Personal care products include microplastics in the form of abrasive microbeads “in face scrubber cosmetics, or plastic raw material granules used in manufacturing.”^[1] These particles eventually make their way into wastewater systems and, depending on the efficacy of treatment systems, can end up in the ocean.^[2] Much smaller nano-particles are used in sunscreens which can wash off people’s skin at the beach. While there may be a lot of microplastics in a single personal care product – one study estimated from 4,600 to 94,500 microbeads may be released per application of a skin exfoliant^[3] – it is not considered a major source and “is relatively small compared with other sources or primary and secondary microplastics in to the environment, in terms of tonnage involved.”^[4]

[1] Mepex,2014.Sources of microplastic- pollution to the marine environment. Prepared for the Norwegian Environment Agency.
[2] UNEP, 2016. Plastic in Cosmetics.Division of Environmental Policy Implementation. United Nations Environment Programme.
[3] Napper I.E. et al., 2015. Characterisation, quantity and sorptive properties of microplastics extracted from cosmetics. Marine Pollution BulletinVolume 99, Issues 1–2, 15 October 2015, Pages 178-185.
[4] UNEP, 2016. Marine plastic debris and microplastics – Global lessons and research to inspire action and guide policy change. United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi.