Microbeads are plastic pieces or fibres that are 5 mm or less. 1,147 personal cleansing products, including Bath & Body Works, in North America and around the world contain microbeads. Despite our love for the candy-coloured, variety scented products that Bath &Body Works products provide, there are at least 360, 000 microbeads in each bottle that can intoxicate sea species (most of which we consume).

Their products vary from personal cleansing materials that we use for scrubbing, bathing, showering, etc. However, microbeads make up 10.6% of just each scrub, as found by Dr. Leslie's study from Free University in Amsterdam. As microbeads travel through sewer treatment facilities, they are unable to be filtered since they are 1 mm in size. They eventually reach rivers, lakes, and oceans, that negatively impact around 73 different fish species globally as they are unable to distinguish them between food. These fish are then captured and processed into the sea food that we are served daily.

Thus, begins the cycle of intoxication. Scientists hypothesise that over time, persistent organic pollutants, found in microbeads, will start accumulating in the food chain, transferring from species to species, with consequences ultimately for humans.

However, it's not too late to beat the microbead, one cosmetics company at a time. Dove soaps, Vaseline and Pond's skin care recently announced that they're phasing out microbeads in their personal care products. Sign the petition today so that Bath & Body Works will be next to end this cycle of intoxication!