Posted on April 15, 2022.

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.

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: onmountains, 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 is to reduce intentionally-added microplastic pollution by nearly 400,000 tonnes from 2030 to 2050.

The initial proposal has gone through several rounds of public consultation and scientific assessments, inviting feedback from a range of actors, including industries who have an interest in keeping us hooked on plastic.

The restriction is now in the hands of the European Commission who was expected to present a final proposal based on ECHA’s assessment back in May 2021.

The cost of delays

The EU’s intention to restrict intentionally-added microplastics dates back to 2017 – but it has so far failed to come into fruition. Under usual procedure timings, a draft restriction should have been proposed in May.

However, the European Commission has confirmed that the proposal will be postponed until next year, without providing a clear timeline.

Since 2017, when the Commission first signalled its intention to restrict intentionally-added microplastics, approximately 170,000 worth of microplastics – or 6.4 billion plastic bottles’ worth – are estimated to have already been released in the environment.

Hélène said: “The Commission keeps on mentioning the restriction in speeches, but has delivered nothing yet. Meanwhile, microplastics are wreaking havoc on our environment.”

Original Post: https://www.clientearth.org/latest/latest-updates/news/microplastics-what-are-they-and-why-are-they-a-problem/