Microplastics research in Aotearoa New
Zealand originated at the University of
Canterbury.
Less than 5mm (or half a centimetre) in
diameter, microplastics are classed in two categories;
primary microplastics are those designed to be small, like
microbeads or glitter, while secondary microplastics are
formed in the environment as larger plastic items break
down. This can include fibres released from textiles and
clothes during washing.
For Plastic
Free July, we sat down with the University of
Canterbury’s leading microplastics researchers, Professor
Sally Gaw and Dr
Laura Revell, to discuss the impact microplastics can
have and are having on our environment, and what could