Microplastics are on everyone’s lips, and sadly, that is not just a figure of speech. You might be surprised to know that microplastic intake by food and water is on the rise, but the European Union (EU) is not idle about it.
How many microplastics do we eat a day? According to recent studies, the quantity is highly variable, from none to over a million little pieces of plastic. Microplastics are labelled as plastic particles of 5 millimetres or smaller. And they can pose a severe health risk, increasing the risk of cancer, intestinal disease, and other health problems.
The nitty-gritty of microplastics: Why are they harmful?
So why are these pesky plastic pieces dangerous for us? Well, the issue is that the plastics cannot be broken down chemically. In other words, they aren’t biodegradable. Our cells, and even the microbes in our gut, can’t break them down. With a bit of luck, we simply pass them out of our system. But they can slowly accumulate in the intestine, liver, and even the brain. This is an issue for the normal body functions. Research is ongoing to discover all the effects microplastics have on us.
But the EU is not staying idle. Because of all the known and potential risks, they are banning products with more than 0.01 % microplastics in several areas. And one of them is agriculture. There is, however, a caveat. These plastics must be synthetic and not biodegradable. If manufacturers can demonstrate that the plastics are biodegradable, their products won’t be banned. Why? Because biodegradable plastics can be broken down by your body and nature into harmless products, and do not show the health risks of synthetic, non-degradable microplastics.
ReBIOlution and biodegradable microplastics
The ReBIOlution project is one of several European-funded initiatives to deal with the microplastic epidemic. In our project, we are hard at work to develop biodegradable plastics that do not pose the health risks of synthetic microplastics. These biodegradable plastics have many advantages over normal ones, but the key point regarding health is how we make sure that they can be broken down quickly and efficiently into harmless molecules.
For that, we make sure they are made of natural sources, such as plant-extracted molecules, or processed agricultural waste, like leftover plant parts that cannot be used for food. The stalks and leaves of common crops, for example. Starting from plant-based molecules ensures that the products we develop are healthy for the environment and biodegradable. If you want to know more, we have a great interactive infographic on our website about this topic.
Agriculture, the biggest link between you and microplastics
So where can we apply these biodegradable plastics so that you and everyone else are safer from microplastics in food? A lot of these particles end up directly in the food you eat. Seafood and fish eat it from the ocean, but vegetables and farm animals are filled with microplastics from the plastics used in agriculture.
Because of that, agriculture is one of ReBIOlution’s biggest targets. Plastic mulch, used to cover plants so they grow better and without weeds, leeches microplastics into the soil. Greenhouses are often covered in plastics. Plants are grown in plastic containers as well. It must come as no surprise to you that the fruits, grains, and vegetables that we harvest from these plants already contain microplastics. And animals feed on these same plants, so they also end up accumulating the small plastic particles.
One of ReBIOlution’s biggest efforts right now is to replace plastic mulch with a biodegradable alternative. This alone would have a tremendous impact on the quantity of microplastics in your plate.
Packaging and water bottles
Plastic bottles are usually made of PET, a type of polyester. In theory, it is pretty safe, but when water or other drinks spend a long time in them, some microplastics can make it into the drink that you will eventually consume.
The same goes for food packaging. The plastic-wrapped vegetable tray in the store, or the frozen cook food that is supposed to go directly in the microwave. The more the plastic is in contact with the food, the more plastics might leech onto it.
ReBIOlution also works towards biodegradable plastic food packaging and bottles, working with a molecule known as FDCA to make an alternative to PET plastic and packaging.
Heating plastics in contact with food
A huge problem with some plastics is their stability at higher temperatures. For example, heating food in plastic containers or in their plastic packaging might make more microplastics go into the food. The same goes for plastic water boilers or kitchen appliances that are heated and in contact with food.
Not all plastics are the same, mind you. Some are much safer than others, and silicone alternatives are also developed for food-making appliances and kitchen utensils. In any case, reducing plastics in contact with food at high temperatures is a good recommendation.
Fighting to integrate EU’s safety regulations in the plastic industry
All of these issues are at the core of ReBIOlution. We are fighting to bring to the market and world more sustainable plastics, biodegradable and from plant sources. This will push Europe to meet the European Green Deal and Zero Pollution Action Plan of reducing microplastics by 30% in 2030.
So if you want to know more and help fight microplastic pollution, join the ReBIOlution, and stay updated on our website about the new developments in creating biodegradable plastic alternatives and using them in the food industry.