, they are not captured by most wastewater treatment systems and can end up in rivers, lakes, and oceans, causing harm to marine life, the environment, and human health. To address this issue, Australia initially took a voluntary approach, with environment ministers agreeing in 2016 to support a voluntary industry phase-out of microbeads in rinse-off personal care, cosmetic, and cleaning products. This approach has been successful, with an independent assessment in 2020 showing that the majority of products surveyed were microbead-free. However, there has been criticism of the voluntary approach, and some states in Australia, such as Queensland and Western Australia, have implemented or proposed legislation to ban microbeads in certain products.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What are microbeads | Small, solid, manufactured plastic particles that are less than 5mm in diameter and do not degrade or dissolve in water |
| Where are they found | In certain household products, including sunscreen, facial cleansers, body wash, and cosmetics such as foundation, blush, and toothpaste |
| Why are they harmful | If washed down the drain, they can end up in rivers, lakes, and oceans, damaging marine life, the environment, and human health due to their composition, ability to adsorb toxins, and potential to transfer up the marine food chain |
| What is the Australian government's approach | A voluntary industry phase-out of plastic microbeads in rinse-off personal care, cosmetic, and cleaning products, with a deadline of 1 July 2018 |
| Has the phase-out been successful | Yes, an independent assessment in 2020 showed that 0.7% of products still contained microbeads, and Accord has been monitoring the market to ensure products remain microbead-free |
| Are there any state-specific bans | Queensland banned microbeads in rinseable personal care and cleaning products from 1 September 2023, and Western Australia has banned single-use plastics like coffee cups, plastic bags, and takeaway containers |
| How does Australia's approach compare internationally | Australia has a voluntary approach, while countries like the US, UK, Canada, France, and New Zealand have legislated bans on the use of microbeads |
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What You'll Learn
- Microbeads are small plastic particles that do not dissolve in water
- They are found in household products like sunscreen, facial cleansers, and cosmetics
- The Australian government supports a voluntary phase-out of microbeads
- BeadRecede is an initiative to regulate and monitor the phase-out
- Some states are introducing legislation to ban microbeads
Microbeads are small plastic particles that do not dissolve in water
Microbeads are tiny plastic particles, typically measuring between one micrometre and one millimetre in diameter. They are manufactured from polyethylene or other plastics like polypropylene or polystyrene. These particles are added as exfoliants to health and beauty products, such as cleansers, scrubs, and even toothpaste. Due to their small size, they easily pass through water filtration systems and end up in bodies of water, including oceans, rivers, and lakes.
Microbeads are designed to be small and do not dissolve in water. This means they can persist in the environment, causing harm to marine life, the ecosystem, and potentially human health. Their tiny size allows them to pass through the filters of wastewater treatment plants, contributing to water contamination. Once in the water, microbeads can be ingested by aquatic organisms, clogging their digestive systems and posing a potential threat to their health.
The presence of microbeads in cosmetic and personal care products has been a growing environmental concern. In 2015, the United States passed the Microbead-Free Waters Act, banning microbeads in cosmetics and personal care items. Australia has also taken steps to address this issue, with environment ministers agreeing in 2016 to support a voluntary industry phase-out of microbeads in rinse-off personal care, cosmetic, and cleaning products. This phase-out has been successful, with an independent assessment in 2020 showing that only 0.7% of products still contained microbeads.
To ensure the continued success of the phase-out, the Commonwealth issued a monitoring and assurance protocol in collaboration with Accord, the peak industry association for cosmetics, hygiene, and specialty products. This protocol includes actions to prevent the re-entry of microbeads into the market and to maintain the microbead-free status of products. While the voluntary phase-out has been effective, some areas, such as Queensland, have implemented or planned legislation to ban microbeads in certain products, providing additional assurance that these harmful particles stay out of our waterways.
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They are found in household products like sunscreen, facial cleansers, and cosmetics
Microbeads are small, solid, manufactured plastic particles that are less than 5mm in diameter and do not degrade or dissolve in water. They are commonly found in household products like sunscreen, facial cleansers, body wash, and cosmetics such as foundation, blush, and toothpaste. These products are typically rinsed off after use, and if the water containing the microbeads goes down the drain, it can end up in rivers, lakes, and oceans, causing harm to marine life, the environment, and even human health.
To address this issue, Australia has implemented a voluntary industry phase-out of plastic microbeads in rinse-off personal care, cosmetic, and cleaning products. This approach, led by Accord Australasia, the industry association for cosmetic, hygiene, and specialty products, aims to prevent microbeads from entering the environment rather than banning their use outright. The phase-out has shown success, with an independent assessment in 2020 indicating that only 0.7% of products still contained microbeads, and these were mostly discontinued product lines or unauthorised imports.
To support consumers in making informed choices, initiatives like BeadRecede provide information on identifying microbeads in products. Consumers can also look for specific ingredients that indicate the presence of microbeads. While Australia's approach contrasts with countries like the US, which banned microbeads in manufacturing in 2017, the voluntary phase-out in Australia has received strong industry commitment, and the majority of personal care product manufacturers have signed up to remove microbeads from their products.
Despite the progress, there are concerns about the continued presence of microbeads in certain products. Some states in Australia, like Queensland and Western Australia, have implemented or proposed bans on single-use plastics, including microbeads, to complement the voluntary phase-out. These bans target a range of plastic items, such as plastic bags, straws, utensils, containers, and, specifically, products containing microbeads. The combination of voluntary phase-outs and legislative bans aims to ensure that rinse-off personal care and cosmetic products remain microbead-free, protecting Australia's precious aquatic environments.
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The Australian government supports a voluntary phase-out of microbeads
Microbeads are small, solid, manufactured plastic particles that are less than 5mm in diameter and do not degrade or dissolve in water. They are commonly found in household products such as sunscreen, facial cleansers, body wash, and cosmetics. Due to their small size, they are not captured by most wastewater treatment systems and can end up in rivers, lakes, and oceans, causing harm to marine life, the environment, and even human health.
In recognition of the environmental impact of microbeads, the Australian government has supported a voluntary phase-out of their use. This decision was made at the 2016 Meeting of Environment Ministers, with the understanding that if the voluntary approach did not effectively ban microbeads, a legislated ban would be implemented. The phase-out targets rinse-off personal care, cosmetic, and cleaning products that are likely to enter the marine environment through normal use.
The voluntary phase-out has been coordinated by Accord Australasia, the peak industry association for cosmetics, hygiene, and specialty products, through its BeadRecede campaign. The campaign has received strong commitment from the mainstream industry in Australia, with the majority of personal care product manufacturers signing up. Additionally, major supermarkets such as Coles, Woolworths, and Aldi have agreed not to stock products containing microbeads, increasing the pressure on manufacturers.
An independent assessment of the voluntary phase-out in 2020 indicated that it has been successful, with only 0.7% of products still containing microbeads. Accord has advised that these are mostly discontinued product lines or unauthorised parallel imports. To ensure the ongoing success of the phase-out, the Commonwealth issued Accord with a monitoring and assurance protocol in December 2018, which outlines expectations for the next stages of the BeadRecede campaign.
While the voluntary phase-out has been effective, some critics argue that legislated bans are necessary to completely eliminate microbeads from the market. It is worth noting that several other countries, including the US, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand, have implemented such bans. Additionally, there is a risk that products containing microbeads could be dumped on the Australian market by producers locked out of these countries. Nevertheless, the Australian government's approach prioritises industry cooperation and avoids potential pushback from businesses.
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BeadRecede is an initiative to regulate and monitor the phase-out
Australia has taken a voluntary approach to phasing out microbeads, which contrasts with the approach of the US, the UK, Canada, France, New Zealand, Sweden, Taiwan, Ireland, Italy, India, and Thailand, which have all legislated bans on the use of microbeads in the production of rinse-off personal care products.
In 2015, Australia's environment ministers identified solid plastic microbeads in cosmetic, personal care, and cleaning products as a source of plastic pollution in the country's waterways. Ministers agreed to secure a voluntary agreement from the industry to phase out microbeads in these products by July 1, 2018, with a two-year phase-out period following the commencement of the agreement.
BeadRecede is an initiative launched by Accord Australasia, the peak industry association for cosmetics, hygiene, and specialty products. The campaign received strong commitment from across the mainstream industry in Australia. Accord reported regularly to the federal Department on the presence of microbeads in the market up to and following the phase-out deadline. An independent assessment in 2020 indicated that the phase-out had been successful, with only 0.7% of products still containing microbeads.
To support the ongoing success of the voluntary phase-out and prevent microbeads from re-entering the market, the Commonwealth issued Accord with a monitoring and assurance protocol in December 2018. Accord agreed to maintain a range of actions to support the phase-out until June 2022, including working with the Australian and NSW governments to finalize and implement a monitoring and compliance protocol.
Despite the success of the BeadRecede campaign, some have argued that voluntary measures may not be enough to effectively ban microbeads. Legislation banning microbeads now exists or is planned in several Australian states, including Queensland, where plastic microbeads in rinseable personal care and cleaning products were banned as of September 1, 2023.
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Some states are introducing legislation to ban microbeads
Microbeads are small, solid, manufactured plastic particles that are less than 5mm in diameter and do not degrade or dissolve in water. They are commonly found in household products such as sunscreen, facial cleansers, body wash, toothpaste, and cosmetics like foundation and blush. Due to their small size, they are not captured by most wastewater treatment systems and can end up in rivers, lakes, and oceans, causing harm to marine life, the environment, and even human health.
While there is currently no nationwide ban on microbeads in Australia, some states are taking the lead in introducing legislation to address this issue. For example, Queensland has banned plastic microbeads in rinseable personal care and cleaning products as of 1 September 2023. This decision was made after Australia's environment ministers identified solid plastic microbeads in these types of products as a significant source of plastic pollution in the country's waterways back in December 2015.
The Northern Territory is also proposing to phase out products containing microbeads in the next few years, as outlined in their Circular Economy Strategy. Additionally, South Australia continues to make strides in eliminating single-use plastics, with a ban on plastic-stemmed cotton buds, single-use plastic bowls, plates, and pizza savers that went into effect on 1 September 2023.
While the Australian government initially favored a voluntary phase-out of microbeads in 2016, some states are now recognizing the need for more stringent measures. The New South Wales (NSW) Parliament is expected to introduce legislation banning microbeads in rinse-off personal care and cosmetic products within 12 months. This move is a response to the recognition that while the voluntary program has been successful with cosmetics, more work needs to be done to address cleaning products and other sources of microplastics.
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Frequently asked questions
Microbeads are not banned in Australia. Instead, the Australian government has opted for a voluntary phase-out of microbeads in rinse-off personal care, cosmetic and cleaning products. The phase-out has been deemed successful, with an independent assessment in 2020 showing that 0.7% of products still contained microbeads.
BeadRecede is an initiative launched by Accord Australasia, the peak industry association for cosmetics, hygiene and specialty products. The campaign coordinated the industry's voluntary phase-out of plastic microbeads and continues to regulate and monitor the success of the campaign.
Microbeads are small, solid, manufactured plastic particles that do not degrade or dissolve in water. They are not captured by most wastewater treatment systems and can end up in rivers, lakes and oceans, damaging marine life, the environment and human health.
