The problem with plastic, of any kind, is that it eventually becomes minuscule but never completely disappears. In the oceans, even the largest pieces of plastic are broken down by the waves and the sunlight until they are smaller than five millimeters in diameter - about the size of an ant. At that moment they are classified as 'secondary microplastics'. That type of plastic, which once was a drinking bottle, equipment for fishing, disposable cutlery, etc., is even more common than 'primary microplastics' that were small from the start, such as the microbeads in toothpaste.
Microbeads are the most common cause of contamination by small pieces of plastic. But that also means that there are other, less obvious sources of microplastics in daily life. You could call them 'hidden microplastics'.
- Car tires
Car tires are made of rubber and about 60% plastic (styrene-butadiene). The friction, pressure and heat caused by driving, causes the formation of plastic dust. If that dust is blown into the atmosphere, it can contribute to poor air quality. It is seen by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a cause of premature death.
The dust can also flush to rivers and oceans via sewers. There it will probably be eaten by filtering animals such as mussels, so it eventually ends up in our food chain. The car industry could use natural latex from rubber trees, but that would put too much pressure on the environment: growing rubber plantations are already a catastrophe for endangered species in Southeast Asia.
- Synthetic clothing
Outdoor sports equipment, leggings, fleeces and sweaters made of acrylic, polyester, polyamide, spandex or nylon release up to 700,000 microfibers per wash. And once they end up in the water, it is difficult to filter them out again. Research has also shown that tap water nowadays contains microfibers in many countries.
In the US, for example, 94% of the research samples contained microfibers. They end up in the air as dust from the dryer and can be inhaled. They also suspect that the lungs can absorb the toxins in the fibers. In nature, the microfibers are eaten by fish and other animals, which they prefer over 'real' food. A solution can be to provide all washing machines with filters and to choose natural fibers.
- Tennis balls
The fluffy exterior is made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), the same material that plastic milk bottles are made of. Just like with car tires, the plastic will wear off in time, making it dust.
- Tablets for the dishwasher or washing machine
All kinds of detergents and disinfectants contain microplastics such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP), the same microbeads that are banned in cosmetics in France and the United Kingdom. It would be better to use a natural material, such as ground coconut shells.
- Cigarette butts
The filters are made of cellulose acetate, a type of plastic that is not biodegradable. They can release microfibers and, once used, also release large amounts of toxins, including nicotine. Cigarette butts are a major pollutant in the oceans and are most often picked up during the cleaning up of beaches.
- Glitter
Glitter is a popular among children who like to tinker, but it is not innocent. After all, it is made of PET or polyvinyl chloride film (PVC) and is very difficult to break down. You could use glitter made of eucalyptus instead.
- Wet wipes
Baby wipes, hand towels, wipes to remove make-up, ... All those products are usually made of polyester, polyethylene and polypropylene - or a mix of those plastics and natural fibers. They can block sewers and are not broken down. Moreover, they are a source of plastic microfibers. Pure flannel, made entirely of cotton, is an environmentally friendly solution.
- Tea bags
Many tea bags are not completely biodegradable because they include a polypropylene "skeleton". That skeleton then disintegrates into miniscule particles when the paper is decomposed. Ask the producer if your tea is free of plastic, or switch to loose tea.
- Paint
Plastic dust from thermoplastic paint used for road markings, ships and houses is spread over the ocean surface. Fortunately, not all paint contain plastic: look for paint with linseed oil or latex as a binder.
- Paper cups
Paper cups are lined on the inside with a layer of polyethylene. Just like tea bags, the paper is completely broken down, but the plastic falls apart when the cup is thrown away or composted. Such mixed materials must therefore be handled by a specialized recycling company. You can easily solve this problem by using a refillable bag.
Plastic is a typical product from the last century. Because of the ease of use we have become addicted to plastics, which are literally omnipresent. Mass production started in the 1950s, and meant the start of a disposable lifestyle that was facilitated by plastic. Our society is in urgent need of withdrawal. The ban on plastic disposable bags is a start, but it is not enough. There is no other solution than a radical change, away from the endless laziness. If we now limit ourselves to cleaning up waste, then we will not do anything else in the future.