VPIRG report provides tips for minimizing exposure this holiday season
There is no place on Earth that is free from plastic pollution these days, from the highest mountaintops to the deepest ocean canyons. The problem gets worse each year and seems to peak during the holiday season when household trash rates in the U.S. increase by 25 percent or more. Much of that trash is plastic waste that will be around for centuries since plastic doesn’t biodegrade naturally in the environment.
What happens to much of that plastic is that it simply breaks up into smaller and smaller bits, eventually becoming microplastics. This microplastic, or even smaller particles called nanoplastic, is so tiny that people take in many thousands of particles every day simply by eating, drinking, and even breathing.
A new holiday guide released today by the Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG) helps consumers know what to look for if they want to minimize exposure to microplastics during this gift-giving season.
The guide, titled “’Tis the Season for Less Plastic,” provides examples of products that are known to shed thousands, or even millions of microplastic particles in everyday use. It also identifies alternative products and practices that can significantly reduce microplastic exposure.
Earlier this year, a Nature Medicine study found that today, the average human brain contains an astounding seven grams of microplastic particles. That is about equal to the weight of an entire plastic spoon. Not a “spoonful” but the entirety of a plastic spoon. The study also found that the quantity of microplastics in the brain increased significantly from 2016 to 2024.
“Each holiday season results in mountains of plastic waste. While this plastic never biodegrades, it does shed millions of tiny microplastic particles as it breaks down,” explained Alexis Drown, environmental associate with VPIRG. “These microplastics are a serious threat to our environment and to human health. Just consider the fact that right now, each of us is walking around with the equivalent of a plastic spoon’s worth of microplastics in our brain.”
Research into the effects of microplastics on human health is still in its early stages, but scientists are already seeing links to diseases like dementia, Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular issues like strokes, and even increased risk for certain cancers.
VPIRG’s report identifies products linked to microplastic exposure including certain tea bags, cutting boards, synthetic clothing, plush toys for children, and more. For each of these items, there are alternatives that reduce the risk of shedding microplastics.
Especially concerning are the products that lead to the direct consumption of microplastics. A number of products identified in VPIRG’s report can leach significant quantities of microplastic into the food and beverages that people eat and drink. A recent study from Environmental Science and Technology found that microwaving plastic food containers for as little as three minutes could release millions or billions of micro- and nanoplastic particles per square centimeter of plastic.
“By putting these containers in the microwave, you are radically amplifying the process that is putting microplastics directly into the food you are eating,” Drown said. “If you do use plastic containers, we want to encourage you to avoid any heat or microwave use.”
Another item on this list is single-use water bottles, the type of plastic waste VPIRG has focused on for years. They are not simply a waste problem, however. Typical water bottles can contain hundreds of thousands of microplastic particles. Transitioning to reusable bottles such as glass or stainless steel can reduce plastic waste and also protect people’s health.
Synthetic clothing is a growing area of concern. Some estimates suggest that 35% of microplastic pollution in waterways comes from fibers that shed from synthetic clothing. Alternatives include natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, and wool. There are ways to try to minimize microplastic shedding with polyester, nylon, or other synthetic clothing you may own. VPIRG suggests lower laundry temperatures, smaller loads, and using a clothes line to dry garments as ways to reduce microplastics getting into the environment.
Drown noted that the plastic waste associated with packaging material used in shipping can be avoided entirely by shopping locally whenever possible, which is good for the health and vitality of our communities and businesses too.
“We want consumers to feel empowered to make sustainable purchasing choices and shift away from plastic when they can,” said Drown. “A report like is meant to help them feel better informed.”
“That being said, we must also recognize that certain manufacturers are often working against real solutions that could address the problem of too much plastic. We need manufacturers to behave more responsibly, and we need policies that require a reduction in the quantity and toxicity of plastics,” she added.
VPIRG’s 2025 ‘Tis the Season for Less Plastic report can be found at www.vpirg.org/2025HolidayGuide.