Oral-B 3D white brilliant mint toothpaste and Neutrogena Deep Clean gentle scrub are among the 100-plus products containing microbeads that will be banned from May next year but are still available now — and may be sitting in your bathroom cupboard.

Countdown will be completely microbead-free by the end of September, says James Walker, general manager of corporate affairs. The Foodstuffs chain has already removed products containing microbeads from the shelves of Pak'n Save, New World and Four Square stores. Previously both Foodstuffs and Countdown stopped using microbeads in their own brand products.

But products containing the tiny plastic pieces are still on the shelves at Countdown supermarkets, pharmacies, beauty supply stores and department stores around the country.

ELEANOR BLACK/STUFF Neutrogena Deep Clean Gentle Scrub contains microbeads.

These are old stock, says Food and Grocery Council chief executive Katherine Rich, and retailers are working on replacing them with alternatives.

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"We anticipate products containing microbeads will have disappeared from shelves well before May next year," says Rich.

Eleanor Black Two popular Neutrogena products containing microplastic.

"The reason the beads have not been removed instantly is that reformulation is often complex, and companies wanted to find substitutes that still gave consumers a product that did the same job. Biodegradable alternatives are available and are already being used in some brands."

The Beat the Microbead campaign website lists all microbead-containing products still available in New Zealand. Popular scrubs, shower gels and buffing creams by Clearasil, Elizabeth Arden, Natio, Sisley and Shiseido are among them.

Microbeads are eaten by marine life and often cause death, and according to campaigners they are making their way onto our plates too.

RMIT UNIVERSITY/SUPPLIED Plastic microbeads pose a threat to ocean and marine life.

"Microbeads are ending up in the food chain," says Greenpeace campaigner Elena Di Palma. "They are in the food we are consuming."

It is estimated that 8 trillion tonnes of plastic, including microplastics, go into the ocean each year.

"Microbeads are one part of a much bigger problem with single-use plastics," says Di Palma. "We're starting with microbeads but we need to ban single-use plastic bags and other single-use plastic."

Last week Associate Environment Minister Scott Simpson announced that the ban on products containing microbeads would include all "wash-off" products used for personal care, household cleaning and car cleaning.

Di Palma says there are between 60 and 70 different types of microbeads and it is not yet clear if all are covered by the upcoming ban. "We want them all banned."

If you have old products containing microbeads, Beat the Microbead suggests you send them to landfill rather than use them and allow them to get into the water supply.

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CHECK YOUR SHELVES

These popular products contain microbeads:

Apivita Gentle exfoliating gel with apricot

Apivita Express Every Day Face Scrub with Apricot

Bioré Warming anti-blackhead cleanser

Clean & Clear Deep action exfoliating scrub

Clean & Clear Blackhead clearing cleanser

Clean & Clear Morning burst - oil free facial scrub

Clean & Clear Deep action in-shower facial

Clearasil Ultra - overnight scrub

Clearasil Ultra pimples + marks daily scrub

Clearasil Refreshing superfruit scrub

Clearasil Daily clear - blackhead clearing cleanser

Clearasil Daily clear vitamin & extracts scrub

Dr Lewinns Facial polishing gel gentle exfoliant

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Line Smoothing Exfoliator

Elizabeth Arden Visible difference skin balancing exfoliating cleanser

Innoxa Anti-aging exfoliator

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate - Gentle exfoliating treatment

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate - Intensive exfoliating treatment

Natio Young pore unclogging face scrub

Natio Gentle facial scrub

Natio Purifying face scrub

Natio Ageless dual action cleanser and exfoliator

Neutrogena Rapid clear - blackhead eliminating daily scrub

Neutrogena Oil-free acne wash daily scrub

Neutrogena Oil-free acne stress control power-clear scrub

Neutrogena Oil-free acne wash pink grapefruit foaming scrub

Neutrogena Pore refining exfoliating cleanser

Neutrogena Fresh foaming scrub

QV Face exfoliating polish

Shiseido Deep cleansing scrub for men

Shiseido Revital cleansing foam 1

Sisley Gentle facial buffing cream

Sisley Buff and wash facial gel

Skin Doctors Cosmeceuticals Powerbrasion

For the full list, go to Beat the Microbead.