Some of Australia’s leading skincare brands have been forced to pull popular products from shelves in one state after they were found to contain banned plastic microbeads. 
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has issued compliance notices to six businesses – Natio, Coles Group, McPherson’s Consumer Products, Aesthetics Skincare, Frostbland and JMSR Australia – to withdraw nine different items.
Most of the products were exfoliators, and include the popular Alya Skin pomegranate exfoliator facial scrub, the Dr LeWinn’s essentials gentle exfoliant weekly facial polishing gel and the Natio ageless skin renewal exfoliator.
Compliance notices has been issued to Natio, Coles Group, McPherson’s Consumer Products, Aesthetics Skincare, Frostbland and JMSR Australia. (NSW EPA)
The EPA alleged the skincare items contain microbeads, which are tiny solid plastic particles that began to be phased out a decade ago.
They are often microscopic in size and cannot be filtered out during sewage and treatment works, leaving them to wash up in rivers, lakes and oceans. 
Once in the water, they can attract toxins and work their way back up to humans via the food chain.
While some of the products had particles made of bioplastics like polylactic acid and cellulose acetate, the EPA argues they do not readily break down and are still defined as plastic under legislation.
“Microbeads don’t belong in skincare or our waterways – they can threaten marine life and people’s health,” EPA chief executive Tony Chappel said.
Since receiving the compliance notices, the six brands have removed all of the stock.
Plastic microbeads under a microscope. (NSW EPA)
Coles said it removed the KOi product from all stores nationwide and has updated its policies to ensure the ingredient was not included in any Coles Own Brand products in the future.
The EPA also worked with major retailers, such as Chemist Warehouse and Priceline, to get the products out of stores quickly. 
It is one of a few regulators in the world to take enforcement action against the use of plastic microbeads in personal care products. 
Further investigations are underway as the authority works to enforce the state plastics ban. 
Plastic microbeads were once a common item in cosmetic and skincare products to add texture, exfoliate and extend shelf life.
NSW banned their use in rinse-off skincare products from November 1, 2022, with a failure to comply with a notice carrying a maximum penalty of up to $550,000, plus an extra $55,000 for each day the products are supplied. 
Plastic microbeads are also banned in the ACT, Western Australia and Queensland.
The Northern Territory is looking at banning them, while the remaining states have no ban in place. 
NSW EPA chief executive Tony Chappel. (NSW EPA)
Full list of the products withdrawn from shelves
Aesthetics Skincare Pty Ltd – Aesthetics Bio Fermented Triple Action ScrubColes Group Ltd – KOi For Men Cleansing Face Scrub Oat and Desert LimeFrostbland Pty Ltd – Alya Skin Pomegranate Exfoliator Facial Scrub and Exfoliating SorbetJMSR Australia Pty Ltd – Jan Marini Bioglycolic Resurfacing Body Scrub and Jan Marini Cranberry Orange ExfoliatorMcPherson’s Consumer Products Pty Ltd – Dr LeWinn’s Essentials Gentle Exfoliant Weekly Facial Polishing GelNatio Pty Ltd – Natio Men’s Purifying Face Scrub and Natio Ageless Skin Renewal Exfoliator