Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic which can end up in the ocean, causing potential damage to the environment. Most come from the breakdown of larger plastics in the ocean, but some can come from their intentional use in consumer and industrial products.
Your questions answered
What is a microplastic?
There is currently no single, globally agreed definition of microplastics. In line with guidance from various expert organisations and the European Union’s definition, we consider microplastics to be solid, water insoluble and non-biodegradable plastic particles up to five millimetres in diameter.
Where do microplastics come from?
Microplastics originate from a variety of different sources and can be categorised into two types: primary sources and secondary sources.
Primary sources include intentionally added microplastics from ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products and these make up a very small fraction of the total microplastics that end up in the environment.
The majority of microplastics come from secondary sources, which include microplastics that come from the breakdown of larger plastic materials (e.g. plastic bags, bottles and tyres) as well as other sources such as the shedding of synthetic fibres from textiles during clothes washing.
Our progress and ambition
Unilever was one of the first companies to stop using small plastic scrub beads in our formulations. These were used in a small number of our beauty and personal care products because of their ability to gently remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. Instead, we now use alternative exfoliating ingredients such as apricot kernels, cornmeal, ground pumice, silica and walnut shells.
Across the rest of our home, beauty and personal care portfolio, we are continuing to move away from slowly or less biodegradable ingredients to those that are natural or more biodegradable. This includes replacing solid polymers from our fragrance encapsulates and opacifiers with more biodegradable alternatives.
In addition to making changes to what we put in our products, we also recognise that too much plastic from product packaging is ending up in the environment. We are determined to change this. That’s why we are innovating and improving our packaging to ensure we protect the planet and our fragile aquatic ecosystems. Read more about our ambition to end to plastic pollution through reduction, circulation and collaboration here: https://www.unilever.com/sustainability/plastics/