Tackling microplastics in the environment - evidence-based policy recommendations on textile fibres, tire abrasion, and pellet loss

The event brought together around 70 scientists, representatives from the EU institutions, as well as stakeholders from civil society and businesses to discuss the non-intentional release of microplastics into the environment.

RD Dr. Martin Dubiel (Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the European Union) opened the event and gave the introductory words of welcome. The welcome address was given by Dr. Frieder Kettemann from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. R. Andreas Kraemer, who moderated the event, gave a short overview on the current political framework regarding plastics and recent developments at different political levels.

In the introductory talk, Werner Bosmans (DG Environment) outlined the political mandate for (micro)plastics regulation at EU level, the relevant sources of the non-intentional release of microplastics into the environment and the existing regulatory framework for microplastics at the EU level. During the Q&A subsequently to the presentation, Mr. Bosmans emphasized that there is a lot more research needed with regards to sampling methodologies to gather information on the presence of microplastics in soils across the EU as well as how this could be monitored at member state level.

The first session addressed the issue of tire abrasion with presentations from Mag. Dr. Romana Hornek-Gausterer (Environment Agency Austria) and Prof. Dr. Ing. Matthias Barjenbruch (Technical University Berlin). Ms. Hornek-Gausterer focused on additives used in tires, more specifically on para-substituted phenylenediamines (PPDs). She concluded that environmental monitoring is needed to understand which substances/products are of concern and to learn about the occurrence, transport/fate and behavior in the environment for such particles and substances. Prof. Barjenbruch presented results from the RAU project on tire abrasion and suggested measures to reduce the entry of tire particles into the aquatic environment.

In the second session on textiles fibres, Dr. Korinna Altmann (Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, RUSEKU project) explained the results of washing machine tests with regard to the release of textile fibres from clothes such as shirts during typical washing processes with a household washing machine. The second presentation, held by Nicklas Gustavsson (Ramboll), dealt with geotextiles which are, for instance, used in road construction or for erosion control. Mr. Gustavsson highlighted the major research gaps that exist regarding the use of geotextiles and the potential discharge of microplastics during the use phase or while removing geotextiles from the environment.

The third session started with a presentation of Felix Weber (RheinMain University of Applied Sciences) and Luisa Barkmann-Metaj (Technical University of Darmstadt) who presented results from the EmiStop project on industrial microplastic and pellet loss. The two researchers presented their findings on industrial microplastic emissions at industrial sites and possible reduction measures. Afterwards, the presentation by Dr. Ulrike Braun (German Environment Agency [UBA]) and Dr. Nizar Benismail (Nestlé Quality Assurance Center Vittel) introduced the work of the joint ISO working group on microplastics of which both are active members. A challenge in the standardization work is the harmonization of standards that are currently developed in several different working groups.

In the last session, Dr. Saskia Ziemann (Project Management Agency Karlsruhe) presented the key messages from the German research focus “Plastics in the Environment”, while Prof. Dr. Christian Laforsch (University of Bayreuth) indicated future research needs that will – at least partially – be tackled by the Collaborative Research Centre 1357 Microplastics.

The event “Tackling microplastics in the environment” did take place on 9th March 2023 in the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the European Union in Brussels and was organized jointly by Ecologic Institute for the research focus “Plastics in the Environment – Sources • Sinks • Solutions” of Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Collaborative Research Centre 1357 Microplastics at the University of Bayreuth and the Interest Group Plastics of the EPA network.

Presentations (videos and presentation slides)

Werner Bosmans (European Commission, DG Environment)
Current EU initiatives to prevent microplastics in the environment, Presentation slides

Mag. Dr. Romana Hornek-Gausterer, (Environment Agency Austria)
Tire wear and substances of concern, Presentation slides

Prof. Dr. Ing. Matthias Barjenbruch (Technical University Berlin, Germany)
Measures to reduce the input of tire material into the environment, Presentation slides

Dr. Korinna Altmann (Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Germany)
Release of synthetic fibres during washing of typical household textiles: Findings from washing machine tests and resulting policy recommendations, Presentation slides

Nicklas Gustavsson (Ramboll, Sweden)
Geotextiles as a source of microplastics, Presentation slides

Luisa Barkmann-Metaj (Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany)
Felix Weber (RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, Germany)
Industrial microplastic and pellet loss: status quo and possible reduction measures, Presentation slides

Dr. Ulrike Braun (German Environment Agency [UBA])
Nizar Benismail (Nestlé Quality Assurance Center Vittel, France)
Legal regulation and standardisation of methods to investigate microplastics in the environment, Presentation slides

Dr. Saskia Ziemann (Project Management Agency Karlsruhe, Germany)
Key Messages of the BMBF Research Focus “Plastics in the Environment”, Presentation slides

Prof. Dr. Christian Laforsch (University Bayreuth, Germany)
Key Messages of the Collaborative Research Centre 1357 “Microplastics", Presentation slides