Emissions of intentionally added microplastics

This project aims to improve our understanding of the potential socioeconomic, environmental and human health impacts of intentionally added microplastics in the UK. This project will then consider the impacts of some different potential policy actions, including placing controls on emissions of intentionally added microplastics. Factors to be considered within this analysis include physical and chemical mechanisms of pollution, quantity and environmental damage estimates of emissions to the environment from different sectors, estimates of costs to businesses for reformulation to use alternatives to microplastics, uncertainties around environmental damage estimations and human health costs.

This project will collect and analyse data on these issues, in order to assess potential policy responses, in line with the 25-year Environment Plan commitments. The key policy commitments the evidence project sets out to address are (1) 4.2 Achieving zero avoidable plastic waste by the end of 2042 (2) 4.7 Managing exposure to chemicals.