#1 Reduce microplastics from car tires

<div><p>Car tires contribute to 2.660 tons of microplastics per year. What you can do to reduce this:</p><ul> <li>Drive less, walk, bike, or use public transportation.</li> <li>Choose the lightest possible car.</li> <li>Driving a car? Check your tire pressure.</li> <li>Drive smoothly. Avoid rapid acceleration and sudden braking.</li> <li>Choose environmentally friendly tires. Look for the eco-label on the tires.</li> </ul></div>

#2 Reduce microplastics from litter

<div><p>Microplastics are formed from litter, resulting in 1252 tons ending up in the Dutch environment each year. What you can do to reduce this:</p><ul> <li>Separate your waste and dispose your packaging in the correct waste bin.</li> <li>Return bottles with a deposit! Since the introduction of a deposit on small bottles, there has been a 70% reduction in small bottles in the environment. A successful measure!</li> <li>Buy unpackaged products, such as fruits and vegetables.</li> </ul></div>

#3 Reduce microplastics from agricultural plastic

<div><p>636 tons of microplastics are formed annually from agricultural plastic. What the agricultural sector can do to reduce this:</p><ul> <li>Research and consider alternative materials or technologies, such as biodegradable films.</li> <li>Replace the plastic foil with alternative ground covers, such as straw or natural compost.</li> <li>Clear the foil in time and make sure it is not left in the land. </li> <li>Use durable materials that last longer. You can also reuse them.</li> </ul></div>

#4 Reduce microplastics from textiles (clothing)

<div><p>113 tons of microplastic fibers are released from textiles each year. What you can do to reduce this:</p><ul> <li>Air dry your clothes more often instead of washing them.</li> <li>Wear and use your clothes for a longer time, and repair them if possible.</li> <li>Buy consciously: Buy clothing in good condition made from natural materials. Clothing that doesn't need to be produced doesn't leave behind microplastics.</li> <li>Don't rinse the filter from your dryer under the tap but throw away the residue in the waste bin.</li> <li>Looking to buy something new? Purchase second-hand clothing.</li> <li>Take discarded clothing to thrift stores or deposit them in municipal collection bins or recycling centers.</li> </ul></div>

Microplastics and the unknown risks

Thema:: Microplastics

Microplastics are minuscule plastic particles. They are in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. But the effects and risks of microplastics on people and the environment are unknown. Our research contributes to new insights and innovative solutions.

Go straight to:

Microplastics paper

Microplastics are potentially harmful to humans and the environment. In our publication, we show how we can achieve a 70% reduction in microplastics by 2050.

Download the paper (pdf)

How are microplastics formed?

Microplastics are all around us, from the high peaks of the Himalayas to the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. Since its invention in the 1950s, we have been using more and more plastic. Plastic has unique properties. It’s cheap, long lasting, and has many applications. But it is a persistent material that slowly breaks down into ever smaller plastic particles: microplastics.

What are microplastics?

We define microplastics as small, man-made polymer-containing materials with dimensions (length/width/height) smaller than 5 millimetres. The term microplastics also includes nanoplastics, with dimensions smaller than 100 nanometres. Microplastics consist of a complex cocktail. There are wide variations in polymer type, size, and shape. Microplastics also carry additives, impurities, microbiota, and various contaminants.

Analysing the amount of microplastics in an air sample — Picture of a TNO employee analysing the amount of microplastics in an air sample.

The 4 main sources of microplastics

In our recent research on microplastics, we identified the origins of microplastics and measures to take against them. We found that the following 4 sources are the main causes of microplastics:

Abrasion of car tyres (~35%)
Litter: plastic film, bags, packets, and other materials are not discarded properly in all areas. They often end up in the soil or the water, where they break up into microplastics.
Use of agricultural foil
Textiles: abrasion of clothing mainly produces microplastics in the air and in wastewater, for example after washing clothes.

Primary and secondary microplastics

We distinguish between primary and secondary microplastics. Primary microplastics are added deliberately by humans. Secondary microplastics are formed as a result of the degradation of plastic objects.

Distinction in plastics

Primary microplastics originate mainly from pre-production pellets, scrub particles in cosmetics, grains from artificial turf fields, and abrasive cleaning agents. Degradation of plastic into secondary microplastics occurs during use of a plastic product, and when plastic is left lying around as waste. Under the influence of certain factors, ever-smaller plastic particles are formed. Examples include:

UV light
friction
heat

These plastic particles then come into contact with humans through:

air
water
our food
soil

Primary and secondary microplastics end up in water, air, food, and soil. They are, therefore, harmful to the environment, people, and animals.

Microplastics in cosmetics

Possibly thousands of personal care products sold by companies all over the world contain tiny grains of plastic. The cosmetics industry calls these microplastics microbeads. But we also find microplastics in other products, including fleece jumpers or a plate of mussels.

Microplastics in the air

There is still relatively little known about the concentration of microplastics in the air and the effect on the environment and our health. Our knowledge of the distribution of particulate matter is very useful in our research, because microplastics exhibit the same behaviour.

With that knowledge, we can reuse existing tools. For example, a measurement campaign focussing on exposure to microplastics in the air indoors and outside, in which we measure concentration differences in various locations.

Microplastics and their effect on humans

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported an overview of exposure through food and the inhalation of nanoplastic and microplastic particles, and the possible consequences of such exposure for human health. It also emphasises a rising public awareness and an overwhelming consensus among all stakeholders that plastics do not belong in the environment.

Measures must be taken to limit exposure to microplastics. For this reason, in the Netherlands we apply the precautionary principle, which means that the use, formation, and spread of microplastics must be minimised.

Reducing microplastics

We’re going to be using increasing amounts of plastic, which will inevitably lead to an increase in microplastics. According to the Dutch government’s precautionary principle, we must minimise exposure to these plastic particles.

Our research shows that a reduction in microplastics of around 70% by 2050 is achievable through the maximum deployment of 17 mitigation strategies.

Read how we can reduce microplastics by 70% by 2050

Project

View project

Why reducing microplastics is essential and achievable

Tips to reduce microplastics yourself

As consumers, we can also reduce the formation and spread of microplastics by adjusting our behavior with small actions.

Read our tips for reducing microplastics in the 4 major contributors to microplastics.

Car tires contribute to 2.660 tons of microplastics per year. What you can do to reduce this:

Drive less, walk, bike, or use public transportation.
Choose the lightest possible car.
Driving a car? Check your tire pressure.
Drive smoothly. Avoid rapid acceleration and sudden braking.
Choose environmentally friendly tires. Look for the eco-label on the tires.

Microplastics are formed from litter, resulting in 1252 tons ending up in the Dutch environment each year. What you can do to reduce this:

Separate your waste and dispose your packaging in the correct waste bin.
Return bottles with a deposit! Since the introduction of a deposit on small bottles, there has been a 70% reduction in small bottles in the environment. A successful measure!
Buy unpackaged products, such as fruits and vegetables.

636 tons of microplastics are formed annually from agricultural plastic. What the agricultural sector can do to reduce this:

Research and consider alternative materials or technologies, such as biodegradable films.
Replace the plastic foil with alternative ground covers, such as straw or natural compost.
Clear the foil in time and make sure it is not left in the land.
Use durable materials that last longer. You can also reuse them.

113 tons of microplastic fibers are released from textiles each year. What you can do to reduce this:

Air dry your clothes more often instead of washing them.
Wear and use your clothes for a longer time, and repair them if possible.
Buy consciously: Buy clothing in good condition made from natural materials. Clothing that doesn't need to be produced doesn't leave behind microplastics.
Don't rinse the filter from your dryer under the tap but throw away the residue in the waste bin.
Looking to buy something new? Purchase second-hand clothing.
Take discarded clothing to thrift stores or deposit them in municipal collection bins or recycling centers.

Research and knowledge partners

We work closely with various research partners, such as Utrecht University, University Medical Center Utrecht, and Maastricht University. We also collaborate with knowledge partners such as the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, scientific networks such as TI Coast, and industrial partners.

We work on confidential and often highly complex projects with stakeholders throughout the entire value chain.

Microplastics research topics

We do research on materials or products in which microplastics could pose a problem. In this way, we’re working towards a more sustainable future. Our research focuses on the following 5 topics:

Sources & environment
Measuring & detecting
Understanding how microplastics are formed
Exposure and health effects
Systemic insight and mitigation

With these topics, we strive to develop and support measures to reduce microplastics.

Contact us

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Sieger Henke

Functie:
Program manager Microplastics
More about Sieger
- Standplaats:
  Utrecht
- Email:
  Email Sieger
Tim Bulters

Functie:
Business Developer Circular Plastics
Tim has always had a drive to contribute to a more sustainable world. During his career, Tim has specialised in the Circular Economy. His goal is to create a fair and sustainable economy with enough materials for everyone. Since starting as Business Developer at TNO, Tim's focus has been on the plastics sector. His area of expertise is Microplastics and Circular Plastics Modelling.

More about Tim
- Standplaats:
  Utrecht
- Telefoon:
  +31 6 27 10 83 84
- Email:
  Email Tim
- LinkedIn:
  Tim on LinkedIn
Jan Harm Urbanus

Functie:
Principal consultant
More about Jan Harm
- Standplaats:
  Utrecht
- Email:
  Email Jan Harm
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