Microbeads are tiny little plastic beads that are added to products like body washes, cleansers and facial scrubs, to help exfoliate your skin. The problem is that after they're rinsed off, they go down the drain and into our waste water systems or septic tanks and eventually into our rivers and seas where they can be ingested by fish and other marine life.
Yes we know, it might sound crazy, yet these polyethylene beads are being used in more and more products and it's surprising to see many people are unaware of them.
What can you do?
Check product labels for plastic content and refuse to purchase them. Plastic mocro beads will be listed as either ‘polyethylene' or ‘polypropylene' in the ingredients list.
Useful links:
The 5 Gyres institute have started a campaign called Beat the Micro Bead with some great information and tips on their site here:
http://5gyres.org/how_to_get_involved/campaigns/
A list of products that contain micro beads can be found on the Plastic Free Seas website here:
Image credit: 5 Gyres institute
