The Illinois’ Environmental Protection Act has been amended to include a ban on plastic microbeads in personal care products. The text passed both the Illinois House of Representatives and Senate at the end of May and was eventually signed by Governor Pat Quinn on June 8.
The legislation will ban the manufacture for sale of these products on December 31, 2017 and ban acceptance for sale on December 31, 2018. Over the counter drugs such as certain toothpastes or acne washes have an extra year to comply. The Illinois Environmental Council worked on this legislation with the Chemical Industry Council of Illinois and the Personal Care Products Council.
Many manufacturers are phasing out this ingredient and replacing it with more sustainable products, including silica, wood, or wax-based alternatives. New York and California have moved similar laws through chambers of their legislature.
“We urge policy makers who are considering similar legislation in other states to review the work we have accomplished in Illinois with all sectors of the business community, including personal care product manufacturers, as we have sought to identify effective and realistic solutions,” said the Personal Care Products Council in a statement
