Easy Ways to Reduce Microplastic Pollution & Consumption In Your Daily Life

Microplastics are small plastic particles less than 5 mm wide, which is about the width of a new pencil eraser. From the products we use to the clothes we wear, microplastics are everywhere. Some microplastics are large enough to see, while others are small enough to breathe.

These small particles come from a variety of sources. Primary microplastics start small, such as the plastic microbeads used for exfoliation in certain cosmetics. Secondary microplastics start as larger pieces of plastic debris, such as water bottles and plastic pill bottles, which end up degrading over time.

While large amounts of microplastics already exist in the environment, new particles are generated daily. This may not be a surprise, based on the massive increase in plastic production and use since it was first introduced in mid-1900s.

• 1.5 million tons: Annual amount of plastic produced in 1950
• 300+ million tons: Annual amount of plastic produced today

An International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) study that reported the increase in plastic production also looked at the main sources of primary mircoplastics that are found in the world’s oceans.

• 35% synthetic textiles
• 28% tires
• 24% city dust
• 7% road markings
• 4% protective marine coatings
• 2% personal care products
• 0.3% plastic pellets

Microplastics are also found throughout the home. A study conducted by the World Economic Forum asked residents of 32 homes across Sydney, Australia, to catch dust particles in a special glass dish. When researchers analyzed the dust particles, they found 39% of them were microplastics.

How to reduce microplastics in your everyday life

Yes, microplastics are everywhere, but you can take action to reduce your and your family’s exposure to them. You can also take even greater action to reduce the infiltration of microplastics across the planet. Here are nine tips that tell you how.

1. Buy organic clothes (or those made from organic materials)

Synthetic clothing, such as polyester, is a huge contributor of microplastics. When possible, choose eco-friendlier, sustainable clothing made from organic materials, such as cotton, silk, wool, hemp and other natural fibers.

All types of material are going to produce some level of microfibers, but the microfibers from natural material, like cotton, tend to stay larger than those from synthetic materials. That’s because cotton fibers frequently become tangled, creating bigger pieces of lint that are not readily released into the air.

2. Change how you do laundry

Clothing gets an extra dose of wear and tear when it’s going through the washer and dryer. Microfibers from all types of materials are generated by washers and dryers, but it’s the microplastics from polyester and other synthetic materials that are the most concerning.

Dryers generate about 40 times more microfibers than washing machines, with a single household dryer releasing up to 120 million microfibers into the air every year.

You can help reduce the amount of microplastics released by your washer and dryer by:

• Ensuring you have quality filters that catch microplastics
• Air-drying your clothing
• Using less water with every load
• Avoiding the delicate wash setting, which uses more water than the normal cycle
• Washing your clothing less often
• Buying fewer new clothes, as new clothing sheds more microfibers than clothes that have been previously washed and worn

3. Avoid single-use plastics

Eplastic item eventually breaks down, producing secondary microplastics that find their way into the environment. You’ll find a ton of plastic used in the retail industry, especially when it comes to plastic bags. Avoid single-use plastics by:

• Bringing fabric bags or backpacks while shopping
• Asking for paper instead of plastic bags
• Shopping at zero-waste grocery stores and other eco-conscious retailers
• Swapping disposable plastic straws for reusable metal, glass or bamboo straws
• Reducing the use of disposable plastic water bottles, using a refillable water bottle instead

4. Buy plastic-free cosmetics

Microbeads can show up in a variety of cosmetic and household products. Read labels carefully, looking for words that indicate the use of microbeads.

Avoid products with ingredients such as:

• Polyethylene, abbreviated PE
• Polypropylene, abbreviated PP
• Polyethylene terephthalate, a form of polyester abbreviated PET or PETE
• Polymethyl methacrylate, abbreviated PMMA
• Nylon

Opt for sustainable cosmetics and household products that offer alternative ingredients, often listed as “natural alternatives” to microbeads.

5. Reduce shellfish consumption

Microplastics that end up in the ocean are ingested by bottom-feeding shellfish. When you consume the shellfish, the microplastics are then ingested by you. Reducing or avoiding your consumption of shellfish can help cut down on the amount of microplastics that get into your system.

Popular consumed shellfish include:

• Mollusks
• Shrimp
• Lobster
• Crab
• Scallops
• Clams
• Oysters
• Mussels

6. Use public or alternative transportation

Car tires are a major source of microplastics, making up 28% of the microplastics found in the ocean. The tires break down when driving, sending the tiny particles off into the environment. The fewer cars on the road, the fewer tires out there releasing microplastics.

Taking the bus, train or other form of public transportation can reduce this type of tire erosion and plastic pollution because you're taking one less car off the road (your own). When possible, you can also opt to walk, bicycle or use a scooter or other means of personal transportation.

7. Don’t microwave your food in plastic

Plastic and microwaves don’t mix. Plastic containers leach plastics when they’re heated. This holds true even when plastic containers are labeled “microwave safe.” Being microwave safe means the container won’t melt in the microwave, not that it won’t transfer chemicals to your food.

8. Regularly dust and vacuum

A notable 39% of dust particles around the home is made up of microplastics. You can reduce that amount by keeping your home as fresh and clean as possible. Do this by:

• Vacuuming and dusting at least once a week
• Using air filters or purifiers that specifically capture microplastics
• Opting for hard flooring over carpet, as carpeting releases greater amounts of microplastics into the air

9. Support environmental sustainability policies

Taking personal action to reduce microplastics is great. But your efforts don’t have to stop there. You can support policies, politicians and organizations that are taking their own brand of action.

• Vote for politicians that prioritize the health of their citizens and actually address the plastic and microplastic pollution crises.
• Support measures that work to reduce the amount of plastics and microplastics across the globe.
• Volunteer or contribute to organizations and charities that are fighting against microplastics in the environment.

Do a search for organizations that fight against plastics, and you’ll find a ton. Three that are particularly strong include:

Plastic Soup Foundation

The Plastic Soup Foundation is doing more than getting plastic out of the world’s oceans. It wants to stop it from getting into the water supply in the first place. In addition to having contribution options on their site, they also have a host of resources to help you select smart product options.

Plastic Ocean Foundation

The same people who produced the award-winning documentary “A Plastic Ocean,” went on to create the Plastic Ocean Foundation. Its mission is a mighty one, with the aim of changing the world’s attitude toward plastic within a single generation. The foundation bills itself as a global initiative that supports local project and partners designed to prompt change worldwide.

The Story of Stuff

“The Story of Stuff” is the name of an award-winning documentary launched in 2007. It is also the basis of the entire Story of Stuff Project, which boasts a global community of more than one million members who support their causes. The fight against plastic is one of their major campaigns, and you can find other campaigns as well as study programs and movies on their site.

Avoiding microplastics as a first step to reducing your overall pollution

Part of the pollution puzzle

Microplastics may be everywhere, but so are the campaigns, organizations and initiatives fighting against them. Doing your part to reduce the amount of microplastics in your home and the environment is a smart step to take, as it’s a major piece of the environmental puzzle.

Cleaner energy, less CO2 pollution

But myriad other puzzle pieces exist to improve the health of our environment, all tying back to the overall goal of creating a better planet in the future. That planet can be created by working to reduce all forms of pollution—be it plastic pollution or, equally important, greenhouse gas pollution caused by fossil fuels. A healthier planet overall is a strong way to fight global warming. In addition to avoiding plastics, you can also make a difference by focusing on sustainability and tapping into renewable energy resources, which do not give off carbon emissions that harm the earth.

Tapping into cleaner energy may be more accessible and affordable than you think—and even easier than vacuuming or dusting once a week! Enter Perch. We can help you switch your home's electricity supply to cleaner resources, like from renewable energy like solar and wind, so you're lowering your own carbon footprint and potentially even your monthly bill. We also help residents and small businesses subscribe to local community solar farms, helping support the addition of clean energy onto the overall grid in exchange for discounts on your utility bill. Going green doesn't need to be expensive or inconvenient. Check out Perch to see how we can help.