A new white paper released by experts at the UTS Business School highlights the risks posed to businesses if they ignore growing scientific evidence and consumer awareness around the dangers posed by microplastics.
“Microplastics are tiny plastic fragments, or synthetic polymers, that exist throughout supply chains and in the wider environment. They’ve been found in even the most remote places on Earth,” said one of the white paper authors, Professor Martina Linnenluecke from the UTS Centre for Climate Risk and Resilience.
“Primary microplastics are purposely added to products such as paint, cosmetics or cleaning products such as handwash. Secondary microplastics result from the breakdown of plastics into the environment, such as a plastic bag breaking down in landfill.”
“All available evidence points to both types of microplastic being pervasive and persistent. Proof is emerging they’re implicated in harm to human health and global ecosystems.”
The white paper, Microplastics: Preparing for Australia’s Next Regulatory Shift , highlights evidence global plastic production now exceeds 450 million tonnes per year and could almost triple to 1.2 billion tonnes under a business-as-usual scenario.
However, these levels are likely to be curtailed as governments increasingly regulate microplastic pollution. The European Union, some US states and South-East Asian countries have already introduced targeted restrictions.
“Many businesses are unaware of how far microplastics have infiltrated their supply chains. Fully one-third of the 33 handwash products we analysed available in Australian supermarkets contained either probable microplastics or synthetic polymers,” said the other white paper author, Professor Ross Gordon of Change for Good at UTS.
“The banning of single-use plastic bags is only the opening salvo in regulatory moves as governments take action, reflecting community concern.
“As the science and engineering behind industrial monitoring advances, businesses will be expected to track the level of microplastics in their products and control secondary microplastic pollution.”
The white paper highlights many actions that businesses can take right now to proactively manage their risks around microplastics exposure.
Increased monitoring and transparent reporting, circular business models, recycled-content products and materials innovation can build trust and generate efficiencies in the face of consumer concern.
“Businesses that communicate credibly about their microplastic footprints and align marketing practices with actual reduction commitments will be better placed to build durable brand equity,” said Professor Linnenluecke.
“Those that do not face mounting reputational and litigation risk as awareness deepens and disclosure expectations tighten.
“The question is not whether supply chains including plastics will change but how quickly, and who will lead it,” Professor Linnenluecke said.
Microplastics: Preparing for Australia’s Next Regulatory Shift
5-Aug-2026