Child Labor in Mica Mining

Did you know that your favorite highlighter and eyeshadow palette was likely mined by a 6-year-old? Many shimmery eyeshadow’s and powder highlight contains mica. According to the Minerals Education Coalition, “Mica is a mineral name given to a group of minerals that are physically and chemically similar.” Because of its color variety and pearly luster, mica is commonly used to the beauty industry, nail polish, and sometimes even car paint, but at what cost? Young children and their families are working in dangerous conditions to mine mica in Africa, the Middle East, and other regions. Instead of going to school, these children or working mines so your favorite eyeshadow palette is available at Sephora.

One of the most notable mica mining regions is Madagascar. According to Pact World, an estimated 10,000 children are working in unsafe conditions to fuel Madagascar’s mica industry. While working in these mines, people are exposed to toxic dust and have a high risk of developing lung cancer, all while making little pay. The children are generally used to fit into small tunnels to retrieve the mica. They often come from extreme poverty and receive low wages to help support their families. 

Many global cosmetic companies source mica from these regions, but they often to fail to ensure ethical sourcing. Some brands may claim that their mica is ethically sourced, but supply chains are often hard to trace. As stated by NRDC, “Greenwashing is the act of making false or misleading statements about the environmental benefits of a product or practice.” Companies often use Greenwashing to make fake claims about their products to encourage consumer trust and consumption, in turn making a profit.

“Legalising North East India’s mica mines” Mining Technology, 16 July , 2017

Mining for mica in India and Madagascar violates many human right laws. One being children have a right to education. Many of these children are forced to work in the mines instead of going to school. People also have a right to safety. There are terrible and unsafe working conditions in the mines which violate many safety regulations. And rights to fair wages are often violated with many children receiving little to no pay. 

But, there are ways you can help! Check beauty brand transparency. Companies like Lush and Beatycounter use synthetic or ethically sourced mica. You can support laws against child labor by going to U.S. Child Labor Provention Act to learn more. By raising awareness around mica mining and social media and using makeup products with synthetic mica are all ways you can help make a difference.

By Dylan Harmon