Labelling of microplastics

Plastic microplastics, defined as any plastic fragment less than five millimetres in size, have been the subject of heated environmental disputes since the term was proposed in 2004 by marine biologist Richard Thompson. They are both a natural product of plastic degradation and deliberately added to certain products for various purposes (Timmer, 2023).

In response to this growing issue, in September 2023, the European Commission adopted a REACH restriction (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) on microplastics intentionally added to products and a proposal for a Regulation on preventing plastic pellet losses to the environment. The topic of plastic microbeads is high on the agenda of many of the industries affected by REACH, as pressure grows on companies to minimise their environmental impact. These actions will directly contribute to reaching the 30% reduction target for microplastic releases set out in the Zero Pollution Action Plan.

European Chemistry Agency (2023) considers microplastics to be solid synthetic microparticles consisting of insoluble, non-biodegradable polymers. There is a very important distinction between polymer and microplastic: all microplastics are polymers, but not all polymers are microplastics. They may or may not be microplastics, depending on their origin, their production process and their physicochemical properties (especially their physical form) and how they are used in the respective product type. Microplastics come from a variety of sources and, if not caught by sewage treatment plants, can be ingested by marine life.

Some of the industries affected by the ban on intentionally added plastic microbeads include sports, beauty, health, agriculture and building materials. The first measures, including a ban on glitter and microbeads, came into effect on 17 October 2023. Other sales bans will come into force gradually to give companies time to react and switch to alternatives (Rautio, 2023).

Canva