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Biodegradable instead of permanent microplastics
What is microplastic and where does it come from?
Plastic parts that are smaller than five millimeters and are barely visible to the human eye are referred to as microplastics. Due to the increasing plastic pollution, the amount of microplastics in the environment is also increasing. The problems this causes are very difficult to identify and relatively unexplored.
With regard to its origin, microplastics can be primary (Type A and Type B) and secondary microplastics to be grouped.
While type A is part of a product, e.g., abrasive particles in cosmetics, type B is formed during the use of products, e.g., tire wear or synthetic fibers released during textile washing. Secondary microplastics are formed by the fragmentation of larger plastic particles due to weathering (temperature changes, UV radiation, microorganisms, oxidation, or mechanical stress). Sources of plastic pollution include not only direct littering, but also landfills or agricultural applications such as the application of sewage sludge, which contains high levels of microplastic particles.
Example of artificial grass
Many people may not be aware of this, but artificial turf on our sports fields is a huge source of microplastic emissions. Artificial turf uses a special rubber granulate as infill.
This rubber granulate consists of small plastic particles that are sprinkled into the artificial turf. Weather conditions, wind, rain, etc., erode this rubber granulate from the artificial turf and thus enter the environment as microplastics.
A study by ICF and Eunomia for the European Commission assumes that 18.000 to 72.000 tons of microplastic emissions are caused by artificial turf every year. With more than 50.000 artificial turfs laid in the EU, this amounts to an annual loss of between 350 and 1.400 kg per artificial turf.
Where can you find microplastics?
Rivers carry a large part of the plastic and microplastics into the seas, where the plastic is further broken down. one Study According to Southampton's National Oceanography Centre, there are 12 to 21 million tonnes of microplastics floating within the first 200m of the Atlantic Ocean. How much is found in the deep sea and on the seabed is still unknown. However, since most types of plastic are denser than seawater, it can be assumed that there is much more to be found on the seabed. One Eunomia study on plastic in the sea assumes that 94% of all plastic waste can be found on the seabed.
But microplastics are not only found in the sea. Because through the microfibers of textiles, many of these small particles also get into the air. The Alfred Wegener Institute has even found microplastic pieces in the snow in the Swiss Alps and in the Arctic.
Treating our wastewater leaves sewage sludge, which is a nutrient-rich fertilizer for our farmland. The direct release of microplastics on the ground is the main reason for the 4-23 times higher accumulation of microplastics in terrestrial compared to aquatic systems.
What are the consequences for microplastic pollution?
Swim in the oceans of the world according to estimates over 150 million tons of plastic and about 12 million tons are added every year. This amount will triple in the next 20 years if current trends continue. It takes 300 to 450 years for plastic to break down in the sea. However, it remains as a microplastic and will probably stay there forever.
Because of its surface properties, microplastics act like a magnet for environmental toxins. A hundred times higher concentrations of environmental toxins can be measured on the plastic surface than in the surrounding seawater. The microplastic particles are then ingested with the pollutants by marine organisms. Microplastics that are ingested with food have already been detected in seals, fish, mussels and smaller organisms. These pollutants can be released again in the gastrointestinal tract and have an impact on the organism. The pollutants in plastic affect our hormone system and thus physical and mental development. That is why they are particularly dangerous for children.
However, the direct effects of microplastics are still completely unexplored. But even without scientific knowledge, it is clear that plastic has no place in the human body. If the particles are small enough, they can also get into the blood via the intestine and thus penetrate every part of the body.
According to Study According to the WWF, every person consumes an average of five grams of plastic per week, which corresponds to the weight of a credit card.
What can be done against microplastics?
Everyone can personally contribute to a microplastic-reduced environment. These are simple things like using reusable packaging instead of single-use. Less driving and thus less tire wear is of course also a contribution to environmental protection (apart from greenhouse gas emissions). The correct disposal of plastic should of course also be a matter of course. Plastic has no place in nature!
However, critical changes need to happen on a larger scale to curb plastic entering the oceans and the environment. The best solution for this would be to do without plastic altogether (in Austria one measure for this is that Plastic bag ban). However, this won't be possible everywhere. Reusable solutions can make a significant contribution to reducing plastic.
Furthermore, the recycling of plastic products into new plastic products is important for a functioning and sustainable circular economy. Downcycling, i.e., the recycling of plastic bottles into clothing, for example, does not alleviate the problem. However, there will still be areas where avoiding or reducing plastic is not possible. In this case, efforts should be made to switch to bioplastics, such as NaKu's natural plastic. Bioplastics are not only more climate- and environmentally-friendly to produce, but are also biodegradable. This very property is particularly important when it comes to the microplastic problem, because the entire plastic is broken down during decomposition, preventing harmful microplastic particles from entering the environment.
Therefore: Take NaKu or leave it!
How can we stop plastic pollution?
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
What is microplastic and how does it arise?
Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than five millimeters. They are formed by the decomposition of larger plastic particles in the environment, such as the ocean.
How much microplastic do we humans consume per week?
According to a WWF study, the average person consumes about five grams of plastic per week, which is equivalent to the weight of a credit card.
Do NaKu products help combat microplastic pollution?
Yes, NaKu products are biodegradable. When decomposed in the environment, all of the plastic is broken down, so no harmful, persistent microplastic particles are created.
Your personal contact
Do you have any further questions about our NaKu bags or about individual printing of the NaKu bags with your company logo?
Lizzy Weinert is looking forward to hearing from you:
E-Mail: office∂naku.at
Phone: + 43 (0) 660 551 7789
(weekdays Mon – Thu from 09:00 – 16:00 and Fri from 09:00 – 14:00)
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