Microbeads are plastic pieces or fibres that are 5 mm or less. 1,147 personal cleansing products, including Bath & Body Works, in North America and around the world contain microbeads. Despite our love for the candy-coloured, variety scented products that Bath &Body Works products provide, there are at least 360, 000 microbeads in each bottle that can intoxicate sea species (most of which we consume).
Their products vary from personal cleansing materials that we use for scrubbing, bathing, showering, etc. However, microbeads make up 10.6% of just each scrub, as found by Dr. Leslie's study from Free University in Amsterdam. As microbeads travel through sewer treatment facilities, they are unable to be filtered since they are 1 mm in size. They eventually reach rivers, lakes, and oceans, that negatively impact around 73 different fish species globally as they are unable to distinguish them between food. These fish are then captured and processed into the sea food that we are served daily.
Thus, begins the cycle of intoxication. Scientists hypothesise that over time, persistent organic pollutants, found in microbeads, will start accumulating in the food chain, transferring from species to species, with consequences ultimately for humans.
However, it's not too late to beat the microbead, one cosmetics company at a time. Dove soaps, Vaseline and Pond's skin care recently announced that they're phasing out microbeads in their personal care products. Sign the petition today so that Bath & Body Works will be next to end this cycle of intoxication!
Updates
May 19, 2016
I started this to learn more about where our scrubs go after the drain and somehow so many of you have joined the conversation. It feels surreal to see this much attention on a problem that usually stays hidden in our bathrooms. None of this growth belongs to me because it is truly your concern for the ocean that keeps this moving forward.
Reached 100 supporters
May 19, 2016
45 Comments
I had no idea that microbeads were plastic. I thought they dissolved. Get them out of products, please.
It saddens me that they take pride in not testing on animals, but still put plastic in the scrubs instead of something more environmentaly friendly
I love Bath and Body Works products but I and many other people including my friends and family will not continue to buy your body scrubs and soaps that contain microbeads for as long as they continue to do so.
If they are still producing a product with microbeads I'm both surprised and deeply disappointed at the level of irresponsibility to the environment. We have known about the severe damage that microbeads have caused on the ocean wildlife for quite some time now. Smarten up Bath & Body Works!
I boycott Bath and Body works products in 2015 when I realized they contained microbeads
Stop the beads to proceed
These companies must act more responsibly towards the environments. These beads are toxic and bad for the ocean.
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Microbeads are plastic pieces or fibres that are 5 mm or less. 1,147 personal cleansing products, including Bath & Body Works, in North America and around the world contain microbeads. Despite our love for the candy-coloured, variety scented products that Bath &Body Works products provide, there are at least 360, 000 microbeads in each bottle that can intoxicate sea species (most of which we consume).
Their products vary from personal cleansing materials that we use for scrubbing, bathing, showering, etc. However, microbeads make up 10.6% of just each scrub, as found by Dr. Leslie's study from Free University in Amsterdam. As microbeads travel through sewer treatment facilities, they are unable to be filtered since they are 1 mm in size. They eventually reach rivers, lakes, and oceans, that negatively impact around 73 different fish species globally as they are unable to distinguish them between food. These fish are then captured and processed into the sea food that we are served daily.
Thus, begins the cycle of intoxication. Scientists hypothesise that over time, persistent organic pollutants, found in microbeads, will start accumulating in the food chain, transferring from species to species, with consequences ultimately for humans.
However, it's not too late to beat the microbead, one cosmetics company at a time. Dove soaps, Vaseline and Pond's skin care recently announced that they're phasing out microbeads in their personal care products. Sign the petition today so that Bath & Body Works will be next to end this cycle of intoxication!
Updates
May 19, 2016
I started this to learn more about where our scrubs go after the drain and somehow so many of you have joined the conversation. It feels surreal to see this much attention on a problem that usually stays hidden in our bathrooms. None of this growth belongs to me because it is truly your concern for the ocean that keeps this moving forward.
Reached 100 supporters
May 19, 2016
45 Comments
Please stop the use of microbeads! They are not necessary and we can all help to protect our fragile marine ecosystems.
I had no idea that microbeads were plastic. I thought they dissolved. Get them out of products, please.
It saddens me that they take pride in not testing on animals, but still put plastic in the scrubs instead of something more environmentaly friendly
I love Bath and Body Works products but I and many other people including my friends and family will not continue to buy your body scrubs and soaps that contain microbeads for as long as they continue to do so.
If they are still producing a product with microbeads I'm both surprised and deeply disappointed at the level of irresponsibility to the environment. We have known about the severe damage that microbeads have caused on the ocean wildlife for quite some time now. Smarten up Bath & Body Works!
I boycott Bath and Body works products in 2015 when I realized they contained microbeads
Stop the beads to proceed
These companies must act more responsibly towards the environments. These beads are toxic and bad for the ocean.
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Share it with friends to help reach 250 signatures.
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Please stop the use of microbeads! They are not necessary and we can all help to protect our fragile marine ecosystems.