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Microplastics from Cosmetics: Environmental Fate, Ecological Risk, and Life Cycle Trade-offs of Sustainable Alternatives

Authors

Keywords:

Microplastics, Biodegradable cosmetics, Environmental risk assessment, Biosurfactants, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

Abstract

This review examines the environmental implications of cosmetic formulations, with a primary focus on cosmetic-derived micro plastics and the life cycle trade-offs of sustainable alternatives, while also considering complementary environmental emissions such as fragrance-derived volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The aim is to evaluate how sustainable formulation strategies can mitigate environmental risks while maintaining product performance and safety. A comprehensive literature review was conducted, integrating findings from environmental toxicology, air pollution science, and cosmetic formulation research.

The results indicate that cosmetic-derived micro plastics are persistent pollutants that accumulate in aquatic environments, act as vectors for hazardous chemicals, and pose ecological risks through bioaccumulation and trophic transfer. In addition, VOC emissions from fragranced products contribute to indoor and outdoor air pollution, with implications for human health. Biodegradable and bio-based alternatives, including natural exfoliants, biopolymers, and bio surfactants, offer promising solutions; however, their environmental performance is highly context-dependent and may introduce new risks, such as incomplete degradation or secondary particle formation.

Furthermore, life cycle assessment (LCA) studies reveal that some alternatives may shift environmental burdens to upstream processes, highlighting the importance of a systems-level evaluation. Similarly, recent life cycle-oriented process studies have demonstrated that material substitution may reduce end-of-life pollution while simultaneously increasing upstream energy demand or processing-related emissions, emphasizing the importance of systems-level sustainability evaluation. The findings underscore that sustainable cosmetic formulation requires an integrated framework that considers environmental fate, toxicity, product functionality, and regulatory factors. Future research should focus on long-term environmental monitoring and the development of standardized assessment methodologies to ensure that material substitutions lead to genuine environmental benefits.

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Published

2026-09-05

How to Cite

Son, E. (2026). Microplastics from Cosmetics: Environmental Fate, Ecological Risk, and Life Cycle Trade-offs of Sustainable Alternatives. Environmental Research and Technology. Retrieved from https://ertjournal.org/index.php/pub/article/view/514

Issue

Online First

Section

Review

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