Plastic cotton swabs are among the most common litter items found in waterways worldwide. The good news? Their days are numbered in France. Under the Biodiversity Law adopted on July 20, 2016, Parliament has prohibited their sale starting January 1, 2020.
Antidia Citores, spokesperson for Surfrider Foundation Europe, told Le Parisien that these swabs "release chemical substances that persist and accumulate in ocean plastic patches." They also endanger birds and fish by perforating organs if ingested. In 2016 alone, the foundation collected over 16,000 plastic swabs from European rivers and coastlines. Many end up flushed down toilets instead of the trash, where treatment plant grids usually catch them—unless heavy rains overwhelm the system, releasing them into the wild.
To meet the new regulations, brands must switch to biodegradable, compostable paper swabs. Options like wooden or cardboard sticks already exist, alongside ear-cleaning sprays. This ban aligns with broader efforts to green cosmetics, including the prohibition of plastic microbeads in scrubs. It may seem minor for daily routines, but the environmental benefits are profound.
