Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

A Scalable and Surfactant-Free Emulsion Method for Producing Microbeads from Varied Biomass Feedstocks

Researchers developed a scalable, surfactant-free emulsion method for producing microbeads from non-derivatized biomass such as cellulose, offering a biodegradable alternative to plastic microbeads still used in personal care and consumer products despite national and international regulations.

2024 Langmuir
Article Tier 2

An Eco-friendly Alternative to Polyethylene Microbeads in Personal Healthcare Products

This paper proposes eco-friendly, biodegradable alternatives to polyethylene microbeads used as exfoliants in personal care products like shower gels. Replacing synthetic plastic microbeads with natural materials would reduce a direct source of microplastic pollution entering waterways through drain runoff.

2020 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology (IJISRT)
Article Tier 2

Assessing the biodegradability of microparticles disposed down the drain

This study tested the biodegradability of microparticles made from natural and biodegradable materials proposed as alternatives to synthetic microplastic particles in personal care products, finding that they broke down efficiently under standard conditions. The results support the use of naturally derived microparticles as safer substitutes for plastic microbeads in cosmetics.

2017 Chemosphere 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Bacterial cellulose bio-scrubber impregnated with antibacterial flavonoids from Moringa leaves as a microplastic substitution solution

Researchers developed a bacterial cellulose-based scrubbing material infused with antibacterial compounds from Moringa leaves as a plastic-free alternative to conventional plastic-containing scrubbers. The bio-scrubber was effective at removing contaminants and could reduce the release of microplastics from synthetic scrubbing products into wastewater.

2023 AIP conference proceedings 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of Addition of Spheroidal Cellulose Powders on Physicochemical and Functional Properties of Cosmetic Emulsions

The cosmetics industry has historically used tiny plastic microbeads as scrubbing and texturizing agents in face creams, but these are now widely banned due to environmental harm. This study evaluated spheroidal cellulose powders — derived from plant material — as a biodegradable replacement, finding that creams containing cellulose particles of two different sizes (2 and 7 µm) performed best, delivering good skin hydration, favorable texture, and high consumer sensory ratings. The results support cellulose-based particles as a viable and genuinely biodegradable substitute for synthetic microplastics in personal care products.

2025 Polymers 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Biosourced Spherical Microbeads from Brewer’s Spent Grain for Sustainable Personal Hygiene Products

Researchers developed biodegradable microbeads from brewer's spent grain as a sustainable replacement for plastic microbeads in personal care exfoliants, which are banned in many countries due to their environmental persistence. The biosourced spherical particles showed mechanical properties comparable to plastic microbeads, offering a genuinely plastic-free alternative that breaks down naturally.

2023 1 citations
Review Tier 2

A mini-review of bio-scrubber derived from bacterial cellulose impregnated by flavonoid of moringa leaves

This mini-review examines the development of bacterial cellulose-based bio-scrubbers as a plastic microplastic-free alternative to synthetic scrubbers that release an estimated 209.7 trillion microplastics, recommending ultrasonication for bacterial cellulose microparticle production and ambient pressure drying to achieve high crystallinity, mechanical strength, and transparency.

2022 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Functional Cellulose Microspheres for Potential Biomedical and Cosmetological Applications

This review examines cellulose microspheres (CMs) as biodegradable, biocompatible alternatives to plastic microbeads used in cosmetics and personal care products, summarizing their production methods, physicochemical properties, and applications in chromatography, drug delivery, wound dressing, blood filtration, and cosmetic formulations.

2022 OpenMETU (Middle East Technical University)
Article Tier 2

Biosourced spherical microbeads from brewer's spent grain for sustainable personal hygiene products

Researchers developed biosourced spherical microbeads from brewer's spent grain as a sustainable substitute for petrochemical plastic microbeads used as exfoliating agents in personal care products. The bio-based particles were characterized for size, shape, and mechanical properties to confirm suitability for cosmetic formulations.

2024 Journal of Polymer Science 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Biodegradable, PLA-Based Exfoliant Microbeads via Droplet Microfluidics for Sustainable Cosmetics

Biodegradable microbeads made from polylactic acid (PLA) were fabricated using droplet microfluidics and shown to degrade significantly faster than conventional plastic microbeads in both aqueous and soil environments. This work directly addresses the microplastic pollution problem in cosmetics by providing a viable, scalable, biodegradable alternative to the polyethylene microbeads that have been banned in many countries.

2026 ACS Applied Polymer Materials
Article Tier 2

Waste utilization and optimization of calamansi peels: a formulation study on biodegradable microbeads

Tiny plastic beads used as exfoliants in cosmetics are a direct source of microplastic pollution — and this Philippine study developed a biodegradable alternative made from the cellulose in calamansi citrus peel waste. The resulting beads matched industry size standards for exfoliants and performed well in both hand sanitizer and facial gel formulations, with good stability and texture. The work demonstrates a circular-economy approach: converting agricultural food waste into an eco-friendly substitute for synthetic microplastics in personal care products.

2026 Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
Article Tier 2

Microencapsulation of High‐Content Actives Using Biodegradable Silk Materials

Researchers developed biodegradable silk fibroin microcapsules capable of encapsulating high concentrations of active ingredients through controlled protein assembly, offering a scalable alternative to conventional non-degradable plastic microbeads used in cosmetics and consumer care products.

2022 Small 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Removal of Pristine and UV-Weathered Microplastics from Water: Moringa oleifera Seed Protein as a Natural Coagulant

Researchers tested a natural plant-based coagulant from Moringa oleifera seeds for removing microplastics from water, comparing it to conventional chemical treatments. The natural coagulant effectively removed both fresh and UV-weathered polyethylene microplastics, performing comparably to synthetic alternatives. This approach offers a more eco-friendly and less toxic option for cleaning microplastics from water systems.

2024 Environmental Engineering Science 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable chito-beads replacing non-biodegradable microplastics for cosmetics

Biodegradable microbeads were prepared by reacetylation of chitosan as a direct substitute for synthetic polymer microbeads in cosmetic exfoliators. The chitosan-based beads demonstrated suitable mechanical properties and high cleansing efficiency, offering a viable biodegradable alternative to conventional microplastic microbeads.

2021 Green Chemistry 76 citations
Article Tier 2

Degradable poly(β-amino ester) microparticles for cleansing products and food fortification

Researchers developed degradable microparticles made from a material that breaks down into sugar and amino acid byproducts, designed to replace the non-degradable plastic microbeads used in cleansing products and food fortification. These new particles performed similarly to conventional plastic microbeads but dissolve harmlessly in the environment. This innovation could help reduce one significant source of microplastic pollution that enters waterways and the food supply.

2024 Nature Chemical Engineering 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Surface Morphology-Enhanced Delivery of Bioinspired Eco-Friendly Microcapsules

Researchers developed biodegradable microcapsules made from proteins and biominerals as a sustainable replacement for the synthetic polymer microplastic particles used in many consumer products including cosmetics and paints. The capsules degraded naturally and performed comparably to conventional capsules in controlled release tests. Replacing non-biodegradable microcapsules with protein-mineral alternatives could significantly reduce microplastic pollution from consumer goods.

2022 ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparative toxicity of exfoliating products containing microplastics and alternative particles from Nepal

Researchers tested the toxicity of exfoliating cosmetic products containing microplastics against those using natural alternative particles from Nepal, finding differences in how each affected aquatic organisms. The study informs debates about whether natural alternatives to synthetic microbeads in cosmetics are truly safer for the environment.

2019 Duo Research Archive (University of Oslo)
Article Tier 2

Particle Size and Dispersion Properties of Cellulose Beads Fabricated via Coaxial Needle Spray Method

Researchers developed a method for producing cellulose microbeads smaller than 500 micrometers using a coaxial needle spray technique, as a biodegradable alternative to synthetic plastic microbeads in cosmetics. Replacing plastic microbeads in personal care products with cellulose-based alternatives directly reduces microplastic contamination in wastewater and aquatic environments.

2023 Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Development of Eco-friendly Vegetable Powders and Colored Scrub Beads Using Hybrid Coating Technology

Researchers developed eco-friendly vegetable-derived powders and colored scrub beads using hybrid coating technology as biodegradable alternatives to plastic microbeads in cosmetics. Starch coated with magnesium myristate and lauroyl lysine produced water-resistant PlanCare powders, while Neo Beads demonstrated potential as direct replacements for conventional plastic beads.

2025 Asian Journal of Beauty and Cosmetology
Article Tier 2

Performance Spectrum of Home-Compostable Biopolymer Fibers Compared to a Petrochemical Alternative

Researchers compared home-compostable biopolymer fibers to conventional petrochemical alternatives, evaluating their mechanical performance and degradability to assess whether biobased materials can serve as viable substitutes that reduce microplastic pollution.

2023 Polymers 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Innovative Approaches to Microplastic and Nano-plastic Biodegradation

This review covers innovative biotechnological approaches to microplastic and nanoplastic biodegradation, examining the origins of these particles from larger plastic waste and intentionally manufactured microbeads. The authors assess promising biological and enzymatic strategies for accelerating breakdown of persistent plastic polymers in environmental and engineered systems.

2024 Egyptian Journal of Botany
Article Tier 2

Fabrication of cellulose-based particles/capsules using gamma radiation-initiated radical precipitation polymerization

Researchers used radiation-initiated polymerization to create biodegradable cellulose-based microparticles as an alternative to fossil-fuel-derived microplastics used in cosmetics and personal care products. The bio-based particles showed promising properties and degraded more readily than conventional synthetic alternatives. Replacing conventional microplastic beads with biodegradable cellulose particles could reduce environmental pollution.

2022 International Journal of Polymeric Materials 6 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microencapsulation for Functional Textile Coatings with Emphasis on Biodegradability—A Systematic Review

This systematic review found that microencapsulation techniques for functional textile coatings are well-established for conventional shell materials, but biodegradable alternatives remain limited and often sacrifice durability. The review identified that most microcapsule shell materials are synthetic polymers that can contribute to microplastic pollution when they degrade from textile surfaces during washing. Developing truly biodegradable microcapsule formulations is essential for reducing the microplastic fiber shedding that makes textiles one of the largest sources of microplastic pollution.

2021 Coatings 66 citations
Article Tier 2

Development of sustainable Exfoliating Scrub using Coconut Sapal and Coffee Waste

Researchers developed and evaluated exfoliating scrub formulations using coconut sapal and coffee waste as natural, biodegradable alternatives to synthetic microplastic microbeads commonly found in personal care products, assessing the physical and sensory properties of the resulting formulations.

2025 Pantao, international journal of the humanities and social sciences