A white paper released by experts at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Business School, Australia, underscores the business risks of failing to respond to scientific evidence and consumer awareness of the potential harms associated with microplastics, including those originating from plastic packaging. 

The white paper, titled Microplastics: Preparing for Australia’s Next Regulatory Shift, highlights evidence that global plastic production now exceeds 450 million metric tons per year and could almost triple to 1.2 billion metric tons under a business-as-usual scenario. 

Martina Linnenluecke, professor at the UTS Centre for Climate Risk and Resilience, and co-author of the white paper, tells Packaging Insights: “Packaging is an important potential source of microplastics because large volumes of short-lived plastic can fragment during production, use, and disposal. The highest risks arise from thin films, foams, small components, and packaging exposed to heat, friction, ultraviolet light, or poor waste management.

Microplastics concerns drive calls for safer plastic packaging design