Microplastics in everyday life are avoidable

The use of plastic in food packaging, textiles, cleaning products and cosmetics is a matter of course. Wherever plastic is used, microplastics are created. We need to be aware of this - then there is a way out of this misery.

It is hard to imagine our everyday lives without plastic; it is cheap, practical and ubiquitous. Once in circulation, plastic leaves traces in the form of microplastics, which are created, for example, by abrasion, continuous shredding and decomposition by UV light.

Every year, at least 8 million tons of microplastics end up in the world's oceans. 19 to 31% of the microplastics washed into the oceans from Europe do not originate from larger pieces of plastic floating in the sea, but end up there directly as tiny particles - i.e. primary microplastics. Of these, for example, 35% are produced when washing textiles made of synthetic fibers and 28% in traffic through tire abrasion. Microplastics pose a health risk to humans and animals.

No microplastics in the drain

Although microplastics can be efficiently removed from wastewater in sewage treatment plants and separated out with the sewage sludge, it is better to prevent them from being discharged down the drain:

On the one hand, particles still remain in the treated wastewater despite this separation; on the other hand, sewage sludge is often applied directly to fields in Austria as fertilizer.

Plastic from cosmetics, detergents and textiles therefore ends up in the soil and rivers in the form of sewage sludge and wastewater, and ultimately in our food via fish and marine animals.

The introduction of microplastics can also be prevented during washing: Reduce the number of spin cycles and use a washing line instead of a dryer to reduce microplastics and energy consumption.

Washing bags for washing synthetic fiber textiles only have an insufficient effect, as many particles are much smaller than the pores of the bag. However, it is possible to equip existing washing machines with microplastic filters, which must be cleaned weekly and can reduce the number of microplastic particles in waste water.

No microplastics in air and water

Carpets, blankets and cushions release microparticles into the air. If you choose natural fibers such as cotton, linen and wool, the air is free of microplastics. In the garden and on the balcony, natural materials such as clay and hemp cords should be used instead of plastic. Artificial turf, garden and agricultural film and discarded plastic packaging are also affected by wind and weather and therefore lose particles.

These are inhaled, washed into the oceans and reabsorbed via water and food. This makes it all the more important to consider whether there is a plastic-free alternative before buying a new product.

No careless littering

Carelessly throwing litter on the street or in the countryside is called "littering". Disposing of waste correctly reduces the risk to the environment and saves the general public a lot of money needed for clean-up work. Plastic cannot withstand UV radiation from the sun. If plastic is carelessly thrown away in nature, the process of decomposition into microplastics begins.

Reduce tire wear

Microplastics end up in the soil as a result of car traffic. According to the VCÖ, cars produce around two to three grams of microplastics per 100 kilometers - car tires lose an average of one to one and a half kilograms of mass over their lifetime. The best way to counteract this is to reduce emissions at all levels: drive as little as possible and reduce speed. It also helps to check the tire pressure regularly - both too much and too little pressure lead to more wear. When buying a car, choose the smallest possible model with a small tire dimension, because the greater the weight of the car and the tire dimension, the greater the wear. It is also worth comparing tire models, as the abrasion values vary greatly.