A famous internet quote by an anonymous person says there is more microplastic in the ocean than there are stars in the Milky Way. And that’s no exaggeration. Microplastics are found everywhere — from food to skincare; these tiny particles are here to stay. Microplastics are any plastic particles smaller than five millimeters (0.2 inches) in diameter. These are a growing threat to marine life, and according to National Geographic, scientists have found microplastics in around 114 aquatic species. They don’t just contaminate thousands of marine species and damage the marine ecosystem; they also often end up on our plates as food that we consume.
Microplastics usually occur when large pieces of plastic degrade into minute plastic particles. Even our clothes emit microplastics when we wash them in machines. However, the most widely used form of microplastic is derived from microbeads — tiny particles of polyethylene plastic used in skincare products. For the uninitiated, most mass brand exfoliants, facial cleansers, and scrubs use them. Besides, various kinds of toothpaste also use these microbeads, and owing to their size, they seamlessly pass through our water
Source: Impakter.com
filtration systems. Eventually, they end up in the oceans or water bodies and put marine life in peril.
The Problem with Microplastics
Just like their alter ego, plastic — microplastics, too, don’t easily break down or decompose. Even when they decompose, they take thousands of years. When aquatic animals such as fish, planktons, sea urchins, or lobsters stumble upon them in oceans, they confuse them for food. Since their size is quite minute, these organisms cannot differentiate them from food and their consumption often leads to complications like choking, contamination, or even death. In worse cases, corals retain these microplastics, threatening the coral health and reefs. The presence of microplastics has been discovered even in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Condor Ferries reports that 8.3 million tonnes of plastic are discarded in the oceans annually. Marine life mistakes at least 2.36 million tonnes of ingestible microplastics as food.
Source: Open Edition Journals
Apart from aquatic life, microplastics leave their traces on the land, too. Resembling coloured balls or beads, even terrestrial animals end up consuming them. To reduce microplastics, US President Barack Obama signed the Microbead-Free Waters Act in 2015, to ban plastic microbeads in skincare and cosmetics.
Subsequently, several skincare brands have stopped using microbeads in their products. Globally, Lush was one of the first brands to launch microbead-free products.
How to Avoid Microplastics?
Our favourite exfoliator is one of the main culprits! You might have come across skincare brands marketing their products with the phrase — enriched with microbeads for effective exfoliation. In reality, when we purchase these products, we’re literally rubbing plastic on our skin. Several countries, including the Netherlands, Australia, Canada,
Italy, Korea, New Zealand, Sweden, the UK, have laid a blanket ban on microbeads in skincare, but India is yet to ban them. If you find the ingredients Polypropylene and Polyethylene on a label, often found in scrubs, exfoliators, body washes etc., that is the product you should avoid. We recommend looking up Indian skincare brands such as Plum, Daughter Earth, Earth Rhythm, or Neemli Naturals for better and sustainable alternatives.
The product we use the first thing in the morning is toothpaste, and microbeads are often found in it. Most of us have been unknowingly using these microbead-laden toothpastes for years without truly realising their negative impact on the environment. Switching those tubes with something more eco-friendly is a better choice. Indian brands like Bare Necessities and Arata offer natural and eco-friendly toothpaste.
The Guardian reports that a single wash in a washing machine releases about 7,00,000 microplastic fibres into the environment, so how we do our laundry matters too. Can we wear a pair of denim two more times before throwing it for a wash? Can we wash certain outfits by hand? Can we use non-toxic, chemical-free cleaning agents? How about air-drying clothes instead of using a machine dryer? These small changes, all easy and do-able, can make a big difference!
Source: Fashion Revolution
Another scary fact: Fashion Revolution predicts that about 22 million tonnes of microfibres will enter our oceans between 2015-2050. While it is not clear yet how Big Fashion will tackle this, as consumers, we can certainly try to do our bit. Shifting to clothing made from environmentally-friendly fabrics like cotton, hemp, muslin, etc., will ensure a reduction in microplastics. Besides, shopping from slow fashion labels or upcycling our existing garments will also reduce microplastic production.
Lastly, avoiding single-use plastic can go a long way in cutting down microplastic pollution. There’s a plastic-free alternative for almost everything now; replacing plastic bags with tote bags or carrying a water bottle instead of buying mineral water bottles are no-brainer, practical solutions. Switching to plastic-free alternatives in your daily life also makes for a healthy lifestyle. Whether it’s a toothbrush or a storage compartment — you can replace them with eco-friendly items easily. We recommend exploring a zero-waste or sustainable lifestyle store in your city for some compelling alternatives.
By making simple and conscious choices every day, we can help our marine and coral health flourish. And what’s good for the planet is, very simply, what’s good for us.
