EU Microplastics Ban Timeline: What's Changing and When (2023-2035)

Key Dates at a Glance

2023

Glitter Banned

2027

Rinse-off Ban

2029

Leave-on Ban

2035

Full Phase-out

On September 25, 2023, the European Commission adopted Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2055, amending Annex XVII to REACH (Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006) with restrictions on synthetic polymer microparticles. This regulation represents the world's most comprehensive microplastics ban, affecting cosmetics, detergents, paints, and dozens of other product categories.

The phase-out spans 12 years - from October 2023 through October 2035 - with different deadlines for different product types. Some products are already banned. Others have years of transition time remaining. Understanding where your formulations fall in this timeline is critical for compliance planning. Use our Ingredient Decoder to scan your products for affected substances.

What Counts as a Microplastic?

The regulation defines microplastics as synthetic polymer microparticles (SPM) that meet specific criteria. Understanding this definition is essential because it determines whether your ingredients are affected.

Regulatory Definition (REACH Annex XVII, Entry 78)

Check any ingredient against the regulation with our Substance Compliance Checker. A substance is considered a microplastic if it meets ALL of the following criteria:

Synthetic polymer - Made of synthetic organic polymer molecules
Solid particle form - Exists as discrete particles at 20 degrees C
Size below 5mm - At least one dimension less than 5mm
Insoluble - Does not dissolve in water
Non-biodegradable - Does not meet specific biodegradability criteria

Common Microplastic Ingredients in Cosmetics

If your formulations contain any of the following, they likely fall under the restriction:

Polyethylene (PE) beads - Common in scrubs and exfoliants
Nylon powders (Nylon-12, Nylon-6) - Used for texture and mattifying effects
Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) - Soft-focus and blurring effects
Acrylates copolymers - Film formers and texture agents (in particle form)
Polyurethane particles - Texture and cushioning
PET glitter - Decorative sparkle effects
Polypropylene (PP) - Exfoliating particles

The Complete Timeline (2023-2035)

The regulation implements a staggered phase-out, giving different product categories different transition periods. Here's the complete timeline:

Phase-Out Schedule

Date	Milestone	Status
October 17, 2023	Glitter, loose microbeads, and products with intentionally added microplastics for immediate release	BANNED
October 17, 2025	SPM labeling mandatory - products containing microplastics must include instructions to avoid environmental release	Upcoming
May 31, 2026	First ECHA reporting deadline for industrial SPM users	Upcoming
May 31, 2027	All SPM users must report quantities and uses to ECHA	Upcoming
October 17, 2027	Rinse-off cosmetics BAN - shampoos, conditioners, shower gels, scrubs, cleansers with SPM	4 years
October 17, 2028	Detergents and cleaning products BAN	Upcoming
October 17, 2029	Leave-on cosmetics BAN - moisturizers, serums, sunscreens, primers with SPM	6 years
October 17, 2031	"Contains microplastics" labeling mandatory for makeup products still using SPM (during transition)	Upcoming
October 17, 2035	Lip products, nail products, and color cosmetics complete BAN - final phase-out for all remaining cosmetic applications	12 years

Which Products Are Affected and When

The regulation takes a risk-based approach, banning products that release microplastics to the environment most readily first, while giving longer transition periods to products where alternatives are harder to develop.

Already Banned (October 2023)

Currently Prohibited

Cosmetic glitter - PET, PVC, and other synthetic glitters
Microbead-based exfoliants - Products where microbeads wash directly down the drain
Loose powders with SPM - Where particles are released during application
Products designed to release microplastics - Any product where SPM release is intentional

If you're still selling products with conventional glitter or polyethylene microbeads in the EU, you're already non-compliant.

Banned October 2027: Rinse-off Cosmetics

Rinse-off products have the most direct pathway to environmental release - they wash down the drain with every use. Products affected include:

Shampoos and conditioners with SPM-based conditioning agents
Facial cleansers with synthetic exfoliating particles
Body washes and shower gels with encapsulated actives
Scrubs and peels with polymer-based exfoliants
Toothpastes with abrasive microplastics
Hand soaps with decorative or functional particles

Banned October 2029: Leave-on Cosmetics

Leave-on products get additional time because microplastics are less likely to be released directly during use. However, they still enter wastewater when products are washed off at the end of the day. Affected products:

Moisturizers and creams with polymer-based texture modifiers
Sunscreens with encapsulated UV filters
Serums with PMMA for optical blurring
Primers with silicone-coated particles
Body lotions with extended-release technology
Deodorants and antiperspirants with polymer particles

Banned October 2035: Color Cosmetics

Lip products, nail products, and decorative cosmetics receive the longest transition period (12 years) because:

Technical performance requirements are particularly demanding
Consumer expectations for texture and finish are high
Alternative ingredients require extensive development and testing
Safety assessments for lip products (incidental ingestion) need additional validation

Products with 2035 Deadline

Lipsticks and lip glosses - Nylon powders for texture, PMMA for shine
Nail polishes - Glitter, texture particles, film formers
Foundations and concealers - Soft-focus particles, mattifying agents
Eye shadows - Binding agents, synthetic pearls
Mascaras - Film-forming particles
Blushes and bronzers - Texture modifiers

Exemptions: What's Not Covered

Not all polymers fall under the restriction. The regulation includes specific exemptions for materials that don't pose the same environmental concerns:

Exempt from the Restriction

Natural polymers
Polymers derived from natural sources that have not been chemically modified (cellulose, chitin, starch)
Biodegradable polymers meeting OECD criteria
Polymers that achieve at least 90% biodegradation within 2 years under relevant environmental conditions (marine, freshwater, or soil)
Water-soluble polymers
Polymers with solubility greater than 2 g/L at 20 degrees C (e.g., PVA, certain acrylates)
Polymers without microplastic form
Polymers that don't exist as particles less than 5mm (film formers, dissolved polymers)
Polymers contained within a product
Where the polymer is physically contained and cannot be released during normal use

A critical point: the exemption for biodegradable polymers requires meeting specific OECD test guidelines (OECD 301, 302, 306, 310, or 311) with documented evidence. Marketing claims of "biodegradable" without supporting test data do not qualify for exemption.

Alternative Ingredients

The good news: alternatives exist for most microplastic applications. The industry has been developing substitutes since the regulation was first proposed, and many are now commercially available.

Microplastic Alternatives by Function

Original Use	Microplastic	Alternatives
Exfoliation	PE beads, nylon	Cellulose beads, silica, rice powder, apricot kernel powder, bamboo powder
Glitter/sparkle	PET glitter	Cellulose-based glitter (eucalyptus), mica, synthetic fluorphlogopite
Soft-focus/blur	PMMA, nylon-12	Silica, calcium aluminum borosilicate, corn starch
Mattifying	Nylon powders	Silica, kaolin, rice starch, tapioca starch
Encapsulation	Polymer capsules	Liposomes, cyclodextrins, alginate capsules
Film forming	Acrylates (particle)	Pullulan, natural gums, modified cellulose (dissolved form)

Note that some alternatives may have different performance characteristics. Cellulose-based glitters, for example, may have slightly different optical properties than PET. Formulators should test alternatives thoroughly and adjust formulations accordingly.

ECHA Reporting Requirements

The regulation includes mandatory reporting obligations for companies placing microplastics on the EU market. This applies during the transition period before full bans take effect.

Reporting Obligations

First deadline: May 31, 2026
Industrial users of SPM must submit initial reports to ECHA
All users deadline: May 31, 2027
All companies placing SPM-containing products on the market must report
Required information:
- Quantity of microplastics placed on the market
- Use categories and product types
- Estimated environmental release
- Identity of downstream users (where known)
Submission method:
Reports submitted electronically to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) via their online portal

Companies should establish tracking systems now to capture the data needed for ECHA reporting. This includes quantities of SPM-containing ingredients purchased, products manufactured, and volumes sold.

Labeling Requirements

In addition to the phase-out bans, the regulation imposes labeling requirements during the transition period:

October 17, 2025: Instructions to Prevent Release

Products containing SPM must include instructions on how to use and dispose of the product to minimize environmental release. This applies to all products with transition periods.

October 17, 2031: "Contains Microplastics" Label

Makeup products still using SPM (before the 2035 deadline) must carry a clear statement: "contains microplastics" or equivalent wording in the relevant language of the market.

Compliance Strategy

Given the 12-year timeline, companies have options for how to approach compliance. Here's a strategic framework:

Phase 1: Immediate (2024-2025)

Audit current formulations - Identify all products containing SPM
Categorize by deadline - Map products to the relevant phase-out date
Verify glitter compliance - Ensure no conventional plastic glitter remains on market
Prepare labeling - Update packaging for October 2025 requirements
Establish tracking systems - Prepare for ECHA reporting obligations

Phase 2: Reformulation (2025-2027)

Prioritize rinse-off products - These face the earliest ban (October 2027)
Test alternatives - Evaluate performance of substitute ingredients
Stability testing - Run accelerated stability on reformulated products
Consumer testing - Validate that alternatives meet consumer expectations
Submit ECHA reports - Meet May 2026 and May 2027 deadlines

Phase 3: Full Transition (2027-2035)

Complete leave-on reformulations - Before October 2029 deadline
Address color cosmetics - Use full timeline for complex formulations
Update marketing claims - Communicate microplastic-free status
Monitor regulatory updates - Watch for guidance documents and interpretations
Verify supplier compliance - Ensure raw material suppliers meet requirements

The Bottom Line

The EU microplastics restriction is the most comprehensive environmental regulation affecting cosmetics in decades. With a 12-year implementation timeline, it provides reasonable transition periods for reformulation - but also demands that companies begin planning now.

Key takeaways:

Glitter and microbeads are already banned - If you're selling these, you're non-compliant
Labeling requirements start October 2025 - Less than a year away
Rinse-off products must be reformulated by 2027 - Start alternative testing now
ECHA reporting is mandatory - Establish tracking systems for quantities and uses
Alternatives exist - Cellulose beads, silica, rice powder, and biodegradable glitter are viable substitutes
Color cosmetics have until 2035 - But early reformulation builds market advantage

Brands that treat this as an opportunity to reformulate with sustainable alternatives will strengthen their market position. Those who wait until deadlines approach may face rushed reformulations and supply chain constraints as demand for alternatives surges.

References

Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 of 25 September 2023 amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH) as regards synthetic polymer microparticles. Official Journal of the European Union, L 238/67.
Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). European Parliament and Council.
ECHA (2019). Annex XV Restriction Report: Proposal for a Restriction - Intentionally added microplastics. European Chemicals Agency.
European Commission (2023). Questions and Answers on the restriction of intentionally added microplastics. EC Environment Directorate.
OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals, Section 3 (Degradation and Accumulation). Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.