We all must have heard of water-based and silicon-based products. But did you know that silicon is a polymer which can be considered as a microplastic? And it is openly being used in many beauty products? Whenever we try to fetch some information about microplastics we will get plenty of content on Microbeads: which is just a type of microplastic; secondary microplastic. These secondary microplstics in environment have become so common that people have forgotten about the severe health effects. We can protect environment only if we can protect ourselves first. Though there are many companies trying their best to reduce the damage by using biodegradable plastic but our question is ‘is it really going to help?’
In the quest of microplastic vs biodegradable, we found that biodegradable is a sustainable solution but the companies need to proactively send them for recycling and not get wasted in the environment just like other types of plastics. Now, if we discuss the impacts of microplastics, they are immortal, they will never go anywhere but here. Surprisingly, this concern is less spoken about but we at La Pink will walk you through every possible information on microplastic in environment, its adverse impacts on skin and health both.
Type ‘microplastic’ on any search engine, you will find ample information on microbeads- the secondary microplastic. Microbeads are small (visible) particles of polymers (plastic) smaller than 5mm and usually of spherical shape. They were widely in use before the EU’s ban on its use in beauty products. Key reasons behind its use were: there great exfoliation properties and they serve as cheap fillers to increase the mass of the product. The question is if microbeads aren’t the only type of microplastics that are being used in beauty products, what really are these microplastics? let’s understand!
Microplastics are also “liquid” polymers and they are used widely without catching the attention of consumers because of the greenwashing that brand does. They provide unmatched control to the formulators over the viscosity and texture of the product, and a longer shelf life in all the climatic conditions.
We may be very well versed with the adverse impacts of microplastics on the environment as well because it is all over the internet, to quote a few: Fresh Water Contamination which is nearly impossible to filter out, Disruption of Food Chain and Accumulation of Microplastics in the Environment.
Are there any concerning impacts of microplastics on human health as well? Well it shouldn’t be a surprise to come across the deadly effects plastics can have on our health through the chemicals that they carry and release, similar is the case with microplastics. Plastics are just going inside through a different pathway and entering our bodies.
Are there any replacements that we can inculcate in our products instead of microplastics? The answer is YES, Biodegradable Ingredients.
What are Biodegradable Ingredients?
Biodegradable Ingredients are naturally extracted ingredients that can be used as an alternative to microplastics, which means they will serve the same purpose as microplastics but they are natural and plant-based, or naturally extracted.
So what really is the difference between Microplastics and Biodegradable Ingredients - however the definition of both of them should be able to clarify that. But let’s go in-depth.
Microplastic VS Biodegradable Ingredients-
- First and the most crucial difference between Biodegradable Ingredients and Microplastic is that Biodegradable Ingredients are NOT the same as biodegradable ingredients get absorbed by surrounding environment and won’t pollute the environment whereas microplastics are immortal!
- Microplastics are the opposite of degradable, they never fully decompose even after ages, they never disappear completely, they only get smaller and smaller.
Biodegradable Ingredients can easily be mixed with soils and have the tendency to decompose naturally.
- Microplastics are synthetic polymers, the word “synthetic” here plays a crucial role. It means that plastic is a waste that is purposefully made to cause pain in not just our lives but to every living being around us and the environment.
Biodegradable Ingredients however are extracted naturally from the environment to serve a purpose and go back to the environment after that is done.
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Microplastics are deadly harmful for our skin and body health let alone the environment, there are underrated or lesser known facts that say that microplastics can cause numerous implications to our skin and body varying from mere itching and redness to literal skin cancer and tissue disruption there is no boundary that microplastics can’t cross when it comes to harming us.
Whereas, Biodegradable Ingredients are the one’s derived from nature itself and are usually harmless, however not every ingredient is safe to use on skin or hair but when a research on ingredients to be added in the product is conducted, and their clinically recommended dose, there is nothing to worry about.
- Microplastics are cheap and readily available in the market. This is also one of the key reasons why it is still used in so many products, they fill the product almost for FREE and are heavily profitable to the brands. The coined term bioplastic is the name is to greenwash consumers. The so called - “Bioplastics” are compostable and not “biodegradable” which means that they are only degradable by the industrial processes and usually require CO2 and Water for the same, they are NOT naturally decomposed in the environment.
Biodegradable Ingredients on the other hand are not just expensive but are not easily available. One has to extract it from nature, which also costs a ton but the research on natural ingredients is going to require hefty investments in R&D.
What are some of the Biodegradable Ingredients that can come to use as replacements in beauty products?
There are plenty of natural exfoliators that have come under use after the ban of microbeads by the EU such as, Walnut shell, Pistachio Shell and Argan Shell with excellent exfoliating properties plus packed with other qualities as well. Similar will be the case after the ban of Microplastics, which is anticipated to occur in the coming years. Brands will very suddenly find replacements.
Some very good natural viscosity enhancers are rice and potato starch that can be used as an alternative to microplastics. Easy to extract, but not as accessible as microplastics.
Challenges that act as a barrier to go 100% Microplastic Free:
Cost: Biodegradable Ingredients can cost a lot more than traditionally produced microplastics. And the research to discover such alternatives is not only going to cost money, but time and human resources as well.
Performance: to see how good these alternatives work it will need a deep analysis and research which will obviously not happen overnight. To check and match the durability and functionality of the alternative brands will require years of research, development and patience.
Lack of Consumer Awareness: Educating consumers about the harmful effects of Microplastics and the benefits of alternatives.
But wait no more! La Pink takes pride to initiate the revolutionary campaign #SayNoToMicroplastic that aims to educate consumers on what microplastics really are and why they are bothersome. We take pride in introducing India’s First 100% Microplastic Free Formulations to cater the needs of Indian Markets and making the products accessible to the masses by keeping them price effective.
Currently, the aim is to revolutionise skin and hair care industries by serving variety of products that not only have 100% Microplastic Free Formulations but are packed with goodness of not just natural ingredients but RARELY AVAILABLE natural ingredients (serving as an icing on the cake).
Just to give a clue, La Pink uses White Haldi which is exported all the way from Australia in liquid state and used in all the products throughout the product range of La Pink. The benefit is not just that it’s an exported ingredient and is used as a flex, after a thorough clinical research we found that white haldi is 10X more powerful than usual yellow haldi.
But the secret that will only be disclosed on the use is how effective these alternatives really are? Let’s say for exfoliation, volcanic sand that is used in face scrubs at La Pink are neither microbeads, nor the commonly used alternative either. It is RARE and way more powerful replacement to microbead, serves as a great exfoliant with many other properties.
