Thursday 20 December 2012

Christmas shoppers beware!

Microplastics in our beauty products = microplastics in our sea


It seems unbelievable, but it's true: many personal care products like scrubs and peels now contain plastic particles. So, every time we exfoliate or peel off those dead cells, we may be doing our bodies some good, but we're giving our seas anything but a make-over. As the products are rinsed off, they go down the drain and that means we are flushing plastic into our seas where it contributes to the 'plastic soup' problem.

When you’re out Christmas shopping or hitting the January sales, check the list of ingredients on the label. Plastics can appear as: Polyethylene / Polythene (PE), polypropylene (PP) or Polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Message from Dr. Sue Kinsey, MCS Pollution Policy Officer: "It's incredible how many everyday products contain micro plastic beads. These find their way through our sewers and into our seas where they are easily eaten by all sorts of marine animals. Help us stop the practice of putting these microplastics in products by signing the petition and checking out products at home."

Sea Champions across the UK are going through their bathroom cabinets and letting us know which products contain microplastics so we can urge companies to “beat the microbead” and use environmentally friendly alternatives. Anise seeds, sand, salt or coconut were all used before plastic particles. If you'd like to take part too you can email your findings to Dr. Kinsey.

MCS and the North Sea Foundation want to get an EU ban on micro plastics in consumer products. Help by signing and sharing the petition:

 "Scrub Plastic Free!” www.noordzee.nl/microplastics-petitie/petitie

You can also download additional information on the issues associated with microplastics.

 With your help we can beat the microbead!
 
Simply by washing your face you could be adding the the "plastic soup" problem in our seas.
 

Lancashire MCS Local Group create marine display

Inspiring the general public about our amazing marine life is a difficult task when people can’t get beneath the waves to see the beauty of these precious ecosystems. The Lancashire MCS Local Group however are doing just that. Images and sea-life survey information from their Seasearch dives around Calve Island, Tobermory Bay have been made into a display at the Mull Visitor Centre! The group hopes this will encourage people to take more interest in the wildlife around our coasts. Click on the links to find out more about Seasearch, and the Lancashire MCS Local Group.  


Marine display at the Mull Visitor Centre created by the Lancashire MCS Local Group.

Wednesday 5 December 2012

Sea Champions get into the Christmas Spirit!

Sea Champions Bryn Edwards, Katie Macer-Wright and Anelma Roberts got into the Christmas spirit at the weekend at the Christmas Fair in Ross-on-Wye, whilst Scottish Sea Champions braved the cold at the Christmas Fair in Edinburgh.

Sea Champions and MCS staff were delighted to meet so many friends of MCS, particularly the Christmas turkey who took part in Litter-Pick-Panic, the angel and Christmas presents that pledged for 127 Marine Conservation Zones, and the snowman and Christmas pudding who expressed real interest in joining MCS.

Sea Champions are planning to attend many more Christmas fairs throughout December, get in touch with your Volunteer Coordinator if you'd like to help out or attend a fair near you.

Turkeys, angels and Christmas puddings support MCS at the Christmas Fair in Ross-on-Wye!