Scrub cleansers refer to products that add some tiny particles to ordinary cleansers to help remove skin dirt and aging keratin. The composition of the tiny particles added by different producers or businesses is different. The particles in some scrubs are made of plastic, which is very small and cannot be degraded. Eventually, they will be washed into the sea with the water and pollute the environment. The Italian government has announced that it will ban the use of microplastic particles in the cosmetics industry from January 2020.

Tiny plastic particles are commonly found in products such as whitening toothpastes and body and face scrubs, and most are less than 0.5 cm in diameter. The particles enter sewers and end up in rivers and the sea, where they easily attach to algae and become food for fish.

In addition to tiny plastic particles, from January 1, 2019, non-degradable cotton swabs will be banned from sale, with heavy fines for violators. According to statistics, there are currently about 80 products in Italian shops that contain tiny plastic particles. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, around 800 tonnes of plastic waste enters the oceans each year, accounting for more than 80 per cent of Marine litter and wreaking havoc on Marine ecosystems, fisheries and tourism.

Plastic Industry Video