What are microplastics?
Microplastics are small plastic particles, smaller than 5 mm, that have either been created with the purpose of being just small plastic particles or that are formed from the wear and degradation of larger pieces of plastic, such as car tires and other plastic products. When we throw plastic waste into nature, it eventually also becomes microplastics, which are spread in the environment.
What is the function of microplastics and where are they found?
When microplastics are added deliberately, it is often for their scrubbing effect, such as in cleaning detergents, skin care and cosmetics. They are also used in the production of artificial turf fields. Microplastics can also originate from the wear and tear of synthetic textiles such as fleece clothing, from tires and rubber products. Additionally, microplastics found in lakes and oceans, largely come from the decomposition of plastic materials that have been thrown away in nature, such as garbage bags, plastic bottles and abandoned fishing nets.
What is less good?
Microplastics can be harmful to health and the environment due to their size and because they are difficult to break down. Currently, there is not enough research to draw conclusions about how microplastics affect the environment, wildlife and humans. However, what we do know is that our oceans are filled with plastic that slowly decomposes and creates problems for fish, whales and seabirds.
What does the Nordic Swan Ecolabel think about microplastics?
Although research is not entirely clear about how dangerous microplastics are, we play it safe and ban deliberately added microplastics. Therefore, the Nordic Swan Ecolabelled cosmetics and skin care, hand dishwashing detergents, cleaning agents, car and boat care products and laundry detergents contain no microplastics.
Swan-labelled cosmetics and skin care include a general ban on microplastics, but sunscreen products are excempt from the requirements for microplastics. The exemption is valid until October 17, 2029. The same exemption applies to certain gel-forming ingredients, often called carbomers, which are used in many skin creams. These play an important role in the consistency, stability and user experience of the product, and are also difficult to replace without affecting quality.
Replacing microplastics in sunscreen products is more complicated than you might think. Some ingredients are needed for the cream to be smooth, stable, and easy to apply, and these are technically difficult to replace. In addition, new formulations require extensive and time-consuming testing to ensure that the sunscreen is still safe and effective.
The goal is clear. To reduce the use of microplastics, while the products remain safe, effective and function properly.
As the Nordic Swan Ecolabel strives to reduce the spread of microplastics, Nordic Swan Ecolabelled requires laundries to reduce their emissions of microplastics. And at Nordic Swan eco-labelled hotels, the use of plastic take-away products is limited.