Key sources of microplastics to the environment: Working Papers developed by Members of the Scientists’ Coalition

It is estimated 12.7 million metric tons (MT) of plastics enter the environment as microplastics every year, the main sources being paint, tyres, pellets, textiles and personal care products. There are  substantial additional quantities from the fragmentation of larger items of plastic that have already entered the environment as debris.

The following working papers provides an overview of the fate, effects, and potential mitigation strategies for each of these sources of microplastics.

• Intentionally added plastics in personal care products (Mendrik et al. 2024) [English] This document focuses on personal care products, which are estimated to account for an annual release of 0.055 MT of microplastics to the environment.
• Paint (Al-jaibachi et al. 2024) [English] This document focuses on paint, which is estimated to be one of the largest sources of microplastics to the environment, accounting for annual releases of around 4.68 MT 1. 
• Microfibres from textiles (Brander et al. 2024) [English] This document focuses on microfibres from textiles, which are estimated to account for an annual release of 1.02 MT of microplastic to the environment
• Vehicle tyres (Booth et al. 2024) [English] This document focuses emissions from vehicle tyres which are estimated to account for an annual release of 3.6 MT of microplastic to the environment.
• Spillage of plastic pellets, powders and flakes (Carney Almroth et al. 2024) [English] This document focuses on microplastics released during the production of plastic precursors, such as pellets (or nurdles), which are the third-largest source of unintentionally released microplastics in the environment.

These working papers have been prepared independently by members of the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty and have yet to go through the standard review process of the Scientists’ Coalition.