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Microplastic label in microencapsulation field – Consequence of shell material selection
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This review examines whether microcapsules used in consumer products like laundry detergents and fabric conditioners should be classified as microplastics under proposed EU regulations. Many of these tiny polymer shells are not biodegradable and could persist in aquatic environments after product use, making their regulatory classification important for reducing intentional microplastic releases. The review argues that shell material selection is the key factor determining whether a microcapsule qualifies as a microplastic, with significant implications for product reformulation across the personal care industry.
Plastics make our lives easier in many ways; however, if they are not appropriately disposed of or recycled, they may end up in the environment where they stay for centuries and degrade into smaller and smaller pieces, called microplastics. Each year, approximately 42000 tonnes of microplastics end up in the environment when products containing them are used. According to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) one of the significant sources of microplastics are microcapsules formulated in home care and consumer care products. As part of the EU's plastics strategy, ECHA has proposed new regulations to ban intentionally added microplastics starting from 2022. It means that the current cross-linked microcapsules widely applied in consumer goods must be transformed into biodegradable shell capsules. The aim of this review is to provide the readers with a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of recent developments in the art of microencapsulation. Thus, considering the chemical structure of the capsule shell's materials, we discuss whether microcapsules should also be categorized as microplastic and therefore, feared and avoided or whether they should be used despite the persisting concern.
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Researchers reviewed microencapsulation techniques for fragrances, flavors, and essential oils and found that widely used rigid polymer microcapsules in consumer products release microplastics into wastewater, accounting for roughly 4% of total environmental microplastic load, underscoring demand for biodegradable encapsulation alternatives.
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The uptake of fragrance encapsulates by aquatic invertebrates and earthworms was investigated, finding that these micron-sized polymer capsules used in laundry products can be ingested by freshwater and soil organisms, qualifying them as microplastics and raising questions about their ecological fate after release through washing.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.