US House of Representatives Votes to Phase Out Microbeads in Grooming Products
19 replies, posted
[quote]In a major victory for environmentalists — and for wild creatures who live in rivers and oceans — the U.S. House of Representatives voted on Monday to phase out the use of plastic microbeads in personal care products such as soaps, body washes, shaving creams and toothpaste. The bill was introduced earlier this years by Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J.
“We must put a stop to this unnecessary and avoidable pollution,” said Pallone, the ranking Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee.
A report earlier this year conducted by SUNY Fredonia found anywhere from 1,500 to 1.1 million microbeads per square mile in the Great Lakes. When asked what amount of plastic pollution would be considered acceptable in the lakes, Sherri Mason, the study’s lead researcher, said, “There shouldn’t be any plastic in our water, period.”
Henry Henderson, director of the Chicago-based Midwest office of the Natural Resources Defense Council, said that when fish from the Great Lakes are dissected, “they are festooned with microbeads.” The beads, which contain toxins, cause internal abrasions and impede an animal’s natural growth. Also microbeads do not biodegrade.
“Simply put, microbeads are causing mega-problems,” said House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich. “Once they’re flushed down the drain, that’s when the problem really begins.”[/quote]
[url]http://www.salon.com/2015/12/09/microbeads_partner/[/url]
basically a bill to phase out microbeads by 2019 has passed through the House
oh wow I had no idea
it's funny though, the bottles act like its such a big deal, like, through magic, will cause enhanced cleaning
[QUOTE=TheFishyG;49287265]basically a bill to phase out microbeads by 2019 has passed through the House[/QUOTE]
By 2019, lol. Why do we always have to put off things that have a more positive impact the sooner we do them?
[QUOTE=Magman77;49287289]By 2019, lol. Why do we always have to put off things that have a more positive impact the sooner we do them?[/QUOTE]
The senate elections are in 2018, with 33 of the 100 seats up for re-election.
[quote]they are festooned with microbeads.” The beads, which contain toxins, cause internal abrasions and impede an animal’s natural growth. Also microbeads do not biodegrade.
[/quote]
Holy shit why did they even think it was a good idea in the first place? Why was it even allowed through existing regulation?
[QUOTE=J!NX;49287277]oh wow I had no idea
it's funny though, the bottles act like its such a big deal, like, through magic, will cause enhanced cleaning[/QUOTE]
They're mostly for exfoliation, I would imagine.
[QUOTE=Magman77;49287289]By 2019, lol. Why do we always have to put off things that have a more positive impact the sooner we do them?[/QUOTE]
Because corporations are like massive ships, you can't expect them to turn on a dime. Having it just suddenly go into effect would turn whatever they had stocked/ordered into a massive loss.
[QUOTE=Dr.C;49287321]Holy shit why did they even think it was a good idea in the first place? Why was it even allowed through existing regulation?[/QUOTE]
No shit, right? "Hey guys, you know how there are BILLIONS of litres of plastic in the oceans that exist as a layer of floating plastic particles? I've got a great idea to make that TRILLIONS!"
They fucking suck at exfoliation anyways, they're smooth round balls that just glide over whatever surface you're trying to scrub. Walnut shells have alot more bite.
[QUOTE=Omali;49287328]Because corporations are like massive ships, you can't expect them to turn on a dime. Having it just suddenly go into effect would turn whatever they had stocked/ordered into a massive loss.[/QUOTE]
Then they should pass something NOW that says they can still sell it but have to stop making it, right? Then they could sell off their stocks and nobody would suffer once it became against the law to sell them. And when you're a shampoo company you don't produce shampoo stocks three years in advance, there's plenty of time before 2019 to stop the show.
[QUOTE=Magman77;49287620]Then they should pass something NOW that says they can still sell it but have to stop making it, right? Then they could sell off their stocks and nobody would suffer once it became against the law to sell them. And when you're a shampoo company you don't produce shampoo stocks three years in advance, there's plenty of time before 2019 to stop the show.[/QUOTE]
Even then you are not considering the costs associated with the equipment, packaging, raw materials etc... Again I'm not saying this the only thing at play and surely the companies want to use the existing infrastructure as long as possible (and I'm sure they fought to keep the microbeads in) but really production takes stockpiles of stuff that would then turn into loss (tons and tons of soap stickers saying "Now with amazing microbead technology!") or the beads already ordered or the machines that actually make the beaded soaps etc...
Meanwhile while were catering to the companies not "suffering", literally tons of microbeads are being flushed down drains a week.
"Simply put, microbeads are causing mega-problems"
They tried so hard to do some good word play, when what they should have said is "macro problems"
[QUOTE=Foogooman;49287844]"Simply put, microbeads are causing mega-problems"
They tried so hard to do some good word play, when what they should have said is "macro problems"[/QUOTE]
That sounds even worse imo
[QUOTE=Omali;49287328]Because corporations are like massive ships, you can't expect them to turn on a dime. Having it just suddenly go into effect would turn whatever they had stocked/ordered into a massive loss.[/QUOTE]
And? They should pay for all the harm to the environment they did and are doing. They are scum.
[QUOTE=edberg;49287532]They fucking suck at exfoliation anyways, they're smooth round balls that just glide over whatever surface you're trying to scrub. Walnut shells have alot more bite.[/QUOTE]
I'm positive grinding walnut shells into dust and mixing it into a gel or cream would be way better than microbeads with the marking wank.
This is how actual toothpaste, hand cleaners, facial cleaners work. baking soda, pumice, titanium dioxide, or another inert dust. If nobody knew.
[QUOTE=Magman77;49287330]No shit, right? "Hey guys, you know how there are BILLIONS of litres of plastic in the oceans that exist as a layer of floating plastic particles? I've got a great idea to make that TRILLIONS!"[/QUOTE]
That's basically what this legislation is, though. It's not strictly prohibiting producing more microbeads (to my knowledge) during this grace period, but any company that sees they've barely got four years to cease selling microbead products full-stop will cut production as soon as feasibly possible. It takes a lot of time and money to change production equipment and facilities, and while I'm right there with you on wanting the polluting to stop as soon as possible, it isn't realistic to force companies to stop overnight.
[QUOTE=Craptasket;49289716]I'm positive grinding walnut shells into dust and mixing it into a gel or cream would be way better than microbeads with the marking wank.
This is how actual toothpaste, hand cleaners, facial cleaners work. baking soda, pumice, titanium dioxide, or another inert dust. If nobody knew.[/QUOTE]
yeah i was wondering why they didn't just use pumice, i'm sure that is far less damaging to the environment
[QUOTE=Magman77;49287620]Then they should pass something NOW that says they can still sell it but have to stop making it, right? Then they could sell off their stocks and nobody would suffer once it became against the law to sell them. And when you're a shampoo company you don't produce shampoo stocks three years in advance, there's plenty of time before 2019 to stop the show.[/QUOTE]
spinning down a production pipeline is not something that you just go "lol okay let's stop producing today"
you don't want to have a production line sitting empty while you figure out what product you're gonna run on it instead, retailers need to be prepared for loss of inventory while you figure out what product to replace it with, etc
Salt, sugar, and sand are also good alternatives.
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