Tag: microplastics

  • Better for one, better for all

    Better for one, better for all

    Reusable cups that help curb the spread of microplastics

    The problem with plastic

    Microplastics have also been found in soil ecosystems, potentially compromising crop health. Because microplastics can release harmful pollutants, we are seeing worldwide effects of the damage they can do to our oceans, lands, and air—and the materials we consume from those sources.

    The human cost

    As devastating as microplastics are for Mother Earth, they also pose a significant threat to human health. These particles find their way into our bodies through various channels, including food like seafood and honey, bottled water, and even the air we breathe. Microplastics have been found in human blood, breast milk, livers, and kidneys.

    While we are still learning about the effects of microplastics on human health, the initial research has been alarming. A 2023 study found that microplastics “can interfere with important biological processes in the human body and can cause disruption of the endocrine, immune system; can have a negative impact on mobility, reproduction and development; and can cause carcinogenesis.”

    A 2025 report from the University of New Mexico Health Sciences found that microplastics in human brains have increased 50 percent over the past 8 years, and dementia patients had 10 times as many microplastics present as the general population.

    Better for one, better for all

    One company that is stepping up to tackle the plastics problem is Better for All. Better for All has developed a reusable and biodegradable cup that is designed to replace single-use plastic cups.

    Their solution to the problem of single-use plastics lies in PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate), a material that is reusable and non-toxic, can sustain heat up to 212 F, and is at-home compostable. This unique material is known as a biopolymer, which is a biomaterial made by living fermentation microorganisms.

    The main stage

    According to one watchdog publication, an average stadium uses 800,000 plastic cups for a year’s worth of concerts, and 571,659 cups throughout an NFL season. The Oak View Group, which founded a sustainability network that includes sites like the Prudential Center, Dodger Stadium, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, and Citi Field, says that their members “currently divert an average of 32 percent of their waste through reusing, recycling, and composting.”

    With the addition of Better for All’s compostable cups, venues can see a major change in their microplastics contribution, without asking attendees to alter their behavior (or their favorite gametime beverage). The next time you see your favorite artist play a concert, or root for your home team at a game, you may be able to cheers to something pretty impressive—sustainability.

    By Laura Bolt

    Article Courtesy of Alive Magazine
  • The big problem with microplastics

    The big problem with microplastics

    The big problem with microplastics

    Innovators work to solve a pollution problem in your food, drink, and air

    You can’t see them, but microplastics are ever-present in our environment. North Americans eat between 39,000 to 52,000 microplastics particles a year and breathe 35,000 to 69,000 particles annually. Microplastics may be tiny, but they pose significant risks—prompting innovative solutions.

    Plastic, plastic everywhere—even in your water

    Globally, billions of tons of plastic are discarded each year, with the majority not recycled. As plastics break down into microplastics (smaller than 5 millimetres, often invisible), they pollute soil, air, and water. These microplastics come from various sources, including household paints, adhesives, skincare exfoliating beads, and synthetic fibers in clothing.

    This pollution is now omnipresent: in the air we breathe (especially indoors), in human bloodstreams, and even in maternal wombs and breastmilk. In the Great Lakes, every sampled fish was contaminated with microplastics. Remote areas aren’t spared—microplastics have been found in polar ice, soil, and water.

    How do microplastics get inside of us?

    Microplastics enter our bodies mainly through what we eat and drink. Most meats, fruits, and vegetables have tested positive for microplastics. Fish absorb plastics in the ocean, which we then consume. Plants absorb plastics from the soil, accumulating in leaves and fruits.

    Tiny particles, big health questions

    Microplastic pollution is a rapidly growing issue, with scientists racing to understand its health impacts. Recent advancements include detecting microplastics in human blood, revealing widespread exposure. Studies suggest microplastics may cause inflammation, oxidative stress, cancer, and neurotoxicity. As we age, our ability to filter toxins diminishes, increasing the risk of serious health issues linked to plastic accumulation.

    Innovation to the rescue

    While research continues to uncover the effects of microplastics, entrepreneurs are actively seeking solutions. Take the new plastic-eating microorganisms developed by scientists last year—they “eat” and transform plastic compounds into useful products like vanilla flavoring and ingredients for medication and fragrances.

    But what if we changed the plastic itself? Traditional plastics last forever—they just break down into smaller pieces. Even microplastics fragment into nanoplastics. Some companies are exploring alternatives like polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA).

    PHAs are produced by bacteria from sugars or lipids and are gaining attention as a biodegradable plastic. PHA naturally degrades in many environments, reducing pollution and harm to wildlife. It’s also more biocompatible, meaning it can be safely metabolized by our bodies.

    The future of plastics is here, with the aim of ensuring microplastics stay in the past.

    By Joshua Duvauchelle

    Article Courtesy of Alive Magazine