Beauty products given as Christmas presents could end up harming marine life, conservation groups have warned.
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) and Fauna & Flora International (FFI) said that personal care products like scrubs and peels often contained plastic particles, which go down the plughole.
“That means we are flushing plastic into our seas, where it contributes to a growing problem of plastic pollution,” said MCS.
According to MCS, some leading manufacturers of beauty products, including Unilever, Lush and the Body Shop, had either stopped using “microbeads” in their peels, scrubs and washes, or promised to phase them out.
But others had yet to follow their lead and many of their products will have been given as pampering gifts at Christmas, it warned.
MCS added: “Although these items may make our skin look and feel good, they’re giving our seas anything but a makeover.
“Every time we exfoliate or peel off dead cells with many of the leading scrubs and washes, and then rinse them off, the tiny bits of plastic go down the drain.
“These find their way through our sewers and into our seas, where they are easily eaten by all sorts of marine animals and could ultimately end up back in the human food chain.”
MCS litter policy officer Sue Kinsey said shoppers could help to put pressure on any manufacturers “dragging their feet” over the issue of microbeads.
FFI marine plastics officer Tanya Cox added: “Microplastic pollution is having a profound impact on the health of our oceans and demands urgent attention.
“FFI is really encouraged to see leading UK retailers and producers of personal care products proactively replacing damaging microplastic exfoliants with biodegradable alternatives.
“We would urge all companies to take such positive action to minimise this source of microplastic pollution.”