Microbead-Free Waters Act Law: Sustainable Exfoliants
In 2016, the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 was signed into US law. The act prohibits the manufacture and introduction to the market of rinse-off cosmetics containing plastic microbeads. The intention is to phase out the manufacture of such products by 1 July 2017 with sales stopped by 1 July 2018.
The act, which amends Section 301 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, applies to rinse-off cosmetics including toothpaste. The term ‘plastic microbeads’ relates to any solid plastic particle that is less than five millimeters and is intended for use to exfoliate or cleanse the human body.
The phase-out will also affect non-prescription drugs that qualify as a rinse-off cosmetic. The manufacture of such products will be prohibited from 1 July 2018, and sales from 1 July 2019.
THE TREND FOR MULTI-SENSORY PRODUCTS OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES TO INNOVATE IN THE PHASE-OUT OF PLASTIC BEADS
Rising concerns about plastic waste accumulating in the oceans and The Great Lakes have prompted legislative bodies and environmental groups to act. As a result, Euromonitor predicts that the consumption of polythene beads is forecast to decline by 2,320 tonnes globally between 2012 and 2017.
In North America, a niche trend towards body scrubs and exfoliators is emerging amongst consumers looking for affordable luxury
Natural exfoliating ingredients are excellent sustainable alternatives to plastic spheres that offer a variety of texture profiles to add new sensory dimensions to your face and body exfoliating products. Capitalize on the health-oriented trend and consumers’ desire for at-home-indulgence with our line of naturally-derived exfoliants.
FORMULATION SOLUTIONS
celluloScrub – Sustainable PE Replacements
Renewable and biodegradable scuba with the same high performance of Polyethylene (PE) beads. It remains stable over time and does not interfere with the color and the pH of the product; additionally, it has excellent skin tolerance.
Hydrated Silica – Easy to use alternatives
SIPERNAT® 22 PC and SIPERNAT®2200 PC:
A non-harmful, inorganic material with a chemical composition that is a close relative to the abundance of silicates that form the earth’s crust. The close relationship of hydrated silica is also the reason why this material is listed as a nature-identical inorganic material.
- NATRUE certified
- Easy to incorporate into aqueous solutions
- When rinsing the exfoliant cleaner off the skin, the particles reaching the sewage system have a dramatically reduced surfactant concentration.
- The silica particles contribute to viscosity build up, thus leading to a reduction of the necessary carbomer concentration.
SPHERILEX® 10 PC
Hydrated silica that is versatile and an eco-friendly option to microplastics
- Uniform particle size distribution
- Spherical shape improves skin feel
- COSMOS certified & listed in NATRUE
- Useful in a wide range of applications such as powder and lipsticks
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