Industry Responds to US Microbeads Ban
Less than a year after the US banned plastic microbeads in wash-off products, increasing international attention is shaping a new regulatory landscape with similar bans being considered in other countries. The industry has faced to this potential domino effect by beginning to phase out the ingredient. This quick response to the new regulation is having a noticeable impact on the global market creating opportunities for the manufacturers of silica and natural ingredients. Non-biodegradable plastic microbeads, mainly made of polyethylene, had been considered for decades the perfect exfoliating solution for personal care products . In 2015, when the US Government banned the ingredient and Cosmetics Europe issued a recommendation to discontinue their use in wash off products, PE microbeads accounted globally for 1,700 tonnes in beauty and personal care, 73% of which was used in bath and shower products. Top Ten Countries with Highest Demand for Polyethylene Microbeads in Beauty and...