Microplastics. These new pieces of plastic are now on every scientist’s lips. Although their size is really small, their environmental impact is believed to be enormous. This is why the Ecogarantie standards prohibit the use of such particles in eco-labelled detergents.
Microplastics in ecolabelled products
But first, what are microplastics exactly? You can guess it from their name: these particles are small pieces of plastic. According to the National Ocean Service, these particles “easily pass through water filtration systems and end up in the ocean”. As a matter of fact, scientists blow the alarm on microplastics’ impact on aquatic life. Indeed, both marine plants and animals are at risk.
What about your everyday products? When buying chemical detergents, your aim is to clean dirty surfaces in a gentle manner. But do you know to whom this gentle cleaning mission is assigned? You bet it: microplastics (also called microbeads). One of their roles is to help chemicals present in some cleaning agents get rid of dirt on hard surfaces. But they are also intentionally added to help with products’s thickness and control their appearance and stability. And regarding cosmetics, it’s actually the same problem. Shampoos, body scrubs, toothpastes,… the list goes on. A European research shows that microplastics are generally used to fulfil several functions: cleansing, scrubbing or exfoliating.
In addition to ending up in the environment, microplastics are also present in our body. Unfortunately, fish and other marine animals can easily mistake plastic for food. It thus pollutes their flesh and ends up in our plates and our body. The problem is that we still don’t know what effects microplastics can have on our health.
Why Ecogarantie standards prohibit microplastics
You’ve probably understood it by now, we truly care about animals, the planet and your health. For us, microplastics are bad for the environment and animals. And even if we are not sure about their effects on the human health, we simply don’t want to take the risk. Therefore, Ecogarantie standards forbid the presence of microplastics in ecolabelled products. If you go for certified cleaning and washing products or cosmetics, you can be sure to keep the planet, the animals and future generations safe. So, what are you waiting for to take the plunge?