At Horto-Logic, the issue of microplastics is important to us. We acknowledge and understand the concern and we want our users to understand the truth and the facts about microplastics, and to be confident that by using the Water-Witch we are not contributing in any significant way.
First, let’s recap about what microplastics are and why they are of concern.
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles less than five millimeters in size that have become a pervasive environmental concern. All plastic items emit microplastics to some degree as they wear or chemically degrade. Found in oceans, rivers, soil, and even the air we breathe, these minuscule pollutants are everywhere. Their small size allows them to infiltrate ecosystems and food chains, posing concerns to wildlife and human health.
The impact of microplastics on human health is the subject of much controversy. Research has shown that the risk varies widely based on factors such as size, concentration, and chemical composition, and although the human body has mechanisms to expel many ingested foreign particles, this diminishes with particle size. Furthermore, our actual exposure to microplastics is never an isolated event, our bodies are subject to a cocktail of chemicals, drugs, allergens, environmental assaults, foods both good and bad, and behaviours. We cannot conclude that microplastics have no influence on our health, but it is safe to say that the impact is low enough to make it difficult to screen out any influence from other factors.
Microplastics released into the environment get naturally diluted and dispersed by water and wind, however the processes of life itself can tend to concentrate it and this is particularly true for marine environments. Microplastics in the environment also change over time due to weathering, UV exposure, temperature, microbial attack (there are bacteria and fungi that “eat” some plastics). Just as with human health it is likely that there is some influence on individual animals, but the impact is low enough to make it difficult to prove unequivocally.
The largest sources of microplastics however, may surprise you.
Diagram of microplastic composition in the ocean.
Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Although we hear a lot in the media about microplastics from packaging and in cosmetics, the three largest sources of microplastics are synthetic textiles, tires, and city dust, about which we do not talk at all!
Fast Fashion is a major contributor to microplastic pollution
The single largest source of microplastic in the environment is from synthetic textiles, such as polyesters, nylons, and acrylics, which make up 60% of our clothes. When clothes with these materials are washed, they shed microplastics into the wastewater. Due to the small size of these plastics, they are extremely difficult to filter out from the water treatment plants, and unfortunately end up in our waterways and ultimately in the ocean.
Could we survive without tires?
The second largest category is tires. The wear and tear from rubbing on roads sheds microplastics, which get swept up by wind or rain and end up in soil, in local water sources and in the ocean.
Paint is a surprisingly large contributor to microplastic pollution
The last major category contains a diversity of sources. Weathering, abrasion and detergents create city dust from manmade products, such as from the soles of footwear, building materials, cooking utensils, paint, and infrastructure degradation. Think of it as an umbrella term for all sorts of plastic coming from cities.
Notice how plastics from food packaging, or indeed from plastic water pipes which are widely used in irrigation, are nowhere to be found! Since these plastics are designed to be directly in touch with products that we consume, they are specified and designed to minimise shedding of microplastics. As with all plastics they unfortunately still do so, but in miniscule amounts. Even with the packaging waste that we all can see, the amount of microplastics released into the environment is insignificant and essentially not measurable compared to the major sources.
The hard, rigid plastic bottles we use with the Water-Witch are designed for food contact and designed for extremely low levels of microplastic release. We are using them in soil that is subject to overwhelming greater quantities from other sources (clothes, tires, city dust, etc). Furthermore, by encouraging users to return their bottles for re-use we are keeping waste plastic out of the environment.
Thus, growers who use the Water-Witch need not worry that they are shedding microplastics into the soil or the things they grow!
At Horto-Logic, we are committed to providing environmentally friendly products and ensuring our customers can grow sustainably. Rest assured, our products are designed with both efficiency and environmental safety in mind.
About me:
My name is Xander Hall, a Norwegian international student studying mathematics, economics, and environmental studies at Macalester College in Minnesota, USA!
Growing up in Norway, the environment has always been a concern of mine. I think we need to bring the environment back to the forefront of the discussion in the US, as it has fallen out of fashion as of late.
I also love sports, playing volleyball, basketball, football, and more recently frisbee and rugby.
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