By William Thompson · Capstone Project · New Zealand
The invisible plastic crisis threatening our oceans, wildlife, and health — and what you can do about it.
Discover the TruthMicroplastics are tiny plastic particles smaller than 5 millimetres — often invisible to the naked eye. They come from two main sources: larger plastics breaking down in the environment (secondary microplastics), and plastic particles added to products like toothpaste and face scrubs (primary microplastics).
These particles have spread to every corner of our planet — from the deepest ocean trenches to the top of Mount Everest, from Arctic ice to our own drinking water. Once released into the environment, they are almost impossible to remove.
Size Comparison
🔬 Nanoplastics are so small they can cross the blood-brain barrier and enter human cells.
🧴 A single plastic chopping board can shed 14–71 million microplastics per use.
Microplastics aren't just an eyesore — they carry toxic chemicals that cause real, measurable damage to humans, animals, and our entire ecosystem. Here's the breakdown.
Microplastics have been found in human blood, lungs, liver, and even placentas. They carry toxic chemicals like BPA and phthalates that disrupt hormones, cause inflammation, and may damage organs over time. You are likely consuming roughly a credit card's worth of plastic every week.
Millions of sea animals die each year after consuming microplastics, which they mistake for food. The particles cause internal blockages, starvation, and chemical poisoning. Seabirds feed plastic to their chicks. Fish absorb microplastics through their gills — and then we eat the fish.
Roughly 11% of ocean plastic by weight is microplastics. They absorb other pollutants, making them chemical sponges that contaminate entire food chains. Microplastics in soil reduce crop yields and harm earthworms. Even clouds and rainfall now carry microplastic particles.
You don't need to be a scientist or politician to fight microplastics. Small everyday changes add up. Here are 8 real actions that make a real difference.
Swap disposable water bottles, straws, and cutlery for reusable alternatives. Each swap prevents thousands of microplastics from entering waterways.
Synthetic clothes (polyester, nylon, acrylic) shed microplastics every wash. Opt for cotton, wool, or linen where possible.
Guppyfriend bags catch up to 86% of microplastic fibres shed during washing. A simple product with a massive impact.
Many face scrubs and toothpastes contain microbeads. Look for "polyethylene" or "polypropylene" in ingredients — and avoid them.
Most teens don't know about microplastics. Share what you know. Talk to friends, post on social media, bring it up in class — awareness is the first step.
Larger plastic items break down into microplastics over time. Removing them before that happens is one of the most direct actions you can take.
Food and drinks stored in plastic containers — especially when heated — absorb more microplastics. Switch to glass or steel alternatives at home.
Most wastewater treatment plants weren't built to filter microplastics. Advocate for upgraded infrastructure and mandatory discharge monitoring — this is where the real systemic change happens.
Most environmental campaigns target the plastic you can see — single-use bags, bottles, straws. Banning these is a valid part of a broader pollution-prevention strategy, and those efforts matter. But they address the symptom, not the source of the microplastic crisis.
The plastic you can't see is already inside you. Microplastic particles have been found in human blood, lungs, liver, and food. They enter ecosystems not just from litter on the street, but from something far less visible: our wastewater. Every time synthetic clothing is washed, every time microplastic-laden water passes through our pipes, those particles flow through treatment systems — and most current infrastructure simply wasn't designed to stop them.
That's the gap this project targets. As part of my capstone, I developed a petition calling on the New Zealand government to take two concrete steps: mandate greater investment in wastewater treatment capable of capturing microplastic particles, and require the monitored reporting of microplastic levels in environmental discharges. This petition has been approved by the NZ government and is now open for signatures.
I'm sharing it everywhere I can — and every signature sends a direct message that this generation demands better. Sign it, share it, and help make the invisible impossible to ignore.
This petition calls on the New Zealand government to mandate improved wastewater treatment capable of capturing microplastic particles, and to require monitored reporting of microplastic levels in all environmental discharges.
Every signature counts. Share the link with friends, family, and anyone who cares about clean water and a healthier environment.
See What You Can Do →Think you've got it? Answer 5 questions and find out.
These trusted organisations and research bodies are doing incredible work on the microplastics crisis. Click any card to dive deeper.