Translatedby Eshan Maitra
Source:Banik Barta
Multiple colors of plastic micro-beads are widely used in Unilever products in Bangladesh. These tremendous harmful particles have been banned all over the world. Since, study showed these can have hazardous long-term effect on the public health and the environment. Accepting their flaw, in December 2012 Unilever announced to stop any further use of these plastic particles by January 2015. Despite of all the health warnings, even from the Bangladesh government, Unilever is still defying their agreement. Everyday people of Bangladesh have been using numerous amounts of their products such as soap, detergent, tooth paste, face wash and many other cosmetics. The alarming fact is that, their products are very much popular in Bangladesh while, 95% of these users are totally unaware of the health related threats of the micro-beads.
In a recent study, Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) published that, Unilever has been using these harmful plastic particles in such high density that, it is over the risk margin. The study was named ‘Microbeads Unfold Health Risk and Environmental Pollutant’ and it showed threatening percentage of microbeads use in Unilever products, especially in Bangladesh. Over 60 types of samples were collected from several shopping-malls and super-shops all over the Dhaka City. Varieties of cosmetic specimens were collected from New Market, Rapa Plaza, Agora Super Shop, Mina Bazaar etc. The results were alarming.
69% of the microbeads that are released to the environment come from the most popular detergents used in Bangladesh Surf Excel and Rin Power White. Surf Excel emits 45% and Rin Power White emits 24% of the microbeads. Besides these, the study found 50% of Pond’s Face Wash contains microbeads. Even their expensive products such as Dove brand’s 40% Face Wash products contain microbeads in them. Even another popular brand Close Up was found with over 60% microbeads in their toothpaste products. Though, the amount is less than 1 millimeter. But even that is highly hazardous in terms of public health.
These microbeads can stay on the skin and inside the pores, even after countless washes. Later on, these plastic microbeads badly damage the skin cells. Further widespread damage to the tissue turns into severe skin diseases. Even may develop into skin cancer. Moreover, using the toothpaste allow these harmful micro-plastics to directly enter the user’s body. The scariest fact is that, once the microbeads containing products such as detergents or cosmetics are used in contact, these plastic microbeads would stay on the user almost forever.
Secretary General of ESDO Dr. Shahriar Hossain told to Bonik Barta that, all the developed countries already have become very strict against the use of plastic microbeads in the products that comes in bio-contact. But the Unilever is taking the advantage of the lack of proper and unimplemented laws against the use of plastic microbeads, and the unwariness about this health-fact in Bangladesh. Acknowledging all the threatening facts, Bangladesh Government should take instant strict actions against the use of plastic microbeads.
Bonik Barta motioned in their recent report on this topic that, all the Unilever products are already microbeads free in USA since 2014. The global announcement of December 2012 is still on their website, “We decided to phase-out plastic scrub beads from personal care products because we believed we could provide consumers with products that deliver a similar exfoliating performance without the need to use plastics. We completed the phase-out globally by 1 January 2015 using suitable alternatives that best match the sensory experience that the plastic scrub beads provided.” Then, why Unilever is still defying their promise, only in Bangladesh? Asking such questions, mails were sent to the Unilever company, but no reply came back.