The environmental impacts of plastics are one of the main global issues which are attracting the attention of the public, authorities and businesses alike. The EU adopted a firm position in 2018 through the Plastics Strategy to fight against plastic pollution and tackle the root causes of this problem. Within this context, the Commission is also tackling the issue of microplastics.
Microplastics are understood to be tiny, synthetic, water-insoluble polymer items with a size equal or smaller than 5 mm, so there is quite a large family of diverse microplastics from different sources.1 The current scientific knowledge on microplastics is limited as argued by scientists in the recently published report on “Environmental and Health Risks of Microplastic Pollution”.2 Therefore, research is needed to improve the general understanding about the different sources, characteristics and impacts of microplastics, including their effects on the environment and health, and to develop innovative solutions to prevent their dissemination.