On May 10, 2018, Northern Ireland issued the “Environment Protection (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2018”. This regulation prohibits the use of plastic beads less than 5 mm in diameter for the components of personal care products and prohibits the sale of any products containing such ingredients. These products include any product used to clean, protect or perfume body parts, maintain or restore their condition or change their appearance, such as products including shampoos, bath liquids, facial cleansers, soaps and toothpaste. Regulations will be in 2018. Effective from September of this year.
Plastic beads are solid plastic particles less than 5 mm. They are commonly used in bathing and cleansing cosmetic products. They are especially used in scrubs. The main effect is to exfoliate the skin. It used to be very popular. It is widely used in cosmetics such as toothpaste, facial cleanser, scrub, shower gel, etc. The manufacturer claims that adding this ingredient can clean the skin more deeply and play a role in exfoliating and exfoliating. Currently, many belts are sold in China. In the cosmetics of 'scrub' and 'exfoliating' function, plastic beads are contained.
The physical and chemical properties of plastic microspheres are stable. Their main components include polyethylene, oxidized polyethylene, etc. Since these microspheres are not decomposable, and the amount is huge, for example, the microbeads contained in a matte facial cleanser are over. 300,000 particles, and their small size, cannot be filtered by sewage treatment plants, so handling is also very difficult. These substances that enter rivers, lakes, and seas are consumed by wildlife such as fish and can cause health problems that affect animals. Plastic microspheres also absorb large amounts of toxic pollutants in the ocean, including dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and polychlorinated biphenyls. As a result, these non-degradable substances may enter people through the food chain or other sources. And in animals.
In recent years, the harmfulness of plastic microbeads as ecological pollutants has attracted attention in many countries and regions, and the phase-out has become a trend. Many countries and regions have begun to pay attention to their hazards and banned them. As of December 2017, New Zealand issued a ban. Sales and production of products containing plastic microbeads ordinances. In November 2016, the Federal Register of Canada issued the “Plastic Microbeads Regulations for Cosmetics” which completely banned the sale of cosmetics containing plastic microbeads. In October 2016, Korea revised Korean cosmetic safety standards, etc. Regulations, revised content prohibits the use of plastic beads with a size of less than or equal to 5mm in cosmetics. In March 2016, the United States signed the national law “Beadless Watershed Act 2015” to prohibit production and sales in the United States from deliberately adding Plastic bead cleaning cosmetics. In November 2015, the United States House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee passed a bill (HR1321) to prohibit the manufacture and sale of flush cosmetics containing plastic beads. In October 2015, European cosmetics and The Personal Care Products Association recommends stopping rinsing cosmetics and personal care products for scrubs and cleansing until 2020 Add plastic particles.
Plastic microspheres have gradually been eliminated due to their harmful effects, and replaced by more natural matte particles. China is a major exporter of cosmetic products. Only Ningbo Port exports cosmetics to the European Union for US$10 million each year. Products include hand soap, shower gel, Moisturizers, etc., to remind the majority of cosmetic production enterprises to pay close attention to the relevant policies and regulations of the export destination countries/regions, to ensure that the products meet the requirements of importing countries and to avoid trade losses. It is necessary to take countermeasures as early as possible in cosmetic formulations. Select more natural matte particles, such as oats, corn, sea salt, almonds and other natural materials as alternative materials.