• Annel Lopez Hailey
• Communications Director
• (916) 319-2077
• [email protected]

SACRAMENTO, CA - Today, Assembly Bill (AB) 823 by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner (D-Encinitas) passed the Senate Floor with 39-0 votes. AB 823 would ban the sale of plastic microbeads used as an abrasive in non-rinse-off personal care products and cleaning products by January 1, 2029. This bill would also ban the sale of personal care products containing plastic glitter by January 1, 2030.

"Consumers wants safer products, and that call is answered with AB 823. Companies like L'Oreal are already making strides in the industry for clean beauty - naturally. This is where the market is going," stated Assemblymember Tasha Boerner. "Making our state and country healthy again starts with the products we use every day to clean our homes and our bodies. I look forward to seeing California lead the nation once again when this bill becomes law."

"5 Gyres applauds the California Senate for passing AB 823. On the heels of an unsuccessful Global Plastics Treaty, we have to turn to our state leaders to solve the growing microplastic crisis. We look forward to Governor Newsom signing AB 823 into law," said Paulita Bennett-Martin, Senior Strategist for Policy Initiatives, 5 Gyres Institute.

"Microplastics aren't just an environmental issue-they're a direct threat to human health," said Nancy Buermeyer, Director of Program and Policy at Breast Cancer Prevention Partners. "These toxic particles are showing up throughout our bodies and have been linked to cancer, dementia, and reproductive harm. While microplastics may seem small and insignificant, daily exposure allows them to easily make their way into us, where they don't just pollute our bodies-they increase our risk for diseases like breast cancer. With AB 823, California has the opportunity to set a national precedent by banning plastic microbeads from everyday products. We applaud Assemblywoman Boerner's leadership and look forward to this bill becoming law to protect the health of all Californians."

"California has the chance to lead the nation once again in protecting people and the planet from microplastics by signing AB 823. We are grateful to Assemblymember Boerner for her leadership and to the Legislature for their strong, bipartisan support in passing this landmark bill. Now it's time for the Governor to take this historic step and set the standard for the nation," said Krystal Raynes, Legislative Associate, Californians Against Waste.

"The presence of microplastics in California drinking water supplies is sobering because of the potential health impacts. That's why AB 823's advancement to the Senate floor is a huge win for drinking water and the ratepayers who will ultimately have to pay to remove microplastics from their water supplies. It is plain common sense to stop plastic pollution before it gets to our taps. Thank you Assemblymember Boerner! We look forward to Governor Newsom signing AB 823 into law," stated Andria Ventura, Legislative and Policy Director at Clean Water Action.

"Microplastics are being discovered everywhere, including in our brains. There are significant health concerns associated with microplastics, and we need to stop the unnecessary uses of microplastics wherever we can," said Avinash Kar, Senior Director of Toxics at Natural Resources Defense Council. "With AB 823, California can help lead on this important issue."

"As a leading personal care product brand, Innersense Organic Beauty, with our headquarters based in California, I applaud the legislature for taking bold and necessary action with AB 823," said Greg Starkman, Founder and CEO of Innersense Organic Beauty. "Microplastics-including plastic glitter-are toxic trespassers in our bodies and our environment. They have no place in personal care products, and this bill finally says enough is enough. When I founded Innersense, it was with a promise: to put safety before shortcuts and to push the beauty industry toward true accountability. AB 823 is a milestone for public health and environmental protection, and we're deeply grateful to Assemblymember Boerner for her leadership in putting people before plastic."

Microplastics have been detected in human lungs, blood, placentas, and brain tissue, prompting growing concern among scientists and public health experts. In 2015, California banned plastic microbeads in rinse-off personal care products; however, the law excluded leave-on personal care products, and cleaning products.

AB 823 is sponsored by 5 Gyres Institute, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, Californians Against Waste, and Clean Water Action. If signed by the Governor, California would be the first state to ban plastic microbeads in leave-on cosmetics, and cleaning products, as well as plastic glitter in beauty products.

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Assemblymember Tasha Boerner represents the 77th District, which encompasses Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Coronado, and the coastal communities of La Jolla south to Downtown San Diego. You can learn more about Assemblymember Boerner at a77.asmdc.org, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter/X.