Are Orbeez Bad For The Environment? Statistics, Trends, Facts and Quotes

Orbeez (also known as water beads) are tiny, colourful, squishy beads that expand in water. They are fun and magical for kids and adults alike! But, beneath their vibrant and enticing exterior, questions about their environmental impact have been raised. 

Water beads are primarily composed of a superabsorbent material known as sodium polyacrylate (Na-PA) and were initially designed to retain water in the soil for agricultural purposes. However, their appealing texture has seen them repurposed into colourful toys and educational tools for children. 

Despite their widespread fandom, recent studies have shed light on the potential hazards posed by Orbeez. From the production of absorbent polymers, which involves fossil-based components, to serious threats to wildlife, as beads find their way into water bodies and can be ingested by animals. 

To fully understand the impact of Orbeez, it's essential to consider the full lifecycle of these products and their uses. In this article, we will explore the latest scientific research, expert opinions, and available data to understand the true environmental cost of Orbeez.

Orbeez are a brand of small, hard pellets that, when soaked in water, swell up to several times their original size, transforming into squishy, colourful spheres. Made from a superabsorbent polymer (SAP), typically sodium polyacrylate (Na-PA), this material can absorb and retain extremely large amounts of a liquid relative to its mass.

They were originally developed to help soil retain moisture for plants, but the unique properties of these polymers quickly found their way into consumer products. 

Due to their ability to grow in water and pleasant tactile sensation, Orbeez are now used in decorative and educational activities, as stress-relief tools, and even in sensory play, which can benefit child development.

This growth in popularity, however, has also given rise to concerns about the environmental impact of these tiny water-absorbing beads. Prompting discussions about their manufacturing process, disposal methods, and potential ecological consequences.

While Orbeez and other water bead brands are popular, it’s unclear exactly how many are produced and sold yearly. This makes it difficult to understand their true environmental impact. However, there are some indications. 

Official data is not publicly available for how many Orbeez are bought and sold from their owners (Spin Master), but there is some insight to be gained from Amazon sales. 

An analysis of Orbeez and water bead sales data between September 2021 and July 2023 indicates that approximately 3.4 million packets of beads were purchased. One pack can contain tens of thousands of beads! This signifies the sheer volume of consumer interest and the market presence of Orbeez (and similar water bead brands). 

Whilst we can’t be sure of the full picture in terms of figures - as we cannot account for purchases made across multiple retailers and platforms globally - we can safely assume that a significant volume of water beads (in the millions.. or billions) are being produced and discarded annually. 

Due to growing concerns about their impact, retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target have stopped selling water beads marketed towards children. In addition, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission has warned and pushed for legislation to ban water beads. 

To understand the environmental impact of water bead products, it’s important to know what they are made of and how they are produced and used. Let’s look at the components that make up a single Orbee.

Orbeez are made of sodium polyacrylate (a type of polymer), composed of acrylic acid, sodium hydroxide and some coloured pigment - and water, once added to increase the size.

These ingredients are not directly considered to be harmful to the environment, and sodium polyacrylate is technically biodegradable - the issue, however, is that it can take an incredibly long time to break down naturally and is the reason, therefore, that many consider this a non-degradable substance.

Orbeez are made from a superabsorbent polymer that can soak up and hold onto large quantities of water. Due to these polymers, Orbeez are considered harmful to the environment, as they take a very long time to break down naturally.

One significant issue to consider is the emission of acrylamide, which was recently found within water beads. Acrylamide is considered to be a carcinogen, which has the potential to seep into the ground and water bodies, creating hazards for both people and animals. 

Orbeez can persist in the environment for years, posing potential risks to wildlife and aquatic ecosystems. Animals might ingest them, leading to internal blockages or other health issues, threatening species numbers. 

While Orbeez can be safely disposed of with household waste (where they're likely to end up in landfills), they can take hundreds of years to break down naturally and, therefore, contribute to the growing problems of pollution.

Orbeez cause a lot of concern regarding their disposal method and potential to end up in our waterways. Below are some of the main issues related to Orbeez pollution.

When Orbeez end up in natural water bodies like rivers, lakes, or oceans, they can break into smaller particles over time. These ‘microplastics’ (or micro polymers) are difficult to remove from the environment. They can be ingested by aquatic organisms, potentially entering the food chain and causing harm to wildlife and ecosystems. Microplastic pollution has been widely documented in scientific research as a significant source of damage to our water systems.

Microplastics are also a concern to human life. The UN estimates that ‘humans ingest a credit card worth of plastic per week!’ - which is shocking to learn, particularly as microplastics can cause various risks to human health.  These include:

Orbeez and similar SAPs can be mistaken for food by wildlife. If ingested, they can cause internal blockages or other animal health issues. This affects individual animals but can also have broader ecological impacts, disrupting food chains and harming biodiversity.

Large quantities of Orbeez, if disposed of incorrectly, could clog drainage systems and water treatment facilities. While this form of "pollution" might be less about chemical contamination, it poses a practical challenge for water management infrastructure, potentially leading to water quality issues or flooding.

When researching this point, you will often find many contradictory answers. Our research found that technically - yes, they can biodegrade. This issue lies in the rate at which this happens.

One study by Environmental Science and Pollution Research International (2014) identified that sodium acrylate has a potential decay rate of just 0.12% - 0.24% every 6 months. Further interpretation of these results estimates that it could take between 208 to 416 years for Orbeez to decay by half.

In comparison to other items, this is a very slow decomposition rate. In addition, water beads are likely to end up in landfills, as they are not a recyclable product, and the conditions in landfills are not favourable to a quick breakdown. This is why so many commentators consider Orbeez to be non-biodegradable.

Sodium acrylate is also used in many other products - such as nappies, detergents, sanitary items, cleaning products and soaps. Cosmetics company Lush has recently addressed concerns about using this ingredient in their products:

Due to its ability to trap moisture, this material makes a great addition to cosmetic products - to condition the skin and solidify products. As the research and evidence are still being gathered, Lush has committed to undertake “further research and testing to explore the action of this material on the environment” and is “working on finding a suitable substitute in case the information is not favourable”.

Despite some confusion across the web, water beads are not technically made from plastic. They are made from a polymer, and whilst the term ‘polymer’ can be used to describe plastic, not all polymers are plastics (confusing, but it’s all about the science and different cell structures) - polymers can exist in nature or be made synthetically.

It’s easy to see why Orbeez are often referred to as a plastic product because they are similar. In addition, the extraordinary amount of time it takes them to decompose is similar (if not worse!) to most plastic pollution. 

As the United Nations points out, ‘Plastic waste can take anywhere from 20 to 500 years to decompose, and even then, it never fully disappears; it just gets smaller and smaller.’ We already know that Orbeez could take over 400 years to decompose by half, meaning their impact on the planet may be even greater than standard plastic waste.

In their current form, Orbeez are not considered a sustainable product. Most Orbeez and water bead products are made from superabsorbent polymers, produced using non-renewable fossil-based resources (such as petroleum).

Due to the widespread applications of sodium polyacrylate (Na-PA), studies and trials are ongoing to find a more eco-friendly way to produce this polymer. This includes looking into existing biological processes that can recreate Na-PA.

When it comes to Orbeez, however, they do have one saving grace - they are made to be reused repeatedly. They can be dehydrated and rehydrated multiple times without losing their functionality, which means they can have a longer lifespan than single-use products.

Aside from the risks of pollution after use, there are also risks associated with Orbeez during play. 

You can find numerous studies online assessing the risks associated with Orbeez (or SAPs), particularly in children (their target audience). Most studies look into the dangers of swallowing or inserting the tiny, dehydrated balls into the mouth, ears, and nose, particularly as ingesting a material that expands upon contact with water poses serious health risks. 

Various incidents have sparked the need for studies, including reports of over 100 cases of ingestion and the product recall of a similar water bead product in the U.S. in 2012. There are also reports of hearing complications after SAP beads enter the ear canal. 

One of these studies concluded that:

As recently as November 2023, there have been calls from government officials, public health professionals and parents in America to ban water bead toys. Their concern is that many of these products, which can be bought in multiple stores and online, often don’t come with any safety warnings and can be easily picked up or found by children. 

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in America claims these beads can be life-threatening to babies and young children. Concerns are that they may need to be removed through surgery when ingested. Furthermore, these beads have caused nearly 7,800 emergency room visits since 2016 - 2022 in the U.S. alone. 

According to reports, the CPSC has recalled numerous water bead toys due to choking hazards, and in one case, 52,000 items were recalled after the death of a 10-month-old baby and the surgery of a 9-month-old, who had both swallowed the beads. Other reports have shown infants poisoned by the beads after being undetected in their bodies for months.

In addition, a recent study by the CPSC found that water beads can contain acrylamide, a known cause of cancer. When ingested, this harmful chemical can enter the body over time, leading to greater long-term health risks.

These are just a few examples from across the U.S., but the full extent of the safety risks to children from these products is unclear, as they are sold under different brand names and stores worldwide.

Orbeez are generally considered non-toxic, as their main component ingredients are non-toxic substances. Care should be taken, however, to ensure that any young children are supervised during use, as any ingestion or insertion into the body can cause serious health problems. 

Official advice from Obeez manufacturers states:

Orbeez are considered safe and non-toxic for their intended uses but come with precautions. Always follow the recommended guidelines for use and disposal to ensure safety for all users and the environment.

Orbeez cannot be recycled traditionally, as they don’t fit our conventional recycling methods - e.g. they can not be reshaped or repurposed. They can, however, be re-used multiple times. 

Once a water bead has been used, it can dry out and return to its original small, pellet-like form. This can then be taken and re-absorbed in water to watch it expand again.

Official owners, Spin Master recommend replacing the product if you smell or detect mould, and you can keep them fresh by washing hands and feet before play. You can also lengthen their lifespan by storing them in a closed container, out of direct sunlight, between uses.

Yes, the recommended way to get rid of Orbeez is to throw them in the bin. We know, however, that this can end up in our landfills or, worse, in our waterways. To prevent this, you can consider other options for reuse. 

For example, you could put them into potted soil to help keep your plants hydrated or pop them in a vase with flowers. You can also wait for them to dry out and store them for later use. 

It’s important not to put Orbeez down the drain (or the toilet!) as they can block pipes. (Remember that Orbeez can get very large if submerged in liquid for a long time). This can also harm wildlife if it ends up in our waterways further down the drainage system.

If everything you’ve learned about Orbeez so far has you feeling quite concerned, why not think about switching your toys to a more eco-friendly, sustainable alternative that’s safe for kids?

Many great parenting blogs offer homemade, safe and equally fun alternatives. Here are some examples we found: