Botanical Brands has joined forces with other leading skincare and cosmetic brands to call on the UK Government to ban the use of microbeads.
Botanical Brands, along with representatives from Pai Skincare and Green People has signed an open letter issued by Neal’s Yard Remedies today (see below) to coincide with World Oceans Day flagging up the harm that microbead pollution does to seas and marine life and asking the Government to “pursue a legislative route and ban microplastics being used”.
Greenpeace, Fauna & Flora International, Environmental Investigation Agency and Marine Stewardship Council are also partnering on the campaign which incudes a petition with over 300,000 signatures – to be handed in today – to urge the Government to ban the use of microbeads in personal care products. It asks David Cameron to “follow President Obama and other world leaders by banning the use of polluting plastic microbeads. Plastic microbeads are needlessly used in cosmetics. They damage our oceans and the creatures that live in them.”
Kim Allan of Botanical Brands commented: “As a supplier of eco, natural and organic beauty brands from around the world, we have actively campaigned for this cause for a number of years now. We welcomed the US government’s decision to ban the use of plastic microbeads in skin care and personal care products earlier this year, however, this is a global concern, which impacts on the UK cosmetics industry too. Although there are many companies that already produce skin care products without the use of plastic microbeads – showing that natural alternatives are not only available but effective – there are still many more that don’t! That’s why Botanical Brands has joined forces with other leading natural skincare and cosmetics companies that don’t use microbeads to call on the government for a UK ban on their future use. ”
Rt Hon David Cameron MP, 10 Downing Street,
London, SW1A 2AA
June 8th, 2016
Dear Prime Minister,
It’s not often that businesses call on government to regulate their own industry.
This year has seen growing consumer concern over the use of plastic “microbeads” in personal care products, including a petition over 300,000 signatories strong due to be handed in June 8th, World Oceans Day. As businesses operating in this field, we share this concern and believe the time has come for government to step in.
Microplastics are a direct source of oceanic pollution, making their way to the sea from our sinks, toilets and showers after just a few seconds of use. Yet like all plastics, they may last for centuries in our seas and harm marine life.
Removing plastics from personal care products is the most efficient and cost-effective way of stopping this pollution. ‘End of pipe’ solutions through upgrading of sewage treatment plants would be far more costly. We note the recent ban in the US under the Microbead-Free Waters Act 2015.
Furthermore, the use of these plastics is unnecessary: environmentally-friendly alternatives exist, and are available at similar cost.
None of our companies use microplastic ingredients for any function in any of our products, and feel that the quality of our products does not suffer due to this absence. We have also found many of our customers are reassured that they are not contributing to the growing problem of microplastic pollution when using our products.
We believe that microplastic beads and particles should never be used in personal care and domestic cleaning products. It is unacceptable for industry to produce products that pollute our oceans when alternatives are readily available.
Unfortunately, many others in our industry have been dragging their feet on this issue. Whilst some have commitments in place, these mostly do not cover all product types and many have long or unclear phase-out targets. We now feel that given the voluntary approach has proven neither comprehensive nor expeditious enough, the government should pursue a legislative route and ban microplastics being used in such products. It would furthermore send a clear message that use of ingredients that have such negative impacts for so little gain will not be permitted.
Yours sincerely,
Susan Curtis, Deputy Chair, Neal’s Yard Remedies Kim Allan, Managing Director, Botanical Brands Charlotte Vøhtz, Managing Director, Green People Sarah Brown, Founder, Pai Skincare
