Plastic microbeads to be banned in cosmetic products

Over and above the ban on plastic bags set to begin on January 1, Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health has also slapped a ban on plastic microbeads used in cosmetics. That kicks in on the same day as the ban on single-use plastic bags. All 75 members The Thai Retailers Association, including giants like Tesco Lotus and Makro, plan to stop providing plastic bags under the “Everyday Say No to Plastic Bags” campaign starting on the first day of 2020.

And, according to the ministry’s announcement, plastic microbeads, commonly used in rinse-off products like facial scrubs, have been deemed an environmental hazard, non-biodegradeable and are to be eliminated from Thai shelves.

The UK prohibited their use in cosmetics and personal care products in 2018, out of concern over their impact on marine life. The microscopic spherical beads, designed to help remove dead skin cells, are washed down the drain, often slipping through treatment systems and ending up in the ocean and, eventually, in the food chain.

SOURCE: Thai PBS World