Abstract
Microplastics are small pieces of plastic with their longest dimension ≤ 5 mm. They originate from multiple sources and are broadly subdivided as primary (manufactured ≤ 5mm) and secondary (generated by wear or fragmentation of larger items). Recent estimates suggest emissions of 12.7 million tonnes of microplastics to the environment annually. Microplastics are persistent and once in the environment cannot effectively be removed, consequently, they have been accumulating in the environment for 70 years. Microplastics contaminate the planet from the deepest oceans to the highest mountains, and have been detected in a wide range of organisms with numerous studies demonstrating harmful effects. To be effective, interventions must focus on reducing emissions and be applied at global scale.