Five Hundred NGOs Push for Asean Ban on Microplastics in Cosmetics

More than 500 environmental and consumer groups have called on the governments of the ten Asean member states to ban the use of microplastics in personal care and cosmetic products (PCCPs).

The groups have sent a joint petition to the governments and national cosmetic regulatory agencies. Signatories include the EcoWaste Coalition in the Philippines, the Consumers' Association of Penang in Malaysia and Indonesia's Balifokus foundation.

They justify their push by referencing it to last year's United Nations Environment Assembly (Unea) resolution. This urged governments and product manufacturers to phase the plastics out of personal care products.

Several other governments, such as the UK, Ireland, Canada, South Korea and the EU Nordic countries, are expected to implement such a ban soon.