10 Hidden Sources of Microplastics in Your Home

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic, smaller than 5 millimetres. You can't usually see them, but they've turned up almost everywhere researchers look: oceans, soil, food, water and the air indoors, from the deep sea to remote mountains and Antarctica. A lot of them start life in our homes. The good news? Many of the sources are easy to swap.

Where do microplastics come from?

Researchers usually sort them into two groups:

Primary microplastics are made small, like microbeads in some cosmetics, or fibres shed from synthetic fabrics. Many are too small for wastewater treatment to catch.
Secondary microplastics form when bigger plastic items, like containers, toys and packaging, break into smaller and smaller pieces over time.

That's the core problem with conventional plastic. It doesn't really go away. It just gets smaller. Scientists are still working out what this means for health and wildlife, and early research on marine life is a reason to take it seriously. In the meantime, cutting down what we bring home is something we can all do.

10 hidden sources around the house

1. Synthetic cleaning cloths

Many popular cleaning cloths and microfibre cloths are made from polyester and polyamide, which are plastics. They shed fibres as you use them and every time they go through the wash. The swap: ZERO Reusable Cleaning Cloths, made from timber viscose, a plant-based fibre made from wood pulp.

2. Synthetic wipes

Lots of cleaning wipes are made from polyester or polypropylene nonwovens. The swap: ZERO Cleaning Wipes, dry timber viscose wipes you use dry or damp, then rinse and reuse.

3. Kitchen sponges

Most sponges are synthetic foam with a plastic scourer, and they wear down as you scrub. The swap: use a reusable cloth for everyday wiping and keep a scrubber just for baked-on mess. More in dishcloth vs sponge.

4. Conventional cling wrap

Standard cling wrap is made from conventional plastic film. The swap: ZERO Cling Wrap is made from bioplastic, mainly PLA from sugarcane, and is certified home compostable. In compost it breaks down fully to CO2, water and biomass, so unlike conventional plastic it doesn't persist.

5. Plastic food containers and bags

Heating, scratching and general wear can cause plastic containers to shed particles. The swap: avoid heating food in plastic, and for bags, try ZERO Resealable Food Storage Bags, which are certified home compostable and tested for food contact.

6. Tea bags

Some tea bags use plastic in the mesh or to seal the bag. The swap: loose-leaf tea, or check the brand's material info.

7. Clothing and soft furnishings

Polyester, nylon and acrylic clothes shed fibres in the wash. The swap: wash full loads, use cooler cycles, and air-dry where you can.

8. Synthetic carpets and rugs

Nylon and polyester carpets shed fibres into household dust. The swap: vacuum regularly, and consider natural fibres like wool or jute next time you replace a rug.

9. Cosmetics and scrubs

Some cosmetics contain plastic ingredients such as polyethylene. The swap: check the ingredient list, and choose products that use natural exfoliants like sugar or salt.

10. Plastic toys

Plastic toys can wear and break down over time, especially cheap ones. The swap: fewer, better toys, with wood and cloth in the mix.

Start with one easy swap

You don't need to overhaul the house. Pick the item you replace most often, usually cloths, wipes or cling wrap, and start there. If nothing changes, nothing changes.