Major beauty retailers including Mecca and Sephora are among eight businesses ordered to stop supplying products containing plastic microbeads that were banned almost four years ago.
This year, 12 products have been ordered to be removed from shelves following the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) issuing Compliance (Stop) Notices, as it steps up its crackdown on problematic plastics.
NSW EPA Director of Compliance and Investigations Claire Miles said skincare brands and retailers play an important role in keeping prohibited plastics out of the environment.
"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.
"Large retailers like Mecca, Sephora and ASOS have a responsibility to understand what's in the scrubs and exfoliators they sell. With their size and reach, we expect robust checks so prohibited items don't end up in consumers' hands.
"We're asking the community to help us identify any products that may contain plastic microbeads. Check the packaging for ingredients including cellulose acetate, polyethylene and polylactic acid, and report any products of concern to the EPA.
"Our officers will continue inspecting what's on the market and won't hesitate to take action where breaches are found."
The following items were subject to Stop Notices:
- Scalp scrubs - Arkive The Crown Scalp Scrub 180ml and 60ml (ASOS and Mecca); Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Happi Scalp Scrub 180ml (Mecca).
- Body exfoliators - Mutha The Nudist Exfoliating Body Bar (Mecca); Tula Skincare Take Care + Polish 240ml (Mecca); Exfoliating Body Granita Scrub 250ml (Sephora).
- Face exfoliators - QV Face Exfoliating Polish 125g (Eco Pharmaceuticals); Ella Baché Refining Exfoliating Gel 75ml (Hallas Trading); Frase Skin Grub Scrub 100ml (Frase Skin); Santa Maria Novella Idralia Exfoliating Cream 100ml (Smart Legal Services).
- Industrial hand cleaners - Chemron Rub Clean Gel with Grit 1kg; Chemron My T Hands Lemon Industrial Hand Cleaner 1L (MG & C Management).
The EPA is working with the businesses to ensure all the products are pulled from the shelves, following the removal of nine products from sale in NSW last year from retailers such as Coles and Priceline.
Failing to comply with a Compliance Notice that includes a direction to stop supplying an item is a serious offence, carrying maximum penalties for wholesalers, manufacturers and distributors of up to $550,000, plus $55,000 for each additional day the offence continues.
Plastic microbeads have been banned in rinse-off personal care products in NSW since 1 November 2022 under the Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act 2021.
Products suspected of containing plastic microbeads can be reported to the EPA at https://reportplastic.epa.nsw.gov.au
