Additive to Eliminate Microplastics
Conventional plastics fragment into microplastics that persist for centuries. This guide explains the two credible routes to reducing that - certified-compostable materials and microplastic-eliminating additives - and how to evaluate the claims critically.
The problem
Why do conventional plastics create microplastics?
Conventional plastics are built from stable, fossil-derived polymer chains that the environment cannot readily metabolize. Exposed to sunlight, heat, and mechanical stress, these plastics do not disappear - they fragment into progressively smaller pieces, ending as microplastics: persistent particles that accumulate in soil, water, and living systems. The chemistry that makes conventional plastic durable is exactly what makes its fragments last. Eliminating microplastics therefore is not about making plastic break apart faster; it is about making sure that when it breaks down, it breaks down completely into benign end products rather than into lasting fragments.
The routes
How do you reduce or eliminate microplastics?
Switch to certified-compostable material
A material certified to ASTM D6400 or EN 13432 is designed and tested to convert fully into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass under composting conditions - so it does not leave persistent micro-fragments. This is the most verifiable route because the standard defines the outcome.
Use a microplastic-eliminating additive or blend
Additives and blends can be engineered so a finished plastic breaks down more completely rather than shedding micro-fragments. The key is demanding evidence of complete breakdown to a recognized standard, not just faster disintegration.
Evaluate critically
How do you tell a real additive claim from greenwashing?
The microplastics conversation is full of vague and unverifiable claims, so apply the same discipline you would to any sustainability spec. First, ask what standard the claim is tied to - ASTM D6400 or EN 13432 for compostability, and what specific end state is demonstrated. Second, be wary of any product that only claims to "break down faster" or "fragment," because faster fragmentation of a conventional polymer can actually generate microplastics sooner rather than eliminating them. Third, distinguish the material's bio-based content (where it comes from) from its end-of-life behavior (whether it fully breaks down) - they are separate questions, and only the second one addresses microplastics.
ECS supplies a microplastic-eliminating additive approach through its biodegradable blend program, and can also pair a certified-compostable resin with a biogenic mineral filler from Calcean to reduce the fossil-plastic fraction of a part. To specify a formulation, ECS offers the microplastic-eliminating additive and blend program, and the broader context lives in the compostable bioplastics guide.
FAQ
Microplastic additive questions
Can an additive really eliminate microplastics?
The credible mechanism is ensuring a plastic breaks down completely into benign end products rather than into persistent fragments. Additives and blends can be engineered toward that, and certified-compostable materials (ASTM D6400, EN 13432) are the most verifiable route. Demand evidence of complete breakdown to a standard, not just faster fragmentation.
Is a "biodegradable additive" the same as eliminating microplastics?
Not automatically. An additive that only speeds fragmentation of a conventional polymer can generate microplastics sooner. What matters is whether the finished material fully converts to carbon dioxide, water, and biomass, which is what compostability standards like ASTM D6400 and EN 13432 verify.
Does using a bio-based plastic solve microplastics?
Not by itself. Bio-based describes where the material comes from, not how it ends its life. A bio-based plastic can still be non-compostable. To address microplastics, look specifically at certified end-of-life behavior, separate from the bio-based claim.
Reformulating a product?