Student Tribune

Build Sustainability into Your Life - Boycott Microbeads

Who doesn’t like to pamper yourself? Did you know that lotions and skin creams often include plastic to promote absorption. Those products with little scrubbers such as facial scrubs and body washes also often include plastic particles so small that they slip through water-treatment plants. Even some toothpastes contain micro-plastics. Unfortunately to marine life, these microbeads look like food.  

What can I do? 

• Pick products with natural exfoliants like oatmeal or salt. 
• Avoid products with polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), nylon (PA), polypropylene (PP) or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) in the ingredients list. 
• Check the Beat the MicroBead site before buying products to find out if they contain microplastics.  (An app is also available so you can scan barcodes while you are shopping.) 

Penwarden, Ann
Sustainability Steering Committee
02/06/2024