Microplastics now appear in oceans, rivers, soil, air and even in drinking water. For manufacturers in cosmetics, food, feed, packaging and advanced materials, this creates both regulatory pressure and an innovation opportunity. As BioPowder, we specialise in biodegradable alternatives to microplastics based on fruit stone powders and granulates. This glossary entry explains what microplastics are, where they occur, how they relate to your products and which nature-based options support your sustainability strategy.

What are microplastics?

In technical and regulatory contexts, microplastics are defined as solid plastic particles made of synthetic polymers that are up to 5 millimetres in size, insoluble in water and not readily biodegradable. Many regulatory frameworks apply a lower size limit of around 1 nanometre, with particles below roughly 1 micrometre often classified as nanoplastics, which raise additional analytical and toxicological concerns. From an industrial perspective, microplastics include microbeads used in cosmetics, encapsulated fragrances and controlled-release capsules, polymer powders and fillers in coatings, sealants and composites, as well as pellets and dust generated during plastic processing. Because these particles resist degradation and tend to fragment rather than disappear, they accumulate in ecosystems and food chains over time.

Primary and secondary microplastics

Specialists distinguish between primary and secondary microplastics, a useful lens when you evaluate your own formulations.

Primary microplastics: intentionally small particles

Primary microplastics are intentionally manufactured at micro-scale. Typical examples include exfoliating beads used in facial scrubs and hand cleaners, texturising microbeads in make-up as well as lip and nail products, microcapsules that deliver fragrances or active ingredients, polymer-based industrial abrasives and polishing media, and rubber granules applied as infill in artificial turf systems.

These uses fall squarely under current restriction debates. In the EU, Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 restricts many synthetic polymer microparticles intentionally added to products and phases them out across categories such as rinse‑off cosmetics, detergents and infill materials. For personal care and cleaning, this triggers a clear need for microplastic alternatives, for instance fruit stone exfoliants instead of plastic scrub beads.

Secondary microplastics: fragmentation of larger plastics

Secondary microplastics arise when larger plastic products break down under UV radiation, mechanical stress and weathering. Common sources include fragmented packaging films, bottles and other single-use items, microfibres released from synthetic textiles during washing, tyre wear particles on roads, the gradual degradation of paints and coatings, and damaged fibres from artificial turf systems.

These sources relate less to formulation choices and more to product design, use phase and end‑of‑life management. Nevertheless, industries that use plastics as base materials face growing expectations to minimise fragmentation and to work with bio‑based or biodegradable components where feasible.

Where do microplastics occur – water, food and air?

Extensive microplastics research shows that plastic particles disperse through every environmental compartment.

• Microplastics in water
  Microplastics are found in rivers, lakes, coastal waters and marine environments, and they also occur in drinking water, both tap and bottled. Studies summarised by the World Health Organization show that treatment processes remove many particles, but smaller fractions can remain. Regular consumption of bottled water is associated with significantly higher microplastic intake due to particle release from bottles and caps. For manufacturers, this increases pressure to reduce polymer shedding in packaging, monitor process water quality more closely, and substantiate any “microplastic-free” claims with clear definitions and evidence.
• Microplastics in food
  In food, microplastics originate from environmental contamination and processing steps and have been detected in seafood, table salt, sugar and certain processed products. Many particles stem from contact with plastic surfaces along the value chain or from airborne deposition during handling. This strengthens the case for bio-based thickeners, texturisers and fillers that do not fragment into persistent microplastics, such as fruit stone powders and olive by-product ingredients used as natural fibre and texture sources.
• Microplastics in air and dust
  Microplastics also circulate as airborne fibres and particles released from textiles, paints and abrasion processes. They settle on indoor surfaces, ventilation systems and production equipment, making airborne contamination a relevant factor in Good Manufacturing Practice risk assessments, especially for sensitive products like cosmetics and food.

Microplastics in humans – what current research shows

The topic “microplastics in humans” receives wide coverage. Laboratory studies with animals and cell cultures show that particles can cause:

• Physical irritation and inflammatory responses
• Oxidative stress and changes in cellular metabolism
• Transport of absorbed chemicals such as plasticisers

Several publications suggest that certain polymers, including polyethylene, can accumulate in tissues, including the brain.(en.wikipedia.org) At the same time, a number of high‑profile studies on microplastics in human organs came under scrutiny in early 2026 due to potential contamination and limitations in analytical methods.

Current expert consensus includes the following points:

• Microplastics effects on humans remain under active investigation. Evidence for exposure exists; evidence for long‑term health outcomes still evolves.
• Analytical methods for very small particles and complex tissues still improve.
• Precautionary approaches guide policy: regulators treat persistent synthetic particles as a problem, even where direct human health effects remain uncertain.

For you as a manufacturer, the debate sends a clear signal: moving away from persistent microplastics reduces long‑term risk, both for public health and for corporate reputation.

Regulatory landscape – why microplastics matter for product design

EU microplastics restriction under REACH

In Europe, microplastics have become a central focus of chemical regulation with the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 under the REACH framework. This restriction targets intentionally added synthetic polymer microparticles and introduces a phased ban across multiple sectors. It applies to most solid synthetic polymer particles smaller than 5 millimetres that do not readily biodegrade, while natural particles, inorganic materials, fully biodegradable polymers and water-soluble substances are excluded from the scope.

For formulators, the regulation introduces application-specific transition periods. Rinse-off cosmetics are phased out earlier than leave-on products, certain make-up, lip and nail products benefit from longer timelines but may require labelling that discloses microplastic content, and granular infill materials for artificial turf follow dedicated phase-out and risk-management schedules. As a result, many conventional polymer scrub beads, abrasives and glitters no longer comply, accelerating the shift toward natural alternatives such as olive stone granules or walnut shell powders that meet the new legal requirements.

Beyond Europe – global momentum

Other regions are moving in the same regulatory direction. Several countries have already banned plastic microbeads in rinse-off cosmetics, and international bodies such as the United Nations Environment Programme are pushing for a global treaty to end plastic pollution, explicitly including microplastics. For globally active brands, this strengthens the case for harmonised, microplastic-free formulations rather than maintaining different product recipes for individual markets.

Typical microplastics in industrial and consumer products

Microplastics span a wide variety of polymers and formats. The following table summarises common examples and related concerns, especially relevant for microplastics in water and microplastics in food.

Microplastic example	Typical use	Main concerns from a sustainability perspective
Polyethylene microbeads	Exfoliating agents in scrubs and hand cleansers	Direct release to wastewater, persistent particles in rivers and seas
Polypropylene powders	Texture and matting in coatings and cosmetics	Fossil‑based, non‑biodegradable, subject to REACH restriction
Polyester microfibres	Synthetic textiles and nonwovens	Release during washing, accumulation in sediments and organisms
Styrene‑based beads	Carrier particles and decorative effects	Potential leaching of styrene‑based monomers and additives
Rubber granules from tyres or turf infill	Sports pitches and landscaping	Run‑off into soil and water, ingestion by organisms
Encapsulated fragrances in detergents	Controlled fragrance release	Polymeric shells remain in the environment after fragrance release

By contrast, fruit stone powders from olives, apricots or walnuts belong to agricultural by‑products and biodegrade in natural environments. They enter circular material streams instead of accumulating as persistent fragments.

For an overview of how agricultural residues serve as sustainable raw materials, you can consult our glossary entry on agricultural by-products.

Why brands replace microplastics – risk, ESG and market expectations

Across sectors, product managers and sustainability teams work on microplastic replacement strategies. Drivers include:

• Regulatory compliance
  Keeping formulations in line with REACH and other restrictions, and anticipating coming updates.
• ESG and reporting
  Many frameworks, from corporate sustainability reporting to eco‑labels, expect clear action on plastic pollution, including microplastics in water and soil.
• Market positioning
  “Microplastic‑free” and “biodegradable” labels influence procurement in B2B chains and purchasing decisions in B2C markets.
• Innovation and future‑proofing
  Offering high‑performance products that use bio‑based fillers, abrasives and texturisers strengthens resilience against future regulation and public scrutiny.

Our work at BioPowder centres on upcycled fruit stones and shells. These raw materials originate from olives, almonds, walnuts, peaches and other fruits, processed in Southern Spain without additional agrochemicals. We convert them into powders and granules with defined particle sizes and functional surface properties.

Natural alternatives to microplastics: fruit stone powders from BioPowder

Functional principles

Fruit stone and nutshell powders can replace many functional roles of microplastics while fitting naturally into circular-economy strategies. They provide controlled mechanical action for exfoliating scrubs, hand cleaners or industrial blasting, add texture, matting, anti-slip effects and bulk in coatings, sealants and composites, support thickening and structuring through rheology control in food and feed, and reinforce bio-based polymers and engineered materials by increasing stiffness and stability. Because these particles originate from lignocellulosic biomass, they break down into biodegradable organic matter rather than persisting as microplastics in the environment. 

Applications in personal care and cosmetics

For the microplastics research and R&D community, cosmetics have long acted as a lead sector for substitution strategies. In our collaborations with formulators, olive stone scrubs replace polyethylene beads in facial and body exfoliants, while walnut shell powders function as natural exfoliants in wash-off and leave-on products, as outlined in our overview on walnut shell powder for exfoliation and abrasives. Apricot stone and peach stone granules deliver a mild yet effective peeling effect with a pleasant sensory profile, with further details available on our apricot stone and granule product page. In addition, fruit stone base powders add bulk and texture in colour cosmetics, as described under natural cosmetic base powders and texturisers. These exfoliating beads and base powders are not subject to REACH microplastics restrictions, as they are natural, insoluble and biodegradable.

Applications in industrial abrasives and blasting

Traditional industrial abrasives often rely on mineral media or polymer beads that generate dust and contribute to microplastic release. As an alternative, we supply olive stone abrasives for blasting and surface preparation, as well as walnut shell abrasives for gentle cleaning and rust removal. You can explore practical use cases in our dedicated section on industrial abrasives from natural fruit stones, and in the glossary entry on sand blasting, applications and sustainability. The media remain biodegradable and originate from upcycled agricultural waste, which improves the overall environmental profile of blasting operations.

Bio‑based fillers for coatings and composites

Microplastics are also used as functional fillers in coatings, sealants and composites to adjust gloss, slip resistance, texture and mechanical performance. BioPowder supports their replacement by supplying fine olive stone powders as matting and texture additives in paints and varnishes, developing hydrophobic fruit stone powders for epoxy and polyurethane systems, and providing bio-based fillers for engineered wood, PVC and textile composites. For more detail, refer to our overview on fibre additives and natural fillers for bio-based composite materials and the dedicated glossary entry on bio-based coatings.

Microplastics size, measurement and communication

Particle size and performance

In many applications, microplastics size defines both performance and risk profile:

• Large beads (hundreds of micrometres) deliver strong exfoliation or coarse texture.
• Fine powders (tens of micrometres and below) influence flow, opacity and reinforcement.
• Nanometre‑scale fragments interact with biological membranes in specific ways yet remain difficult to detect.

When we design fruit stone powders as microplastic alternatives, we align particle size distribution with your technical targets. Our process allows narrow size cuts from fine powders to coarse granules, with options for surface modifications such as hydrophobisation.

Measurement and claims

The ongoing scientific debate around microplastics in the brain, blood or organs underlines how important robust measurement is.

For brand communication, we recommend:

• Using definitions that match current regulations for microplastics in your main markets.
• Basing “microplastic‑free” claims on the absence of intentionally added synthetic polymer microparticles, supported by supply‑chain documentation.
• Explaining the nature of bio‑based particles used as alternatives, including their origin (e.g. olive pits, walnut shells) and biodegradability.

Our team supports partners with technical dossiers and application lab data, available through the BioPowder application lab.

How manufacturers reduce microplastics along the value chain

For product developers and sustainability managers, effective microplastics strategies combine formulation choices with system-level design. A central step is eliminating intentionally added synthetic microplastics by replacing polymer beads, capsules and fillers with mineral or bio-based alternatives, ideally from recycled or upcycled sources. In parallel, optimising base polymers and composite structures helps reduce brittleness and fragmentation or enables a shift toward bio-based polymers where performance allows, as illustrated in our work on sustainable polymers from renewable resources. End-of-life design is equally important: improving recyclability, enabling clean incineration or ensuring biodegradability reduces the long-term formation of secondary microplastics, as discussed in our glossary on recyclability in sustainable materials. 

Finally, close supply-chain collaboration with ingredient partners that offer transparent sourcing and verified sustainability practices strengthens overall impact. As a producer based in Southern Spain, we process local olive and fruit by-products, support regional agriculture and operate short, controlled supply chains, ensuring reliable access to high-quality natural particles that replace microplastics across multiple industries.

Working with BioPowder on microplastic‑free solutions

If you plan to phase out microplastics in cosmetics, food, industrial abrasives or advanced materials, we support you with:

• Customised particle design – selection of fruit stone type, size distribution and surface treatment
• Application testing – evaluation of performance in your specific formulation via our application lab
• Scale‑up and logistics – reliable production and international delivery from our plant in Southern Spain

Our portfolio ranges from olive pit powder and almond shell powder to walnut shell and argan shell powders, all sourced as by‑products and processed with high‑precision milling and classification. Through these materials, you enhance product performance and meet regulatory expectations while reducing microplastic pollution.

For exploratory projects or specific briefs, contact our team through the BioPowder contact page.

FAQs on microplastics and natural alternatives

Can you avoid eating microplastics?

Complete avoidance of microplastics in food and water remains unrealistic, because particles already circulate through the environment and food webs. You reduce exposure by prioritising filtered tap water over bottled water, by limiting contact between hot foods and plastic packaging and by improving indoor air quality to lower dust deposition. From the perspective of food and cosmetic manufacturers, switching to bio‑based ingredients instead of microplastics and improving packaging design reduce the amount of new particles that enter the environment and ultimately the diet.

What foods are highest in microplastics?

Studies detect microplastics in seafood, especially bivalves and some small fish that retain ingested particles in edible tissues. Processed foods that contact high levels of plastic packaging, and products derived from heavily contaminated waters, also show elevated particle counts. Since microplastics in water and air contribute to background contamination, any open food surface can collect airborne particles. By using natural fillers and coatings instead of polymer microbeads along the value chain, producers help to reduce this overall burden.

How to remove microplastics from your body?

Current research on microplastics in humans has not yet identified targeted “detox” methods for specific particles. The body eliminates many ingested microplastics via the digestive tract; ongoing microplastics research investigates how smaller particles interact with tissues. General health advice applies: support normal metabolism, avoid unnecessary exposure and focus on prevention. For industry stakeholders, prevention means replacing intentionally added microplastics in food, cosmetics and detergents with biodegradable alternatives so that fewer particles reach consumers in the first place.

What do microplastics do to humans?

Laboratory studies indicate that microplastics can cause inflammation, oxidative stress and physical damage in cells and animal models, and may transport additives such as plasticisers. Evidence on microplastics effects on humans still develops, and recent debates around analytical methods highlight remaining uncertainties, especially concerning microplastics in the brain or other organs. Regulators follow a precautionary approach and restrict persistent synthetic particles. By prioritising fruit stone powders and other natural ingredients instead of synthetic microbeads, manufacturers minimise the potential for long‑term impacts while still achieving the desired product performance.

Why do regulators focus so strongly on microplastics size?

Microplastics size influences both environmental behaviour and potential health effects. Larger particles remain visible and settle in sediments, whereas smaller particles travel far, pass some filtration systems and may interact with biological membranes. Regulation therefore defines cut‑off ranges for microplastics in water and products, often between 1 nanometre and 5 millimetres. For substitution projects, we engineer the particle size distribution of fruit stone powders so that you achieve equivalent functional properties while staying outside microplastics definitions.

How do natural abrasives compare to polymer microbeads in performance?

Natural abrasives such as olive stone or walnut shell granules deliver controlled mechanical cleaning comparable to polymer microbeads, both in personal care products and in industrial abrasives. Particle hardness, shape and size distribution determine their aggressiveness, while density influences behaviour in a liquid or air stream. Because fruit stone abrasives are biodegradable and derived from agricultural by‑products, they avoid the persistence problems of synthetic microplastics and support circular‑economy targets without sacrificing performance.