I first learned about microbeads almost 2 years ago. I knew that plastic, no matter how big, breaks down into smaller bits called microplastics. That’s bad enough, but how about plastic bits that are already smaller than any other microplastic (microbeads are considered microplastic) and whose purpose, after using it for mere minutes, is to wash down our drains?!

Plastics are made to essentially last forever, but designed to throw away. Almost ironically, this is the ultimate design flaw. Itty-bitty pieces of plastic designed to go down your drain, whether it be your sink, shower or tub. How could this be? How could we let millions upon millions of microbeads into our water? These microbeads enter our oceans, streams, rivers, lakes, etc… Marine life mistakes it for food… and what if you eat fish?  They say, “You are what you eat.” You’re eating plastic! Not to mention that these microbeads are so microscopic I wonder if they can penetrate your pores? Some people are brushing their teeth with them. Could we actually be ingesting these tiny buggers? We need to beat the bead! When I was growing up I used an apricot scrub with crushed apricot kernel, something that was natural, biodegradable and safe. We need to go back to that. Where did we and these companies that produce these products go wrong? A cheaper way was found. Plastic is cheap, but cheaper is not always better. More often than not, it’s worse.  And at what cost? Please get involved. Speak up!

Sign the petition to “Ban The Bead!!!”

Together we can create change!

http://5gyres.org/how_to_get_involved/action/