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From Carnival to the sea: the trail of microplastics
Carnival is a festival known for music, revelry, drinking and, of course – glitter. Now, when Carnival ends, where does all that glitter go? The impacts of the shiny adornment are increasingly being identified by the scientific community as dangerous.
Not only glitter, but the entire range of so-called “microplastics” (polymer particles less than 5 mm) cause irreversible damage to the environment, already being found in the air, oceans and even in human blood, placenta and heart. In this way, several sectors have been mobilizing to find alternatives to the pollutant.
Important changes in the European market
Therefore, on September 25, 2023, the European Union adopted restrictive measures in relation to the commercialization of microplastic, prohibiting the sale of the material itself and of goods that intentionally contain it. The restrictions will affect a wide range of sectors and products, the main ones being glitter, cosmetics in general, and the material used in artificial sports courts. The initiative is part of the Zero Pollution Action Plan, and aims to reduce the use of microplastics by 30% by 2030.
The restrictions adopted by the European Commission were based on the recommendations of the scientific committee of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), and came into force at the end of 2023. The first products to be affected by the ban were glitter and cosmetics containing microbeads in its composition, and the other materials will undergo a period of adaptation for technology development, which can last up to 8 years. It is worth noting that the restrictions do not only apply to products manufactured in the European Union, but also to those imported from abroad and sold within the bloc.
Opportunities ahead
Given this scenario, there is a good growth opportunity for companies in the natural cosmetics sector, or “clean beauty”, a term that has become popular. In the cosmetics, personal hygiene and perfumery sector, the situation is prosperous: according to Abihpec (Brazilian Association of the Personal Hygiene, Perfumery and Cosmetics Industry), in 2023, the sector showed an increase in international trade of 14.5% in compared to the previous year, recording a surplus in the Trade Balance of U$80.8 million.
Furthermore, according to the association, the outlook for growth in the sustainable products sector is favorable, since “(...) for 76% of consumers, sustainability is more important today than it was two years ago. Although the price of the product is still the most determining factor when choosing a brand, the category of ‘environmentally friendly products’ has established itself among the five most important attributes when purchasing.”
By Maya Menichelli Janeiro em 06/02/2024
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