The Democratic Alliance (DA) fully supports the proposed national ban on plastic microbeads, announced by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment, the DA’s Dr Dion George. This step will bring South Africa in line with countries such as the United Kingdom, United States of America, the Netherlands, and Australia.
Microbeads are a particularly harmful form of microplastic, primarily used in cosmetic products for exfoliation. They do not biodegrade and persist in waterways and oceans, polluting our food chains, bodies, and the broader environment.
This proposed ban is also timeous and strengthens South Africa’s hand for the upcoming fifth session of the UNEP Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meeting in Geneva, Switzerland where South Africa’s Ministerial delegation will be advocating for strong and binding resolutions on plastic production, producer responsibilities, and waste management.
The DA believes in the constitutional right to a safe and healthy environment. We wish Minister George well as he departs in the coming days to lead our national delegation at the UN plastics negotiations in Switzerland.
We are pleased that DA-aligned environmental policy objectives are being achieved through our representatives in Cabinet, and that we are moving closer to realising a healthy and thriving environment for all South Africans, current and future.