Many natural alternatives, such as apricot shells and cocoa beans, have already successfully been used instead of plastic microbeads in personal care products. (storyofstuff.org)
Meanwhile, California just passed a ban on plastic microbeads in personal care products and, earlier this year, Sri Lanka became the first nation on Earth to protect all of its remaining mangrove forests and commit to planting more. (treehugger.com)
Currently, the United States, Canada and the U.K. are the only countries to implement plastic microbeads bans, but many other countries — including Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, China, India, Indonesia, Ireland, France, Luxembourg, Malaysia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and Taiwan, Province of China — are considering one. (5gyres.org)