National Geographic Article

I think our article meets LO:1 because it explains how microbeads are harming us, which is a problem for our future.

http://storyofstuff.org/plastic-microbeads-ban-the-bead/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/20/microbeads-exfoliation_n_4815133.html

https://www.beatthemicrobead.org/en/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3330671/The-hidden-PLASTIC-lurking-food-Hundreds-tiny-micro-beads-sea-salt-swallow-1-000-year.html

http://www.plasticfreeseas.org/microbeads.html

Is from: http://storyofstuff.org/plastic-microbeads-ban-the-bead/

Is from: http://www.dermatologyupdates.com/beauty/articles/micro_beads.php

Sustainability Questions

I think this shows LO2 Because a few questions explain what microbeads are doing to our ocean and how to fix it.

Q.1

Why do we have to use microbeads when there are better alternatives?

• One alternative would be biodegradable plastic. The problem there would be that biodegradable plastic requires an industrial composting facility to get the plastic hot enough so it can degrade as intended. http://storyofstuff.org/plastic-microbeads-ban-the-bead/
• There are a lot of other alternatives to microbeads like; rice, apricot seeds and walnut shells. They would be just as effective, and more gentle on the skin. But they still don’t use them? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/20/microbeads-exfoliation_n_4815133.html
• Q.2
  Why are we still using microbeads?
  • Microbeads are made from polyethylene. When polyethylene is heated to a certain temperature it melts easily. This means it has unlimited uses, causing it to be used often.
  • In a year 8 million tonnes of polyethylene is made. So it is an easy material to get a hold of, which is most likely why it’s used to make microbeads.
  https://www.beatthemicrobead.org/en/
  
  
  
  
  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3330671/The-hidden-PLASTIC-lurking-food-Hundreds-tiny-micro-beads-sea-salt-swallow-1-000-year.html
• Q.3
  Why do companies disguise microbeads as Polyethylene?
• Companies like avon that make foot scrub and face scrubs. They disguise the  microbeads so most people do not know what they are.
• Q.4
  What are microbeads causing in our ocean?
  • 100,000 plastic particles can enter the ocean in one shower! Fish mistake microbeads for food and swallow them. Those fish can be the fish we eat today!
  • In Australia, people found microbeads in sea salt. Meaning we swallow 1,000 microbeads every year!
  http://www.plasticfreeseas.org/microbeads.html
  Q.5
  How can we help stop microbeads being used
  • Send the products back with a letter,send to waste, strain and send to 5 gyres or strain and make the microbead into amazing art work.