Papers

61,005 results
|
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

Cellulose Acetate Microsphere in Cosmetics Application and Sustainability Benefits

Researchers developed biodegradable cellulose acetate microspheres as a sustainable replacement for synthetic microplastic particles in cosmetics, producing smooth spherical particles via thermal phase separation that deliver comparable sensory performance while avoiding persistent plastic pollution in the environment.

2024 Journal of the Society of Powder Technology Japan
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

Application of Spray Coating in the Fabrication of Free Standing Nanocellulose Films and Barrier Coating on the Paper Substrates

Researchers developed cellulose acetate microspheres as a sustainable alternative to synthetic microplastic beads in cosmetics, producing spherical particles with high surface smoothness through polymer thermal phase separation that provide a smooth sensory texture while being biodegradable and environmentally safe.

2024 Scientific and Social Research
Article Tier 2

The Degradation Rate of Bio Microbeads Derived from Cellulose and Impregnated with Moringa Leaf Flavonoids Extract

This study developed biodegradable microbeads derived from cellulose as an eco-friendly replacement for synthetic plastic microbeads, which are banned in many countries because they pass through wastewater treatment and accumulate in the environment. The bio-based microbeads showed competitive degradation rates while meeting functional requirements for personal care product applications.

2023 Materials science forum 1 citations
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

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

Applicability of bacterial cellulose in cosmetics – bibliometric review

Researchers reviewed scientific literature on bacterial cellulose — a natural material produced by bacteria — and its potential uses in cosmetics as a sustainable alternative to synthetic ingredients. Studies show it shows strong promise for use in face masks for delivering active compounds and improving skin hydration, making it a candidate to replace some petroleum-based cosmetic materials.

2020 Biotechnology Reports 104 citations
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

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
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
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

Aquatic Toxicity of Polyethylene and Microcrystalline Cellulose Microbeads Used as Abrasives in Cosmetics

When companies replaced plastic microbeads in cosmetics with microcrystalline cellulose as a supposedly greener alternative, this study tested whether that swap actually reduced harm to aquatic life — and found neither polyethylene nor cellulose microbeads caused significant toxic effects on a water plant or a common crustacean at tested concentrations. However, because polyethylene persists indefinitely in the environment while cellulose degrades, the study still recommends phasing out plastic microbeads from personal care products.

2023 Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Quarterly 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Cosmetics: Open Questions and Sustainable Opportunities

This review examines the role of microplastics in cosmetic products and the industry's transition toward sustainable alternatives as regulations tighten worldwide. Researchers surveyed the properties that make plastic particles useful in cosmetics, such as texture and appearance enhancement, alongside their environmental drawbacks. The study provides an overview of emerging bio-based and biodegradable replacement materials that could help the personal care industry eliminate microplastics from formulations.

2024 ChemSusChem 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Eco-Designing Cosmetic Products while Preserving the Sensorial-Application Properties: An Instrumental Approach toward Sustainable Formulations

Researchers explored eco-design approaches for reformulating cosmetic skin care products using natural and biodegradable ingredients. The study demonstrated that synthetic texturizers like nylon-12 and PMMA could be replaced with starch, maltodextrin, and silica while maintaining sensorial application properties, supporting the reduction of microplastic-generating ingredients in personal care products.

2024 Cosmetics 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Bacterial Nanocellulose toward Green Cosmetics: Recent Progresses and Challenges

This review summarizes recent advances in the use of bacterial nanocellulose as a sustainable ingredient in cosmetic formulations, highlighting its potential to replace synthetic microplastic-containing polymers used as film formers, fillers, and carrier materials in skin care products.

2021 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 96 citations
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

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

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

Development of New Spherical Silica as a Substitute for Microplastic Beads

This Japanese-language study describes the development of spherical silica particles as a skin-feel additive to replace microplastic beads in sunscreen and cosmetic products. Replacing synthetic microplastic beads in cosmetics with mineral-based alternatives directly prevents these particles from washing down drains and entering waterways.

2023 Journal of the Japan Society of Colour Material
Article Tier 2

Renewable cellulosic nanocomposites for food packaging to avoid fossil fuel plastic pollution: a review

Researchers reviewed how cellulose nanoparticles extracted from plant biomass can replace petroleum-based plastics in food packaging, finding that adding just 1–5% cellulose nanoparticles significantly improves strength, reduces oxygen and water vapor permeability, and keeps packaging biodegradable. The review positions cellulose nanocomposites as a scalable, eco-friendly alternative to fossil-fuel plastics that contribute to microplastic pollution.

2020 Environmental Chemistry Letters 222 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

Effect of surfactant concentration on the synthesis of hydrogel microbeads using the emulsion polymerization process for acrylamide/acrylic acid copolymers

Researchers examined the effect of surfactant concentration on the synthesis of hydrogel microbeads as biodegradable replacements for the plastic microbeads commonly used in personal care and cosmetic products, optimising formulation parameters to produce spherical particles with properties suitable for exfoliant applications.

2025 E3S Web of Conferences
Article Tier 2

Plastic microbeads from cosmetic products: an experimental study of their hydrodynamic behaviour, vertical transport and resuspension in phytoplankton and sediment aggregates

Researchers studied the hydrodynamic behavior of plastic microbeads from cosmetic products, finding that their physical properties — size, shape, and density — govern how they disperse and settle in aquatic environments after release from consumer products.

2018 Elementa Science of the Anthropocene 102 citations