Beat the Microbead vs MicroTrack

The Beat the Microbead app is the fastest way to learn if your cosmetics and personal care products contain plastic ingredients. This app uses state-of-the-art text recognition technology. Just scan the ingredients of your products and check them for microplastics. Not only that, but you can also get to know microplastic-free brands certified by us. How does it work? It’s straightforward: you can scan products with four easy steps: - Find the ingredients list on your product. - Position the full list within your camera frame. - Make sure the ingredients are clear to read. - Take a picture to scan! A traffic light rating system - RED: Products that contain microplastics. - ORANGE: Products that contain what we call “sceptical” microplastics. With this, we mean synthetic polymers for which there is not enough information available. - GREEN: Products that do not contain microplastics. Help us enrich our database! Every time you add a product to our database, you help us build a case against microplastics. With every product information, we can create evidence and convince authorities about the extensive use of plastic ingredients. A bit of extra effort on your side makes you a part of the fight against microplastics in cosmetics and care products. So, go ahead, scan the barcode of your product and help us get some more information! By adding the products to our database, you can also discover our certified microplastic-free brands. These brands have their entire range of products free of all known microplastic ingredients. Why is it important? Plastic in cosmetics is a global problem! Microplastics are hardly visible ingredients that pollute our planet & may pose health risks. These microplastics, hardly visible to the naked eye, flow straight from the bathroom drain into the sewer system. Microplastics are not biodegradable, and once they enter the (marine) environment, they are almost impossible to remove. Sea animals absorb or eat microplastics; these particles are passed along the marine food chain. Since humans are ultimately at the top of this food chain, it is likely that we also ingest microplastics. Using body washes or cosmetics that contain microplastics can put the ocean, ourselves, and our children at risk! With this app, you can get aware of this issue and make environmentally friendly choices. Who is behind this app? The collaborators behind this app include the following partners: Plastic Soup Foundation: NGO based in Amsterdam, initiators of the worldwide campaign “Beat the Microbead”. Their mission: No plastic in our water or our bodies! PINCH: a renowned mobile development agency from Amsterdam that is proud of their work for the Plastic Soup Foundation.

MicroTrack – Track Your Microplastic Exposure Understand your everyday microplastic exposure and discover simple ways to make more informed choices. MicroTrack helps you track products, habits, and daily choices that may contribute to microplastic exposure. Scan products, log your lifestyle, and receive personalized insights designed to help you better understand your exposure patterns. Understand Your Exposure: See estimated exposure scores based on your logged products, habits, and available product information. Track trends over time and understand what contributes most to your score. Scan & Track Products: Quickly scan barcodes to identify products and explore information from trusted product databases. Keep track of the items you use every day and build awareness of your habits. Personal Insights & Trends: Discover patterns in your daily choices with easy-to-understand reports, summaries, and progress tracking. Learn About Microplastics: Explore educational articles and guides about microplastics, common sources, and practical ways to reduce unnecessary exposure. MicroTrack Premium: Unlock additional features including: Advanced insights and analytics Detailed exposure trends Premium educational content Enhanced tracking features A more personalized experience Your Data, Your Control: Your account and personal data are securely protected. MicroTrack uses secure authentication and cloud synchronization to keep your information available across your devices.