ABOUT MICROPLASTICS
MICROPLASTICS.
MACRO PROBLEM.
To simplify the jargon, when we say "microplastics," we mean any synthetic micro- and nanoscale plastic or rubber fragments. These fibers, granules, and particles are so prevalent at entering our bodies, they've been found in nearly every human sample tested [1]. Even the first stools of newborn babies [2].
How bad is it?
HUMANITY PRODUCES OVER 400 MILLION TONNES OF PLASTIC PER YEAR [3].
That’s more than the mass of Mount Everest [4]. Every. Year.
Globally, only about 9% of plastic gets recycled [5]. Which means over time, a lot winds up in the environment, where it eventually breaks down into nano-sized particles that humans inadvertently ingest.
Nano- and microplastics originate from industrial manufacturing, product packaging, and consumer waste. And are often between 50 to 1000x thinner than a human hair—making them invisible to the human eye [6].
Microplastics are so small they’re now part of earth’s water cycle. They're carried through the air, and eventually come down with rain into our rivers, oceans, groundwater, and even work their way into the soil and eventually food we grow. All of which makes them nearly impossible to avoid [7].
WHERE WE'RE HEADING
A PLASTIC-FREE FUTURE ISN'T SO SIMPLE.
Much of what we consume is packaged in it, made with it, or moved by it [8].
But there's a cost. It breaks into tiny fragments - carrying its own often-toxic additives, and more along the way: endocrine disrupting plasticizers and pthalates, carcinogenic bromoforms, heavy metals, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and more.
The past 75 years may prove to be a light appetizer. By 2050, plastic use is estimated to quadruple to a 1.8 billion tonnes annually [9].
THE INVISIBLE INVASION OF MICROPLASTICS.
They hitchhike on food, water, and air [7]. And carry with them additional toxins from our environment such as heavy metals [10]. But the most concerning vessel of microplastics is your bloodstream.
While research into the long-term health implications is still evolving, it’s becoming increasingly clear that microplastics interact with the body in complex ways and may contribute to a growing toxicological burden.
Emerging research links internal microplastic accumulation to a range of disorders including inflammation, metabolic disruptions, endocrine disruption, and more [11].
As concerning as that is, this knowledge also empowers us. By understanding how microplastics enter our bodies, we can take meaningful steps to avoid them such as:
Drinking filtered water when possible
Choosing products with less plastic packaging
Avoiding single-use plastic food containers
Supporting sustainable clothing and textile brands
Advocating for stronger environmental standards
WE'RE NOT HELPLESS ANYMORE
PEACE OF MIND FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
Our mission is to build simple, safe, science-backed tools that help people thrive in an increasingly polluted world.
We believe people deserve more than awareness. They deserve agency.
Microplastics are now a part of modern life. While broader solutions in material science, waste management, and product design continue to evolve, individuals need tools they can use today.
That is why we built Winnow. A daily probiotic to meet micro- and nanoplastics at their first point of contact: the gut.
When people feel supported, they gain the mental space to think bigger. To advocate. To innovate. To demand better systems.
Personal action and systemic change are not opposites. They reinforce each other.
And together, they move the world forward.
SAVE 38% ON WINNOW
SOURCES, RESOURCES, AND REFERENCES
[1] In a paper published in Environment International, researchers found plastic in the blood of 17 of 22 of study participants, or about 77 percent.
[2] Research from the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center detected microplastics in all 62 human placenta samples tested.
[3] According to the UNEP, humans produce over 400 million tonnes of plastic annually.
[4] In this spatial comparison, the estimated mass of Mount Everest is 357 million tonnes (not including ice or snow). This article details how that estimation is calculated.
[5] Globally, only 9% of plastics produced since the 1950s have been recycled. The U.S. recycling rate for plastics is estimated at only 5-6%.
[6] US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Defines microplastics as particles ranging from 5 mm down to 1 nm, with nanoplastics as a subset smaller than 1 µm.
[7] Microplastics have been examined in various aquatic environments such as groundwater, rainwater, drinking water, our oceans, and freshwater ecosystems.
[8] Numerous academic and journalistic sources support that microplastics are extensively involved in the production, packaging, and transportation of nearly every consumer product.
[9] Global plastic production and global trends in millions of tonnes. Image available here. Year 2018. Credit: Maphoto/Riccardo Pravettoni. Data source: M. Bergmann, L. Gutow, M. Klage (eds) Marine Anthropogenic Litter (2015) Springer.
[10] Chen, P. W., Hsiao, M. N., Xiao, L. W., & Liu, Z. S. (2024). Adsorption behavior of heavy metals onto microplastics derived from conventional and biodegradable commercial plastic products. Science of The Total Environment, 951, 175537.
[11] Emerging research links internal microplastic accumulation to a range of disorders including cardiovascular disease, inflammation, metabolic disruptions, endocrine disruption, and more.