What you do in the bathroom ends up in the ocean. We are swimming in a plastic sea, so every step and small change counts. Here are some of the most popular ingredients or products found in your bathroom that pollute the ocean and add to the pollution catastrophe that is taking over the planet.

Beauty is not only one of the biggest global industries, but also one of the most polluting. If you consider yourself to be a conscientious and responsible consumer who stays away from plastic bags and makes environmentally friendly choices, you probably already know these under-water rocks to keep an eye on. But if not, learn more about the sneaky ways of how your beauty routine is sabotaging the planet and oceanic ecosystem.

5 BAD GUYS

MICROBEADS

Tiny balls of plastic used in face exfoliators, toothpastes, shower gels and body scrubs. Microplastics are plastic pieces smaller than 5 mm that easily pass through water filtration systems and end up in the seas and lakes. Recently banned in Great Britain but still taking over other parts of the planet. This is a very invisible pollutant as you can`t see it with your eye but it does huge harm to the planet and marine life.

INSTEAD CHOOSE:

Natural exfoliating ingredients like volcano sand that are not a threat to the environment. Try Volcano scrub soap which is enriched with gently exfoliating volcanic minerals.

PLASTIC COTTON BUDS

Never thought of this, huh? This household essential builds up the plastic micro-particle continent that is floating in the ocean and can be deadly to wildlife and marine life. Small plastic cotton buds are often flushed down the toilet, ending up on the beach and in the sea where they are eaten by birds and fish.

INSTEAD CHOOSE:

Eco-friendly compostable alternatives, made from certified-organic cotton and a biodegradable stick.

GLITTER

The ultimate festival staple for years now. Glitter bodies, glitter roots, glitter highlighters and eyeshadows – we`ve seen it all. So what is so scary about the sparkling fairy dust? As it turns out, it is not so sparkly for the environment as it adds to microplastic pollution. Right now microplastics are in our air, drinking water, seafood – if they get in the water, they spread everywhere.

INSTEAD CHOOSE:

Biodegradable glitter that is made from plant cellulose, or choose mineral shimmer as the highlighter.

OXYBENZONE

One of the most troubling UV-blocking ingredients found in chemical sunscreens. It is extremely dangerous to coral reefs as it bleaches them and even changes their DNA, so recently this year Hawaiian law makers agreed on a ban of chemical sunscreens from 2021. The mathematics are simple – if it is bad for marine life, why do you think it is good for your skin? Click here to read more about the negative effects of oxybenzone on your health.

INSTEAD CHOOSE:

Natural sunscreens with physical filters, like MADARA SPF30.

PACKAGING

More and more consumers choose environmentally friendly products and pay attention to the packaging. But there is still a long way to go – little of the plastic used to house beauty and skincare products is recyclable. Thankfully, eco-packaging is trending now, so you can make more sustainable choices while shopping. For example, 100% of MADARA tubes, jars and bottles are recyclable. In 2016, more than one third of our plastic packaging was produced from post-consumer-recycled plastics.

INSTEAD CHOOSE:

Either recycle it or choose biodegradable or recycled packaging.

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THERE WILL BE MORE PLASTIC
IN THE SEA THAN FISH BY 2050.

Source: “The new plastics economy: Rethinking the future of plastics & catalysing action”, a report by the
Ellen Macarthur Foundation.

AT LEAST 8 M TONNES OF PLASTICS LEAK INTO THE OCEAN EVERY YEAR. IT IS THE EQUIVALENT OF DUMPING THE CONTENTS OF ONE GARBAGE TRUCK INTO THE OCEAN EVERY MINUTE.

Source: “The new plastics economy: Rethinking the future of plastics & catalysing action”, a report by the
Ellen Macarthur Foundation.