Microplastics in Great Lakes prompts tips on using less

Microplastics are a troubling pollutant in the Great Lakes, according to a release from Michigan State University Extension. And the organization is offering some tips for reducing usage of products that contain them.

One easy way to minimize microplastic use is to replace facial cleansers that often contain the small plastic bits with simple, ordinary wash cloths. Combining these cloths with non-microbead cleansing products can produce results just as good as products with plastic exfoliants without the added environmental impacts.

Additionally, it’s easy to find products on the market that contain natural things instead of plastic ingredients. To spot the ones that do have microbeads, experts at Michigan State suggest reading the ingredients for words like “polypropylene” or “polyethylene” and then simply not buying them.