🇬🇧 The UK's independent product rating deskPrices in £ · Sourced from Amazon.co.uk & British retailers
Microplastics
Definition
Microplastics — Plastic particles smaller than 5mm — released by synthetic fabrics, tires, packaging breakdown and personal care.
1 min
Read time
Shopping term
Label type
3
Key points
At a glance
Microplastics are plastic fragments under 5 millimeters.
Microplastics have been found in human blood, lungs, placentas and drinking water.
Practical actions: choose natural fibers where possible, use a Guppyfriend or Cora Ball laundry catch, switch to bar soaps and powder detergents, and support extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies.
Microplastics are plastic fragments under 5 millimeters. Primary sources include synthetic clothing fibers (released in laundry), tire wear, and intentionally added microbeads in cosmetics and exfoliants — the last of which are now banned in many countries.
Microplastics have been found in human blood, lungs, placentas and drinking water. Long-term health effects are still under research; the precautionary case for reducing exposure is strong.
Practical actions: choose natural fibers where possible, use a Guppyfriend or Cora Ball laundry catch, switch to bar soaps and powder detergents, and support extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies.
How to check this before you buy
1Look for "Microplastics" on the pack or the Amazon UK listing itself, not just in the brand's marketing.
2Ask whether the claim is backed by a named standard or independent body, or is just a description.
3Check whether the claim covers the exact product and size you're buying, not only the wider brand.
4Compare at least two alternatives on Pickly before deciding.