The cosmetics industry's demand for mica, a mineral used for its shimmering effect, has exploded, but the majority of the world's mica comes from India, where it is often mined by children at a deadly cost. An investigation by the Thompson Reuters Foundation in 2016 revealed that mica was being mined by children, forcing the beauty industry into a moral reckoning. Some companies have pledged to work with mining communities to create a sustainable supply chain, while others, like Lush, have pulled out of natural mica altogether, opting for synthetic alternatives.
The mica industry is worth over half a billion dollars, with India at its center. The country's eastern states, particularly Jharkhand, have the world's largest and highest-quality reserves of mica. However, the unregulated nature of the industry has led to dangerous working conditions, predatory pricing, and a cycle of poverty for families.
The Indian government has been aware of the issue since 2016, but a survey to understand the scope of the problem has yet to be completed. A movement on the ground, led by organizations like the Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation, has provided some hope, with over 3,000 children rescued and enrolled in school.
Companies like Estee Lauder have invested in initiatives to address the issue, but experts argue that promising to be mica-free is not the best answer. Instead, empowering kids and acknowledging the importance of mica to the region is key to breaking the cycle of poverty and child labor.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Mica is a mineral used in everyday products like electronics, insulation, paint, and toothpaste.
2. The cosmetics industry's demand for mica has increased in recent years due to its use in creating a radiant, shimmering effect.
3. Most of the world's mica comes from India, where it is often mined by children.
4. A 2016 investigation by the Thomson Reuters Foundation revealed that mica was being mined by children in India at a deadly cost.
5. Some companies have pledged to work with mining communities in India to create a sustainable supply chain.
6. Lush Cosmetics has chosen to pull out of natural mica altogether due to the lack of transparency in the supply chain.
7. The global mica industry is worth over half a billion dollars, with India at its center.
8. India has the world's largest and highest-quality reserves of mica, with most of it found in the eastern states.
9. The state of Jharkhand is a major mica-producing region, with many mines operating illegally.
10. Children as young as five or six years old are working in mica mines in Jharkhand.
11. The unregulated nature of the mica trade opens the door to dangerous work conditions and predatory pricing.
12. Families in mica-producing regions are often trapped in a cycle of poverty.
13. The Indian government has been aware of the issue of child labor in mica mines since at least 2016.
14. A survey by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights found that an estimated 10-20 deaths occur every month in mica mines.
15. The Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation has launched a program to connect parents to new income streams, allowing children to attend school instead of working in mines.
16. Over 3,000 children have been rescued and enrolled in school through this program.
17. Funding for the program comes from government services and private business support, including Estee Lauder.
18. The child-friendly village model has been successful in reducing child labor in mica-producing regions.