Australia makes its move on microbead phase out

According to the Association, polyethylene microbeads, found in the likes of facial scrubs can enter the environment via the sewer, so there is a concern for Sydney Harbour.

“The local industry is committed to working towards this deadline and to an evidence-based policy process which addresses the most significant sources of microplastics in the Australian context,​” says the organisation.

The state’s environment minister Rob Stokes established Accord to develop effective solutions for microbeads and other sources of microplastics in the Australian marine environment.

"​[We] welcome the opportunity to work with government officials and environmentalists to develop effective solutions for both microbeads and the broader issues related to other sources of microplastics entering the Australian marine environment."​

Following in US phase out footsteps​

Legislative moves to ban microbeads in personal care formulations in the states of Illinois, California and New York look set to make this environmentally toxic ingredient a thing of the past.

Over the summer, Illinois became the second state to put in motion a ban on microbeads in personal care formulations, by using scientific data to provr that lakes and waterways in the state were being polluted by the tiny beads of plastic, which are not biodegradeable.

State law now proposes that no personal care product containing microbeads can sold beyond 2018, with a complete ban by 2019.

But it has been the New York Assembly that has led the way, after it passed legislation for the state of New York back in May that proposes a phase-out dead-line of 2015.

Taking action​

Action by these States is forcing many companies that deal with this type of ingredient to commence phase-out programs, in an effort to keep up with the pace of the legislation reforms.

Following the Illinois, California and New York actions, the House Representatives has now introduced a bill that proposes a complete ban on the sale of synthetic microbeads by the end of 2018.

Building on the legal action taken in the three states, the bill being tabled by the House of Representatives points to the mounting evidence that microbeads is causing pollution in waterways not just in individual states, but throughout the country.