The beauty industry is in full swing, and whether you’re a man or a woman, chances are you’ve noticed the explosion of skincare products, make-up, and anti-ageing serums flooding social media and retail shelves. Recent reports predict that the global beauty market is set to skyrocket to a staggering $590 billion (€516 billion) by 2030. However, lurking in some of these products might be microplastics—tiny bits of plastic that are part of the environmental pollution crisis and whose effects on human health are currently under scrutiny. So, how do these microplastics find their way into our beauty routines? And what’s the European Union’s stance on regulating them?
Euronews Tech Talks recently had a chat with Iseult Lynch, an environmental chemist and professor at the University of Birmingham, and Hélène Duguy, an environmental lawyer from the NGO ClientEarth, to shed some light on these pressing questions. Microplastics aren’t just limited to rinse-off products like facial scrubs; they can also be found in leave-on products like moisturisers and lipsticks. Now, don’t get it twisted—plastic itself isn’t the big bad here. “The challenge with plastics is the additives in them largely, so things that are added to those plastics to make them mouldable, usable,” Lynch pointed out.
What’s even more concerning is that these plastics can contain plasticisers, colorants, and toxic chemicals such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which can wreak havoc on human health. Microplastics are often included in beauty items for reasons like creating smooth textures and adding that shimmering glitter effect. But fear not, there are alternatives! Lynch highlighted that bio-based polymers, derived from non-edible plant components, can step in to replace these pesky microplastics. For example, rice husks can be transformed into biodegradable particles, offering a green alternative.
Now, let’s talk regulations. Microplastics in beauty products are governed by the Commission Regulation EU 2023-2055, which was rolled out by the European Commission in 2023. This legislation isn’t just about cosmetics; it takes a broader approach, covering a variety of intentionally added microplastics found in fertilizers and detergents as well. “It’s the broadest restriction that we’ve had in Europe on chemicals because it targets a huge group of polymers, which is a first,” Duguy mentioned.
But here’s the kicker: despite these regulations, you might still find microplastics hiding in your skincare and make-up products at home. “The restriction puts forward several transition periods, depending on the cosmetics wet work to deal polymer by polymer,” Duguy explained.
So, what’s next? Will we see a future free from microplastics in our beauty products, or is this just the beginning of a long battle against plastic in our everyday lives?
Kaynak: Orijinal Haber