50 signatures reached
To: Andrew Miller, MP - Chair of The House of Commons’ “Science and Technology Committee”
Stop the contamination of our water by plastic micro-particles (used by the cosmetics industry)
• UK Parliament to LEGISLATE a ban on micro-beads and micro-plastics in consumer products (e.g. in toothpastes, body and face scrubs and gels)
• Retailers to STOP selling consumer products containing micro-beads and micro-plastics.
• Manufacturers to STOP using micro-plastics and micro-beads in consumer products and revert to organic materials (e.g. dried coconut, crushed walnut shells and apricot kernels) that do not contribute to environment pollution.
Why is this important?
Micro-plastic particle abrasives are used as exfoliants in consumer products (e.g. toothpastes, body and face scrubs and gels). These particles, which persist in our environment for 100 years, are designed to be washed down the drain. They are too small for our country’s sewage systems to filter.
The micro-plastic particles’ large surface area relative to their modest volume makes it easy for toxic substances, such as persistent organic pollutants (think PCBs and DDT for example), to stick to them, causing further toxic harm. Micro-plastic particles are now being found in fish, marine mammals and reptiles and their toxic overload is affecting plankton at the bottom of the food chain.
• Consumers can CHECK products for plastics and REFUSE to purchase them (look for polythene and "PE", "PP" or "PMMA" in the list of ingredients).
Please…get plastics off our bodies and out of our water!
