All That Glitters is Probably Mica
We might be hiding behind masks for now, but the next time you apply your favourite lipstick or eyeshadow, take a closer look at the ingredients. Most shimmery cosmetics contain mica - a mined mineral that is often linked to child labour and extreme working conditions.
The Ugly Truth
Aside from beauty products, mica is used to add shimmer or sparkle to car paints, household appliances and construction materials.
India is the world’s leading producer of mica and over 50% of global supply comes from Bihar and Andhra Pradesh states. Unfortunately, illegal mines employing children as young as five account for a significant portion of mica.
A 2016 report by Terre des Hommes estimated that 22,000 children were involved in mining in “the mica belt” of India. It is suspected that child labour is employed at mines in India, China, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Madagascar, Brazil and Peru.
Photo by Jack Pearce via Refinery 19
“Surma Kumari, 11, shows scars from a mine collapse”. Photo by Jack Pearce via Refinery 19
“Children working in Madagascar’s mica mines have complained of health issues including respiratory problems.” Photo by Jan-Joseph Stok/Terre des Hommes via The Guardian
Ending Child Labour
While mining for mica, child labourers breathe in a toxic mixture of dust and explosive chemicals and face a high risk of cave-ins. They often suffer respiratory problems such as mica pneumoconiosis and prolonged inhalation of mica dust may cause permanent lung damage.
Poverty and the profit from cheap labour are two key drivers in child exploitation. If we truly want to end human rights violations, upstream and downstream stakeholders in mica supply chains must conduct due diligence and embrace transparency. MIMOSI Connect is a blockchain platform that empowers stakeholders to responsibly source sensitive materials. It gives companies a trusted, immutable record of transactions, documents, and metrics to support responsible supply chain management and due diligence.
“Children comprise as much as 62% of the overall mining workforce, with miners descending deep into the ground to cut the mica by hand.”
Image credits: Jan-Joseph Stok/Terre des Hommes via The Guardian, Refinery29 and Jack Pearce via Refinery29.
References
Kate Hodal (November, 2019), Children as young as five make up most of Madagascar’s mica mining workforce, The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/nov/21/children-as-young-as-five-make-up-most-of-madagascars-mica-mining-workforce
Lexy Lebsack (May, 2019), The Makeup Industry’s Darkest Secret Is Hiding In Your Makeup Bag, Refinery29. Retrieved from https://www.refinery29.com/en-ca/2019/05/231855/mica-in-makeup-mining-child-labour-india-controversy
Jason Cole (November, 2001), Micas, University of Waterloo. Retrieved from https://uwaterloo.ca/earth-sciences-museum/resources/detailed-rocks-and-minerals-articles/micas
World Vision (2018), Hidden Cost of Beauty - The risk of child labour in Canadian cosmetics. Retrieved from https://www.worldvision.ca/WorldVisionCanada/media/NCFS/Reports/risk-of-child-labour-in-canadian-cosmetics-mica-research-brief-2018.pdf
Jatindra Dash (May, 2017), India begins legalizing mica mining after child worker deaths expose, Thomson Reuters Foundation. Retrieved from https://ca.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1802AC
Moitra S. et al (May, 2018), Mica pneumoconiosis: a neglected occupational lung disease. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(18)30178-4.
Campaign for Safe Cosmetic. Retrieved on November 17th, 2020 from http://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/chemicals-of-concern/mica/
Terre the Hommes, Report: Child labour in Madagascar's Mica sector. Retrieved from https://www.terredeshommes.nl/en/latest/child-labour-in-madagascar-s-mica-sector