Coffee with Albert Heijn

Zaandam, 15 december 2025

Our report about Albert Heijn, in which we took a closer look at the new Care products, attracted a lot of attention: including those of the largest grocer itself.  So we were invited for coffee for a good conversation. And of course we are always open to that. We traveled to the head office in Zaandam.

Can Albert Heijn prove that the three hundred Care products are completely microplastic-free? Yes, says the cosmetics quality manager. We fully comply with European law, which came into force in October 2023.

This law states that cosmetics and personal care products must be produced completely microplastic-free, with end dates set for each category.

But it is precisely the definition of microplastics that we have been arguing about for years. We, and many other organisations in Europe, do not agree with the REACH demarcation of microplastics into solid particles. Liquid and water-soluble man-made  polymers should also be covered by REACH. Unfortunately, a different political decision has been taken. 

This is what we are very concerned about: thanks to the AI model behind our new Plastic Free Future app, we can see that instead of microplastics, a lot of 'liquid' polymers are now being added to products. And that in the most exotic and opaque combinations. This is due to this one loophole in the REACH legislation.

Albert Heijn also does this.

Whether it is biodegradable, for example, no one really knows. Liquid plastics have never been tested. Therefore, you should not add them until it has been proven that they can do no harm.

When in doubt, don't do it, is our advice, because: Dare to Care!

However, we will discuss this gray area with Albert Heijn early next year.

However, it does not change our position. Liquid plastic is just plastic, so it turns red in the app. Liquid iron is still iron, isn't it? And in the end, no law does anything about that.

Maria Westerbos, Founder & Changemaker