EPA cleans up banned skincare products containing microbeads
Beauty brands alleged to have supplied personal care products containing plastic microbeads have been ordered to stop, as the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) ramps up enforcement of the state’s plastics bans.
Since April 2024, the EPA’s Plastics Compliance team has issued Compliance Notices to six businesses, forcing the withdrawal of nine different items from sale in NSW.
The EPA is one of the few regulators in the world to take enforcement action against the use of plastic microbeads in personal care products.
EPA CEO Tony Chappel said microbeads are tiny solid plastic particles, often used for exfoliation, that come at a significant environmental cost.
“Microbeads don’t belong in skincare or our waterways – they can threaten marine life and people’s health,” Mr Chappel said.
“In several cases, the particles were made of bioplastics such as polylactic acid (PLA) and cellulose acetate. Although these ingredients aren’t derived from fossil fuels, they don’t readily break down in the environment and are still defined as plastic under the Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act 2021 (PRCE Act).
“Once notified, companies acted quickly to remove the stock from shelves – some before the deadline set out in the notices.
“We have also worked with major retailers, including Chemist Warehouse and Priceline, to get affected products out of stores quickly.
“These actions show our legislation is working to protect the environment and hold suppliers accountable for what they sell.”
The following products have been the subject of Compliance Notices issued under the PRCE Act:
Aesthetics Skincare Pty Ltd – Aesthetics Bio Fermented Triple Action Scrub
Coles Group Ltd – KOi For Men Cleansing Face Scrub Oat & Desert Lime
Frostbland Pty Ltd – Alya Skin Pomegranate Exfoliator Facial Scrub and Exfoliating Sorbet
JMSR Australia Pty Ltd – Jan Marini Bioglycolic Resurfacing Body Scrub and Jan Marini Cranberry Orange Exfoliator
McPherson’s Consumer Products Pty Ltd – Dr LeWinn’s Essentials Gentle Exfoliant Weekly Facial Polishing Gel
Natio Pty Ltd – Natio Men’s Purifying Face Scrub and Natio Ageless Skin Renewal Exfoliator
Failing to comply with a Compliance Notice that includes a direction to stop supplying an item is a serious offence, carrying maximum penalties for wholesalers, manufacturers and distributors of up to $550,000, plus $55,000 for each additional day the offence continues.
The EPA will continue to monitor and enforce the plastics bans, with more investigations currently underway.
Plastic microbeads were once common in cosmetics and personal care products to add texture, exfoliate or extend shelf life. NSW banned their use in rinse-off personal care products from 1 November 2022, as part of its commitment to phase out problematic and unnecessary plastics.
Wastewater treatment systems can’t capture most microbeads, allowing them to contaminate rivers, creeks, lakes and oceans. Once released, they absorb pollutants and can enter the food chain.
Microbeads are often made from plastics such as polyethylene (PE), polyurethane (PU), polypropylene (PP), polylactic acid (PLA), cellulose acetate, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and acrylates copolymers.
Products suspected of containing plastic microbeads can be reported here: https://reportplastic.epa.nsw.gov.au
Images and vision of the alleged non-compliant products: http://bit.ly/47ElSKj