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UK MPs Propose Banning Microbeads
The Environmental Audit Committee in the British parliament has called for a ban by the end of 2017 on plastic microbeads used in personal care products such as toothpaste, exfoliant and shower gel. The tiny beads are detrimental when eaten by fish. Some manufacturers had promised to end their use of the material by 2020.
The chair of the committee said:
Cosmetic companies’ voluntary approach to phasing out plastic microbeads simply won’t wash. We need a full legal ban, preferably at an international level as pollution does not respect borders. If this isn’t possible after our vote to leave the EU, then the government should introduce a national ban. The best way to reduce this pollution is to prevent plastic being flushed into the sea in the first place.
The committee also speculated on the possibility of harm to wildlife from synthetic fibres such as those in microfleece cloth (sometimes made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate).
sources:
- The Guardian [theguardian.com]
- BBC News [bbc.co.uk]
- Press Association via Daily Mail [dailymail.co.uk]
previously:
- Study Demonstrates Harm to Fish Caused by Microplastics [soylentnews.org]
- Ban on Microbeads Passes U.S. House of Representatives [soylentnews.org]
