Hello Migros
In connection with the many articles and discussions about microplastics in water and drinking water, in the oceans, in algae and fish and, most recently, in our bodies, I downloaded the Code Check app and checked the cosmetic products that I always use (all from Migros). And I was really shocked: many of them (e.g. I am - Shampoo Daily Care) contain microplastics, as well as palm oil and a whole range of problematic chemicals. It's also difficult to find an alternative product in Migros that pollutes the water less.
That surprised me. Up to now, I have been very impressed by Migros' efforts to be environmentally friendly. I continue to appreciate them, but I was very surprised that Migros allows even its own brands to contain such environmentally harmful substances.
From my point of view, this would be an urgent step: to develop cosmetic products without environmentally harmful substances (it is possible) - preferably in general, that would be the most credible, or at least some that are specially labeled! I am sure that environmentally conscious customers would be happy to buy these products.
Until that happens, I will probably have to look for microplastic and palm oil-free cosmetic products outside Migros. It would be very nice if Migros would also get involved in the interests of the next generation!
All replies (11)
I gladly agree with you. In my opinion, Migros urgently needs to get its act together and set a good example in the retail trade, among the "big players" with weight: From avoiding microplastics (cosmetics, clothing, cleaning cloths, etc.) - From avoiding microplastics (cosmetics, clothing, cleaning cloths, etc. and the introduction of the microplastic fiber wash bag) to plastic packaging (it really doesn't take that much!!!) and fair & above all CLEAN products to organic food that really deserves the "organic" seal of approval according to at least the Swiss standard and is produced sustainably and in an environmentally friendly manner. Regional must flourish, organic-regional even more! Take your profits there!
It seems to me that Migros is increasingly lagging behind the trends. And these "trends" are those of sustainability, environmental protection, fairness towards workers (increase minimum wages!!), protection of children (no child labor, not even hidden!), environmental restoration (see meadows without flowers, bees find less food)... The future is not MASS, but CLASS. Many do not want to give up abundance... are annoyed when, for example, I make such demands that everyone has to start with themselves. But unfortunately that's not enough.
... I watch documentaries that show the conditions elsewhere (India, Indonesia, China, America, Brazil, South Africa, Tanzania... you name it) and I realize with horror that people there are starving and/or have little to almost no drinking water, there is garbage everywhere, garbage dumps drool their juice into nearby streams, rivers, the sea and children and adults get sick - either from polluted water or because of the faeces floating past their huts. In Indonesia, textile dyeing factories release their juice into the streams that supply water to small and large villages. The people there become ill (Hg, Pb, Al etc. are found in the water).
More and more droughts are depriving people of their livelihoods. Elsewhere there are floods - over and over again (currently in Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece...).
We are all - big and small - responsible for our world. No more burying our heads in the sand!
Hello everyone
I am still waiting for a more detailed statement, but I invite you to read some background information on Migros and the microplastics issue here:
https://generation-m.migros.ch/de/nachhaltige-migros/hintergruende/rohstoffe-sortiment/naturkosmetik.html
I will get back to you as soon as possible with additional information.
Kind regards
Kathrin
Dear Kathrin
Thank you for the initial information. Now at least I know that Migros has a natural cosmetics line. I was wondering why I hadn't noticed it, as I've been looking very carefully for it recently. Today I looked for these products in the MM store where I almost always shop, with the logos pictured in my head - and found nothing. Apparently not all stores carry them.
About the Mibelle Group, the page that can be reached via the link you provided says: "The Mibelle Group has not used microplastics in any of its products since 2015". How is it that, according to the Code Checker app, the product "I am Daily Care" contains microplastics (specifically: styrene/acrylate copolymer)?
Best regards Rhythmus
@Rhytmus
I don't know which logos you went to the MM store with in your head, because I don't see any logos on the page linked by Kathrin, only the brand name "I am natural Cosmetics" (among others). The products of this Migros own brand should also be available in your MM store, otherwise it is not an MM supermarket. The design of the product line is very uniform; here is an example:
Hello everyone
As already mentioned, Mibelle has not used microplastics for years. The synthetic polymers that Code-Check refers to as "microplastics" are biodegradable and do not form particles and are therefore not a problem for the environment.
My colleagues at Mibelle also mentioned that there are also cosmetics completely free of synthetic substances, namely the NATRUE-certified natural cosmetics in the I Am Natural range.
You can find all natural cosmetic products on our product website here:https://produkte.migros.ch/sortiment/supermarkt/koerperpflege-kosmetik?facets=label~naturkosmetik
And you might be interested in the following blog post?https://beauty.migros.ch/de/naturkosmetik.html
Have a nice day
Kathrin
Ok, then perhaps I used the term "logos" incorrectly. I meant the green circle with the words "natural cosmetics" and the little leaf. That's quite striking, so I searched for products with this green circle in mind. In vain.
Thank you, Kathrin, for the answer.
Based on the sentence "The synthetic polymers that the code check refers to as "microplastics" are biodegradable and do not form particles and are therefore not a problem for the environment", I tried to do some research on the internet. And it turns out that there are different definitions of what microplastics are. Some refer exclusively to the tiny particles in abrasives and exfoliants. Some include substances such as the aforementioned "styrene/acrylate copolymer", which are added as film-forming and opacifying substances, in the definition of microplastics. Codecheck apparently also uses this extended definition, but there are others that do the same.
It is obvious that manufacturers tend to use the first, narrower definition and do not want to change their formulations.
The German Federal Environment Agency, for example, describes both definitions and states that after successfully replacing plastic abrasive particles with those made of other materials, the next step must now be to dispense with the use of opacifiers.
Now, as a customer, I have to decide whether to follow the narrower or broader definition. I am leaning towards the latter and will look for products that do not contain microplastics according to this definition. I still think that Migros and Mibelle could play a pioneering role in the voluntary renunciation of environmentally harmful substances. You drew my attention to the "natural" cosmetics line, which I simply haven't found yet. Perhaps it would be a first step if this line were available in all stores, placed in the customer's field of vision and advertised at least as prominently as other products.
Yours sincerely
Rhythm
Hello Rhytmus
Thank you very much for your detailed feedback.
I will be happy to pass on your feedback to the department managers, perhaps the offer or the presentation in the stores can be adapted accordingly?
Kind regards
Kathrin
Plastic my ass. The Chräschelsäckli may have disappeared, but more and more things are wrapped in plastic and then thrown away again. Not to mention the many useless plastic products. In addition, these utensils are then shipped here by sea, and these giant tankers, well, you know what kind of dirt-slingers they are. I would like to see less of these problematic materials brought in and sold. See the things at Christmas, Easter, fall, winter .... Decorations etc. People, there is already enough stuff in households.
Dear Migros.
I haven't shopped with you for a while now.
In principle, I think it's good if your own brands are free from microplastics.
But it's no good leaving the choice up to the customer. Because hardly anyone standing in front of the shelf in Migros knows where microplastics are and how harmful they are.
Very few customers make environmentally conscious purchases because it simply involves far too much effort. You either have to read through the ingredients of dozens of products and understand the secret language, or you have to scan the products with a special app.
That's why I'm calling on Migros to rigorously remove all products that contain microplastics. Or at least write it so large on the shelves that nobody can miss it.
Only if you prevent the masses from buying these products will the environment also benefit.
That's what we customers want. We want to shop in an environmentally conscious way without having to make a huge effort. On behalf of all customers: Please remove all products with microplastics today! Thank you