Source : Perth Now news
Major beauty retailers Mecca and Sephora are among eight businesses ordered to pull products containing plastic microbeads from their shelves.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has issued stop notices covering 12 products, including scalp scrubs, body exfoliators, face scrubs and heavy duty hand soaps.
The products were found to contain plastic microbeads, which have been banned in rinse-off personal care products since November 2022.
NSW EPA director of compliance and investigations Claire Miles said most businesses had stopped using the harmful plastics, but it was disappointing some products were still turning up on shelves almost four years after the ban.
“Plastic microbeads might be tiny, but they can cause lasting damage once they enter our waterways,” Ms Miles said.
“These particles are so small they often aren’t screened out by wastewater treatment systems, don’t break down and can end up absorbing pollutants and entering the food chain.
“Most businesses have done the right thing and stopped using this harmful plastic material, but four years on it’s disappointing we’re still finding stock that’s not compliant.”
She said Mecca and Sephora were among the retailers being ordered to remove the products, with the EPA warning businesses have a responsibility to understand what’s in the products they sell.
“With their size and reach, we expect robust checks so prohibited items don’t end up in consumers’ hands,” Ms Miles said.
She also asked the community to help identify any products containing the microbeads.
“Check the packaging for ingredients including cellulose acetate, polyethylene and polylactic acid, and report any products of concern to the EPA,” Ms Miles said.
“Our officers will continue inspecting what’s on the market and won’t hesitate to take action where breaches are found.”
Businesses that fail to comply with a stop notice can face maximum penalties of $550,000, plus $55,000 for every day the offence continues.
The list of products being pulled from shelves: Arkive The Crown Scalp Scrub 180ml and 60ml, Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Happi Scalp Scrub 180ml, Mutha The Nudist Exfoliating Body Bar, Tula Skincare Take Care + Polish 240ml, Exfoliating Body Granita Scrub 250ml, QV Face Exfoliating Polish 125g, Ella Bache Refining Exfoliating Gel 75ml, Frase Skin Grub Scrub 100ml, Santa Maria Novella Idralia Exfoliating Cream 100ml, Chemron Rub Clean Gel with Grit 1kg and Chemron My T Hands Lemon Industrial Hand Cleaner 1L.
