{"id":2197,"date":"2020-02-03T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-03T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/?post_type=guidline&p=2197"},"modified":"2026-09-29T14:13:55","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T12:13:55","slug":"guideline-on-microplastics-in-cosmetic-products","status":"publish","type":"guidline","link":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/press-and-media\/publications\/guidelines\/guideline-on-microplastics-in-cosmetic-products\/","title":{"rendered":"Guideline on microplastics in cosmetic products"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \n

Microplastics are not only in our tyres and textiles, they\u2019re also in our cosmetics, such as facial scrubs, body wash or even toothpaste. And they aren\u2019t always visible or tangible. Cosmetics may also contain dissolved, gel-like and liquid polymers which then end up in the water supply and eventually in all areas of life and the environment. The REWE GROUP is striving to reduce the use of these substances.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n

Background<\/h2>\n

Each year, around 922 tonnes of microplastics and approximately 23,700 tonnes of dissolved, gel-like and liquid polymers are used in cosmetics in Germany. Wastewater treatment plants are often unable to filter out these substances, and they end up in oceans and rivers, or on agricultural fields when sewage sludge is used as a fertilizer. And they can also spread through the air. Microplastics have been found in 69 percent of fish samples taken from the North and Baltic Seas, as well as in food \u2013 and in people. Microplastics absorb harmful substances, and they also take a long time to decompose. The ramifications have not been fully researched yet, but it can be assumed that microplastics have a negative impact on ecosystems. The negative effects of dissolved, gel-like and liquid polymers on organisms can also not be ruled out.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\n

Our goals <\/h2>\n

REWE GROUP set a goal of eliminating the use of microplastics (as per the group\u2019s definition) in the formulations of all REWE and PENNY private label cosmetic products in Germany by the end of 2020. In addition, the use of the REWE-designated focussed synthetic and semi-synthetic polymers in dissolved, gel-like and liquid form in the formulations of cosmetic products should be avoided whenever possible, as long as it does not compromise product quality.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\n

Our measures<\/h2>\n

The REWE GROUP has implemented various measures to achieve these goals. They have specified their definition of microplastics and outlined a list of focussed synthetic and semi-synthetic polymers. The REWE GROUP communicates these to their suppliers to ensure uniform understanding. In cooperation with suppliers, the REWE GROUP is conducting a continuous, item-specific review of the range of private-label cosmetics to identify and elaborate substitution options and new formulations. In order to ensure that its requirements are met, the REWE GROUP includes its definitions of the terms in its contracts with the suppliers for the respective products. In addition, the REWE GROUP\u2019s quality management verifies the ingredient lists. In order to help customers make informed choices, the REWE GROUP labels their in-house cosmetics that do not contain microplastics or focussed dissolved, gel-like and liquid polymers.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n \n
\n

Guideline<\/h2>\n

Download Guideline on microplastics in cosmetic products<\/q> as a PDF here.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n Download<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Read more <\/h2>\n \n <\/div>\n
\n
    \n
  • \n
    \n \n
    \n \n\n
    \n \"A\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n
    \n
    \n
    \n
    \n

    Corporate report<\/p>\n

    21 August 2026<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

    Sustainability Progress Report 2025<\/h3>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  • \n
    \n \n
    \n \n\n
    \n \"Close-up\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n
    \n
    \n
    \n
    \n

    Story<\/p>\n

    10 June 2026<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

    Milestone reached: 100% traceable cotton from the initiative<\/h3>\n

    As a trading and tourism company, we source products and services from a large number of suppliers and from different global supply chains. We want to reduce the ecological and social impact of our actions wherever possible. REWE Group has now reached a milestone: we have succeeded in physically tracing 100 percent of the Cotton made in Africa cotton used in our own brands back to its origin<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n
    \n \n
    \n \n\n
    \n \"The\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n
    \n
    \n
    \n
    \n

    Story<\/p>\n

    22 May 2026<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

    Lettuce on supermarket roofs: REWE brings green farming to series production<\/h3>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  • \n
    \n \n
    \n \n\n
    \n \"From\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n
    \n
    \n
    \n
    \n

    Press release<\/p>\n

    19 January 2026<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

    Pioneer in the German food retail sector: REWE GROUP, Landfrisch AG and Producers launch unique partnership model for promising vegetable cultivation<\/h3>\n

    Tripartite agreement strengthens cooperation between trade and agriculture and creates a reliable basis for the future<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n
    \n \n
    \n \n\n
    \n \"Cows\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n
    \n
    \n
    \n
    \n

    Press release<\/p>\n

    16 December 2025<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

    REWE and Bioland launch partnership for more organic products<\/h3>\n

    Working together for sustainable agriculture and an expanded association-certified organic range in supermarkets<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n
    \n \n
    \n \n\n
    \n \"Globe\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n
    \n
    \n
    \n
    \n

    Story<\/p>\n

    28 November 2025<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

    The future starts on your plate: the Planetary Health Diet – and why we are following it<\/h3>\n

    According to United Nations projections, up to ten billion people could be living in the world by 2050. Consequently, one of the major challenges of the future will be to feed these people healthily without overburdening our planet. As a food retailer and daily companion to our customers, we are working hard to tackle this challenge. <\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n <\/li>\n

  • \n
    \n \n
    \n
    \n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n \n\n \n
    <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
    \n
    \n
    \n
    \n

    Guideline<\/p>\n

    27 November 2025<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

    Guideline on animal welfare<\/h3>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n <\/li>\n
  • \n
    \n \n
    \n \n\n
    \n \"Four\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n
    \n
    \n
    \n
    \n

    Story<\/p>\n

    13 November 2025<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

    Plant-based recipes as the key to Sustainability: BILLA focuses on plant-based recipes<\/h3>\n

    More and more people are consciously opting for plant-based foods – whether for health reasons, out of consideration for animal welfare or out of responsibility towards the environment.<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","nl_adhoc_sent":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"sales_line":[19],"focus_theme":[142],"class_list":["post-2197","guidline","type-guidline","status-publish","hentry","category-responsibility","sales_line-rewe-group","focus_theme-undefined"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guidline\/2197","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guidline"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/guidline"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guidline\/2197\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31248,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guidline\/2197\/revisions\/31248"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2197"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2197"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2197"},{"taxonomy":"sales_line","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sales_line?post=2197"},{"taxonomy":"focus_theme","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/focus_theme?post=2197"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}