microbeads

Microbeads in the spotlight!

Posted by Louisa Casson — 2 March 2017 at 1:00am - Comments

This week, microbeads shot up the political agenda (again) - thanks to Greenpeace supporters (again!) and a host of coalition members.

Article tagged as: DEFRA, microbeads, microplastics, oceans, Plastics

It’s ‘make or break time for the microbeads ban’, say campaigners

Last edited 28 February 2017 at 1:37pm
28 February, 2017

On the day the Government’s microbeads consultation closes, businesses have joined environmental campaigners in calling for a comprehensive ban on microbeads. Campaigners have warned that the current proposals would see the ban limited to microplastic ingredients of 5mm or less in ‘rinse off’ personal care and cosmetic products, while other products containing microplastics could continue to be sold.

Campaigners from the Microbeads Coalition said it was ‘make or break time for the microbeads ban’, as businesses including health and beauty brand Neal’s Yard Remedies, NCH Europe, which produces industrial cleaning products, and Anglian Water, who are leading the national campaign on unflushables, called on the Government to implement a complete ban on microplastic ingredients.

Article tagged as: microbeads, microbeads ban, microbeads coalition, ocean plastic, plastic pollution

Big loopholes for tiny microbeads in government’s proposed ban

Last edited 27 March 2017 at 10:45am
8 February, 2017

YouGov polling for the microbeads coalition has shown that a large proportion of people wash make-up and skincare products down the drain. Yet while some of these product types have been shown to contain microplastic ingredients, they could fall outside of the government’s proposed microbeads ban.

Defra’s current proposal is restricted to “rinse-off” products, an ambiguous term which has caused confusion among industry and campaigners alike. But these findings suggest that products containing microplastics will continue to enter the ocean if the government excludes them from the microbeads ban.

Article tagged as: DEFRA, make-up, microbead ban, microbead coalition, microbeads, ocean plastic, polling

Microbeads consultation: the good, the bad, & the ???

Posted by Elisabeth Whitebread — 20 December 2016 at 1:17pm - Comments
All rights reserved. Credit: Fred Dott/ Greenpeace

Back in September, the government announced it was planning to launch a consultation on banning microbeads, those pesky toxic beads that companies have added to face washes, toothpastes, washing powders and other products.

Article tagged as: consultation, marine plastic, microbeads, microbeads ban, oceans, Plastics

Government must avoid loopholes in microbeads ban

Last edited 3 January 2017 at 10:59am
20 December, 2016

Responding to reports that the Government's consultation on microbeads will be launched this week, a joint statement by the Environmental Investigation Agency, Fauna & Flora International, Greenpeace UK and the Marine Conservation Society, said:

We are very pleased to welcome the launch of this consultation, and we look forward to working with the Government to ensure that these tiny harmful plastics no longer reach our oceans.

However, it must cover all microplastics as marine life doesn’t distinguish between plastic from a face wash and plastic from a washing detergent, so the microbeads ban must cover all plastics in all household and industrial products that can go down our drains.

Article tagged as: DEFRA, microbeads, ocean plastic, plastic, plastic pollution

Nine Out of Ten Scots Concerned About Ocean Plastic Pollution

Last edited 11 November 2016 at 10:56am
11 November, 2016

 

Edinburgh, 11 November: New research commissioned by Greenpeace UK shows the vast majority of people in Scotland are concerned about ocean plastic pollution, and more than two thirds support the introduction of a bottle deposit return system.

A poll by Survation shows that 90 per cent of people surveyed in Scotland have some concern about the amount of plastic litter in the ocean, compared to 77 per cent who have some concern about plastic litter in their neighbourhood. An overwhelming 93 per cent have some concern about the effect of plastic pollution on marine wildlife and birds.  

Article tagged as: deposit return scheme, esperanza, microbeads, oceans, plastic

UK Government plans to outlaw microbeads! But a limited ban won't do.

Posted by Fiona Nicholls — 7 September 2016 at 9:43am - Comments
All rights reserved. Credit: Greenpeace

This weekend, the Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom announced a plan to ban microbeads from cosmetic products like face scrubs, toothpastes and shower gels. This is brilliant news for the 350,000 people who have signed our petition in collaboration with Fauna & Flora International, the Marine Conservation Society and the Environmental Investigation Agency. It shows the government is taking steps to protect our oceans from this pointless plastic pollution. BUT… (oh why is there always a ‘but’?!)

Article tagged as: DEFRA, microbeads, microbeads ban, microplastics, ocean plastics, oceans, plastic, plastic pollution

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