Microplastic Pollution - 2020s

Microplastic Pollution - 2020s

In the 2020s, microplastic pollution is becoming more serious. Microplastics are very small pieces of plastic (less than 5 mm) that pollute rivers and oceans. In particular, more than 5,000 pieces of microplastics per cubic meter were detected in rivers flowing into Tokyo Bay and Osaka Bay. These plastic fragments are caused by synthetic materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene, and are found in packaging materials, plastic containers, and wastewater from household products.

In the Arakawa and Tama Rivers in Tokyo, large amounts of microplastics are being discharged into the rivers due to domestic and corporate wastewater. In particular, wastewater from household product manufacturers and water used for washing clothes containing synthetic fibers are the main sources of contamination. For example, polyester and nylon clothing provided by clothing manufacturers sometimes release thousands of plastic fibers with each wash. This results in a rapid increase in the amount of microplastics entering rivers, which is difficult to clean up.

The influx of microplastics also has a negative impact on the food chain. For example, a survey in the Seto Inland Sea confirmed that more than 30% of fish and shellfish ingest microplastics. This is based on surveys conducted by research institutes such as Kobe University and Ehime University, which have shown that it is having a serious impact on the marine ecosystem.

Internationally, the European Union has tightened regulations on microplastics, specifically banning the use of microbeads in plastic cosmetics and face washes. Similarly in the United States, the Microbeads Control Act of 2015 regulates microplastics in products.

In Japan, companies and local governments are working to reduce plastic waste in accordance with the Law for Promotion of Recycling of Plastic Resources, which came into effect in 2021. Specifically, major cosmetics manufacturers such as Kao and Shiseido have discontinued the use of plastic microbeads and are developing alternative materials.