"If you use exfoliating soaps, you might not know those little beads may be made of plastic -- or think about what happens to them when they go down the drain."

"But it's on the minds of marine science researchers, as well as a major company.

Unilever, the company that makes Dove soaps, Vaseline, Pond's skin cream and other personal care products, announced recently it's phasing out the use of 'plastic micro beads as a 'scrub' material' in its personal care products.

By 2015, the phase out should be complete, Unilever said. The company said the 'the issue of plastics particles in the ocean is an important issue.'"

Elizabeth Landau reports for CNN January 7, 2013. [2]