Michael has welcomed the Government’s decision to implement a full ban on microbeads.
The announcement was made by the Environment Secretary on Friday 21 July after a public consultation on microbeads, which are found in a wide range of personal care products including toothpastes.
Microbeads are tiny pieces of plastic that are proven to have entered the world’s oceans where they are then swallowed by wildlife.
The ban will prevent microbeads from being manufactured and sold in the UK. Legislation to implement the ban will be introduced later this year, with the manufacturing ban due to become effective from 1 January 2018 and the sales ban to follow on 30 June 2018.
The announcement comes after figures that show plastic bag usage has fallen 83 per cent since the Government introduced the 5p plastic bag charge.
Michael said: ‘The UK has always been a leader in environmental protection. We take our responsibility to marine life here and around the world very seriously. Whether it’s banning microbeads or reducing plastic bag usage, I support this Government’s efforts to keep Britain green.’