It is reported that recently, New Zealand's Environment Minister Nick Smith announced that the New Zealand government plans to ban the production and sale of personal care products containing plastic microbeads.

 

 　　Smith said in a statement on the same day that plastic beads are not biodegradable and can easily be used as food by aquatic organisms, thus causing long-term damage to fish and shellfish. He said the plastic beads in personal care products could be replaced with almond or nut shells and there was no need to continue using them.

 

 　　There are currently about 100 personal care products on the New Zealand market that contain plastic beads, including face washes, toothpaste, deodorants, shampoos, conditioners, body washes, lipsticks, hair dyes, shaving creams, sunscreens, insecticides, anti-wrinkle creams, eye shadows, masks, mascara and baby care products.

 

 　　Plastic beads are plastic pellets less than 5 mm in diameter and are generally composed of polyethylene. In personal care products, plastic beads are used to improve the appearance of the product or as an abrasive for exfoliating and exfoliating the skin. After these products are used, the plastic beads are flushed down the drain and, like plastic bags, are difficult to degrade or artificially separate from the environment.

 

 　　Smith said on the day that more than 10,000 tonnes of plastic beads are now used globally each year and the New Zealand government's proposal was part of an international effort to reduce plastic beads in the ocean. He said that national and regional organisations such as the US, UK, Canada, EU and Australia have already banned or are in the process of reducing the use of plastic beads in personal care products.

 

 　　At this stage, the New Zealand government is open to public consultation on the proposal until 28 February this year. The ban on the manufacture and sale of plastic beads is scheduled to come into force on 1 July 2018.