What are microplastics and why are they a problem?

What are microplastics?

Microplastics are plastic pieces that measure less than five millimetres across.

Some microplastics have formed by breaking away from larger plastics that have fragmented over time – think debris from tyre wear. Others have been made small intentionally, for example cosmetic microbeads used in facial scrubs.

The number of consumer and commercial products with intentionally added microplastics is massive: cosmetics, detergents, paints, medicines, nappies, pesticides – the list goes on.

Over time, these tiny particles end up flooding into our environment.

Get updates on our work tackling plastic pollution

Why are microplastics bad?

We’ve known for years that microplastics are problematic, but more and more studies keep emphasising just how much of an impact they are having on the environment and our health.

Microplastics are extremely persistent, which means it is almost impossible to remove them from the environment where they accumulate. Due to their persistence and the chemicals they are made of, studies suggest they can be highly detrimental to the organisms they come in contact with, including by causing reduced feeding, poisoning and increasing mortality. They also tend to facilitate the transfer of contaminants along the foodchain, with potentially grave consequences for human health.

Scientists have warned that the situation is out of control. They have found microplastics pretty much everywhere they have looked for them: on mountains, in the ocean, in the Arctic sea ice, and in our air, drinking water and bodies.

Stopping the flood of microplastics

Policymakers have started to take action to stop microplastic pollution. In 2018, the UK banned all products containing microbeads. EU policymakers decided to go further and in 2019, upon request from the European Commission, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) prepared a proposal to ban a number of intentionally added microplastics.

Their intention was to reduce intentionally-added microplastic pollution by nearly 400,000 tonnes from 2030 to 2050. Our lawyers, alongside environmental experts from the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), the Rethink Plastic Alliance and other partner organisations, participated in the various expert meetings and public consultations related to the restriction. They kept a close eye on the different versions of the proposed ban and compiled their thoughts in various position papers. 

In May 2023, after a very long and contentious process, the REACH restriction on intentionally added microplastics was eventually adopted, constituting an important step towards reducing microplastic pollution at its source. This is the first broad restriction adopted under REACH in the EU, and one that may open the way to other broad restrictions of harmful chemicals.