Microbead Bans

Microbeads

In June of 2014, Illinois SB2727 was signed by the former Democratic Governor Pat Quinn (Illinois General Assembly). The bill bans the use of aquatically-harmful microbeads in cosmetic products, and goes into effect at the end of 2015.  The objective of the bill is to prevent unwanted environmental impacts on Lake Michigan, as well as other aquatic ecosystems. Although similar legislation has been reviewed in other states, Illinois is the first to enact such a ban (TIME).

Governor Quinn issued a statement after its passage: “Banning microbeads will help ensure clean waters across Illinois and set an example for our nation to follow . . . Lake Michigan and the many rivers and lakes across our state are among our most important natural resources. We must do everything necessary to safeguard them” (Chicago Tribune).

Cosmetic microbeads are small, plastic beads that are primarily used in cosmetic and medical products such as exfoliating face wash, toothpaste (Environmental New Network) and medications. The bill sets guidelines for when the manufacturing of the beads must cease (2017) as well as when the actual sale of the beads must cease (2018) (Chicago Tribune).

Environmentally speaking, microbeads pose a tremendous threat to the well-being of aquatic life, and of particular concern pertains to the impact that these beads have on fish in Lake Michigan. The beads, which can be as small as 6 microns (Microbeads), easily pass through the traditional filtration methods that are characteristic of most sewage treatment facilities (Chicago Tribune).

Once these beads make it into Lake Michigan, they are easily consumed by fish due to their resemblance to fish eggs. The beads then often remain in the digestive tract of the fish. Eventually, the beads make it back to land, usually when larger mammals eat fish that contain microbeads. The problems associated range from the mundane to the profound, as the beads may also contain PCB’s (Environmental News Network), a human carcinogen.

Due to the attention that has been generated around the issue, the cosmetic industry has taken notice. Companies such as Johnson & Johnson and L'oreal have indicated that they will gradually phase out the use of such beads, and have began researching environmentally friendly alternatives (Chicago Tribune).

The Bill was advocated heavily by the Illinois Environmental Council. They Worked in conjunction with Chemical Industry Council of Illinois as well as Personal Care Products Council (Illinois Environmental Council) by lobbying for the bill.

Illinois’s pioneering legislation may have provided guidance to its neighbor, Wisconsin, as it too followed the growing number of states that are cracking down on microbeads. Breaking his trend of staunch opposition to environmental protection laws, eco-protection groups such as Clean Wisconsin were ecstatic when Governor Scott Walker signed the bill into law (Reuters).

The Wisconsin law bans the manufacturing of such beads at the beginning of 2018, and bans the sales of such beads by the year 2019.

Some alternative methods for exfoliation include apricots, sand, oatmeal, etc. Some of these methods are arguably less costly than microbeads, thereby providing a tangible incentive for the cosmetic industry. Sources:
http://www.micro-beads.com/Products.aspx

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/02/us-usa-microbeads-wisconsin-idUSKCN0PC01B20150702

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocTypeID=SB&DocNum=2727&GAID=12&SessionID=85&LegID=78471

http://www.enn.com/health/article/48631

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-governor-signs-bill-making-illinois-first-state-to-ban-microbeads-20140608-story.html

http://time.com/2917462/why-illinois-banned-microbeads/