Did you know the average person consumes approximately 5 grams of microplastics every week — roughly the equivalent of a credit card? Microplastics have been found in our blood, lungs, placentas, and even breast milk. While research is still emerging, scientists are increasingly linking microplastic exposure to inflammation, hormonal disruption, and long-term health risks. The good news? Many of the biggest sources of microplastics in our homes are everyday items we can easily swap out.
Here are 5 simple, practical changes you can make right now.
1. Plastic Food Storage → Stainless Steel Containers
Plastic containers — especially when heated in the microwave or washed repeatedly — leach microplastics and chemicals like BPA and phthalates directly into your food. Stainless steel containers are durable, non-leaching, and last a lifetime. They're ideal for leftovers, meal prep, and lunchboxes, and they won't stain or absorb odours over time.
2. Plastic Dish Wand & Liquid Detergent → Bamboo Dish Wand & Dish Washing Bar
Plastic dish wands shed microplastics into your washing water, which goes straight down the drain and into waterways. Liquid detergents often come in single-use plastic bottles too. A bamboo dish wand with a natural fibre head is biodegradable and just as effective, while a solid dish washing bar eliminates plastic packaging entirely — and typically lasts much longer than a bottle of liquid soap.
3. Plastic Clothes Pegs → Stainless Steel Pegs
Plastic pegs are one of the most overlooked sources of outdoor plastic pollution. They crack and break down in UV light, shedding microplastics that fall onto your clothes and lawn. Stainless steel pegs are virtually indestructible, rust-resistant, and will outlast dozens of sets of plastic pegs — making them a smarter long-term investment too.
4. Disposable Plastic Produce Bags → Reusable Cotton Produce Bags
Those thin plastic bags in the fruit and vegetable aisle are used for minutes but persist in the environment for hundreds of years. Reusable cotton produce bags are lightweight, washable, and breathable — actually keeping your produce fresher for longer. Keep a set in your shopping bag so they're always on hand.
5. Nylon or Polyester Sponge → Natural Biodegradable Sponge (e.g. Coconut husk & Cellulose)
Synthetic sponges made from nylon or polyester shed thousands of microplastic fibres every time you use them — fibres that end up in your sink, your dishes, and eventually the ocean. Natural alternatives made from coconut coir or cellulose are just as effective at scrubbing, fully biodegradable, and compostable at the end of their life.
Start Small, Think Long Term
You don't need to overhaul your entire home overnight. Start with one or two swaps and build from there. Each small change reduces your family's exposure to microplastics and sends a signal to the market that conscious, plastic-free living is the future.
Browse our full range of plastic-free home essentials to find the products that work for your household.