Editorial: Good riddance to microbeads

Foodstuffs stores have removed products containing microbeads.

You might not normally associate supermarkets with taking a lead in matters of the environment.

Which is why we should doff our hats to Foodstuffs for taking the initiative on banning from its shelves microbeads - minute plastic beads that appear in deodorants, cosmetics and the like - and which do significant harm.

These pesky blighters are flushed away in their billions every day to find their way into our lakes, rivers and oceans and can make their way into the food chain and on to our dinner plates.

I love tapioca as much as the next person, but preferably the digestible kind.

The move pre-empts a Government imposed ban which takes effect next July.

But rather than be reactionary, Foodstuffs began talks last year with its suppliers encouraging some to remove the offending plastics from their products. Those who have yet to adjust won't have their products sold from Foodstuffs shelves.

Many Whanganui people feel passionately about such things. We have a most active and effective anti-plastic bag movement locally, and perhaps the supermarkets will come to the party soon in removing those from their stores, too.

In the scheme of things wrong in the world neither might seem like a major victory for the planet and our well-being.

But like all worthwhile things that we enjoy today, most have come about from hard won increments, and such forward steps are worth acknowledging.

The average consumer may not notice any changes to their toothpaste, but that next salmon fillet may taste a little more succulent next time, not to mention it could be much healthier for you too.