What Is Microplastic, and Where Does It Come From?

Microplastics are generally defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters. 'Primary' microplastics are particles already manufactured small, such as microbeads in cosmetic products or fibers shed from synthetic textiles; 'secondary' microplastics form when larger plastic waste breaks down over time due to sunlight and mechanical wear.

Research shows microplastics have been detected in oceans, rivers, soil, air and even drinking water. This explains why plastic waste management (recycling, proper disposal) is such an important topic.

Because this is a relatively new field of research, findings are still evolving. Some studies show that microplastics enter the human body through various routes (eating, drinking, breathing) and that possible health effects are being investigated — but active research is still ongoing among scientists regarding exact dose-response relationships and long-term outcomes. Rather than drawing firm conclusions on this topic, it is best to follow the current scientific literature.

The granular raw materials we sell are delivered unprocessed, in sealed packaging, in traceable batches — this is one of the basic steps in preventing uncontrolled plastic loss (and thus microplastic release into the environment) throughout the supply chain. See our Knowledge Hub article on packaging and storage for proper storage and packaging management.