Microplastic is a collective term for plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters. However, most microplastics are less than 1 millimeter. Microplastics in the marine environment can, for example, be fragments of larger pieces of debris or consist of microplastic pellets that are used as a raw material in the plastics industry. In any case, it is an important and extensive job to pick up and get rid of this problem. Alone you can't do that much, but if you join a group, you can together make a fairly big difference in a short time.
Our family is part of a group called Oceans 4 Life, there are several organizations that work to tackle the plastic problem so if you want to help make a difference, google and see if there is an organization where you can join.
This day we picked up plastic and lots of microplastic, this beach had few larger plastic objects but many, many small ones. Together we picked up quite a lot of plastic as you can see. Another nice thing about such initiatives is all the new friends you make and everything new you learn.
Just at this moment, there was a large number of committed and talented people from all over the world helping out and we actually had fun all the time ;)
As icing on the cake, we got a little lesson in appreciating and valuing the beauty around us through a SUP yoga session. It sounds a bit weird, but it was actually incredibly effective and grounding to be able to do yoga with the sea as a base.
Thank you Oceans4Life and thank you sea, we are doing what we can to help you.
Our refill bottles are made of POP plastic, plastic that has been picked up from beaches and coastal areas to avoid ending up in the oceans. The plastic is then recycled to become refill bottles, when you are done with your refill you recycle it as PET plastic and then it becomes a new bottle again, good right?
What can you do yourself to reduce the spread of microplastics?
1. Avoid single-use plastic products: Choose reusable alternatives instead of single-use plastic products such as water bottles, food boxes, and bags.
2. Buy products consciously: Avoid cosmetics, personal care products and cleaning products that contain microplastics, especially those with "polyethylene" or "polypropylene" in the ingredients list.
3. Choose products with natural or biodegradable ingredients instead
4. Wash clothes gently: Wash synthetic clothes such as polyester and fleece in a laundry bag designed to reduce the release of microplastics. Using liquid detergent instead of powder can also reduce wear and tear on the fibers and thus reduce the release of microplastics.
5. Reduce the use of cosmetics: Use cosmetics and personal care products sparingly to reduce the amount of microplastics washed off during use. Or make sure that your products do not contain microplastics.
6. Support recycling: Recycle plastic materials correctly and make sure they end up in the right place instead of being thrown away in nature.
7. Participate in beach cleanups: Participate in or organize beach cleanups to pick up microplastics and other debris from beaches and coastal areas.
8. Education and awareness: Spread awareness about the problem of microplastics and share tips to reduce their use and spread to others.
By making these changes in your everyday lifestyle, you can help reduce the amount of microplastics released into the environment. Every little action counts when it comes to protecting our ecosystems from plastic pollution.
What can business and politics do to reduce the incidence of microplastics?
International cooperation and legislation: International cooperation to introduce laws and regulations that limit the use of microplastics and promote best practices for waste management and recycling is also important.
-Education and awareness: Raising public awareness about the problem of microplastics and how to help reduce their incidence can lead to behavioral changes and an increased demand for alternative products.
-Technical solutions to collect existing microplastics: There are techniques under development that aim to collect and remove microplastics from the environment, such as drones that can monitor and collect plastic pollution from the ocean.
By using a combination of these measures, we can reduce the incidence of microplastics and their harmful effects on the environment.
How should we tackle microplastics?
Reduce the use of plastic: By reducing our consumption of single-use plastic products, we also reduce the amount of microplastics that end up in the environment.
Recycling and waste management: Improved recycling and efficient waste management can reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in the sea and other bodies of water.
Development of biodegradable alternatives: Investing in research and development of biodegradable materials can reduce the incidence of microplastics in the environment.
Filtering of wastewater: Development and installation of advanced treatment plants that can filter out microplastics from wastewater can be an effective measure.
Limiting cosmetics and cleaning products that contain plastic particles: By reducing the use of cosmetics and cleaning products that contain microplastics, we reduce the source of microplastic pollution in the aquatic environment.