What is microplastic pollution?

Microplastic pollution refers to the accumulation of small plastic particles (typically defined as less than 5mm) in natural environments including soil, water, and air. These particles result from the breakdown of larger plastic items, or from materials that fragment without fully reintegrating. Microplastics can persist for long periods and are found across ecosystems. Not all materials that fragment produce microplastics, this depends on the composition of the material and how it degrades. Solinatra materials are assessed specifically against the criterion that they do not produce persistent microplastics.