This petition was submitted during the 2015-2017 parliament
Petition Ban plastic microbeads in the UK following the example set by the US.
Plastic micro-beads used in cosmetic products such as face washes and toothpastes are being transported via sewers into rivers and oceans where they are being ingested by marine creatures, potentially making their way up the food chain. They are unnecessary and harmful and should be banned.
More details
What are they (see primary micro plastics): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microplastics
What we know/how they are harmful: https://www1.plymouth.ac.uk/research/mberc/Research/Marine%20pollution/Pages/Plastics.aspx (see the reports linked on this page)
Precedents of banning them: http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/2016/01/us-bans-microbeads-personal-care-products
In the meantime: https://www.mcsuk.org/what_we_do/Clean+seas+and+beaches/Campaigns+and+policy/Microplastics
This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months
577 signatures
Show on a map the geographical breakdown of signatures by constituency
10,000 signatures required to get a government response
Related activity
MPs ask the Government to ban microbeads in cosmetics
Something’s happened in Parliament that might interest you.
The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee published a report asking the Government to ban microbeads in cosmetics. The report also asks the Government to develop a strategic approach to tackling other sources of microplastic pollution.
The Chair of the Committee, Mary Creagh MP said:
"Trillions of tiny pieces of plastic are accumulating in the world's oceans, lakes and estuaries, harming marine life and entering the food chain. The microbeads in scrubs, shower gels and toothpastes are an avoidable part of this plastic pollution problem. A single shower can result in 100,000 plastic particles entering the ocean.
Cosmetic companies' voluntary approach to phasing out plastic microbeads simply won't wash. We need a full legal ban, preferably at an international level as pollution does not respect borders.
If this isn't possible after our vote to leave the EU, then the Government should introduce a national ban. The best way to reduce this pollution is to prevent plastic being flushed into the sea in the first place."
You can find out more about what the Committee said and read the full report on the Committee's website: http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/environmental-audit-committee/news-parliament-2015/microplastics-report-published-16-17/
What is the Environmental Audit Committee?
The Environmental Audit Committee looks at how the Government:
· Protects the environment
· Contributes to sustainable development
· Meets environmental targets
It's a cross-party committee and is independent of the Government.
You can find out more about the Environmental Audit Committee on its website: http://www.parliament.uk/eacom
You can follow the Environmental Audit Committee on Twitter: @CommonsEAC #microbeads
This is a ‘select committee’. Find out how Select Committees work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c&feature=youtu.be
Government accepts MPs’ recommendation to ban microbeads
We recently emailed you about a report from the Environmental Audit Committee, which recommended that the Government ban microplastics.
On 5 September, the Government announced that it would accept this recommendation and introduce a ban on the sale and manufacture of personal care products containing tiny pieces of plastic.
The Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, Mary Creagh MP, has the following message for everyone who signed the petition:
"We are delighted the Government has accepted our recommendation to ban polluting plastic microbeads in 2017. Marine life will be affected wherever the plastic they are eating comes from, so it's vital the ban now covers all microplastics in all down the drain products. The Environmental Audit Committee will be watching the Government carefully to make sure it gets this right.
Getting a change in Government policy is not easy. Public campaigning, including petitions, helps to highlight an issue amongst the wider public and within Parliament. I'd like to thank everyone who signed the petition. Your action helped pile the pressure on Government to ban microbeads."
You can view this message on the Parliament website: http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/environmental-audit-committee/news-parliament-2015/microbeads-ban-chairs-statement-16-17/
What is the Environmental Audit Committee?
The Environmental Audit Committee looks at how the Government:
• Protects the environment
• Contributes to sustainable development
• Meets environmental targets
It's a cross-party committee and is independent of the Government.
You can find out more about the Environmental Audit Committee on its website: http://www.parliament.uk/eacom
You can follow the Environmental Audit Committee on Twitter: @CommonsEAC #microbeads
This is a ‘select committee’. Find out how Select Committees work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c&feature=youtu.be