The Link Between Low-Quality Plastic and Microplastic Pollution

• April 30, 2025

While plastic may seem to be the obvious cause of growing microplastic pollution, an unseen significant player lurks in its shadows. Low-grade plastics contribute significantly towards higher microplastic presence within the environment, harming marine life and entering the human food chain. Inferior quality plastic, which deteriorates sooner, will further disintegrate and release microplastic components at faster levels. In this article, we discuss how poor-quality plastic ends up contributing to microplastic pollution, the science behind its breakdown, and why companies have to work with certified upcyclers such as JB rPET to mitigate their carbon footprint.

How Low-Quality Plastic Accelerates Microplastic Pollution

In a world where sustainability is gaining momentum, manufacturers continue to use low-grade plastic because it is cheaper to produce, and items are cheaper for companies and individuals. Low-grade plastics are produced with inferior polymer structures, lots of fillers, and low-quality processing techniques, so they easily break down. This is how they affect microplastic pollution: ● Faster Degradation: Low-quality plastic, which is commonly used in single-use plastics, degrades more quickly when exposed to sunshine, heat, and friction, releasing microplastics into water and soil. ● Higher Fragmentation Rate: Low-quality plastic is more easily broken into smaller bits, resulting in more microplastic fragments than durable, well-made plastics. ● Increased Shedding: Defective plastic fibres in clothing, inferior plastic films, and inexpensive packaging release microplastics even when used normally, washed, or handled. ● Lack of Proper Additives: Good plastics have stabilizers that slow degradation, whereas poor-quality ones degrade quickly, and more particles get released into the environment.

The Science Behind Plastic Breakdown

Most microplastic contamination is a result of poor-quality plastics, which degrade much more rapidly than good-quality or recycled plastics because they are poorly composed and not long-lasting. Due to the breakdown process, described below, they enter the food chains, ecosystems, and even human bodies. ● UV radiation exposure: Plastic connectors become brittle and fragmented when exposed to sunlight. ● Mechanical stress: Strain and damage caused by usual use, stress, and abrasion lead to plastic fragmentation, especially in packaging and textiles. ● Oxidation: When plastics come in contact with oxygen, their molecular bond is weakened, accelerating the deterioration process. This sets them up for fragmentation. ● Temperature: Frequent exposure to heat and cold results in the expansion and contraction of plastics, compromising their integrity and causing the release of microplastics. ● Microbial Activity: Although plastics are resistant to natural breakdown, some bacteria and fungi can break down certain polymers slowly over many years.

Why Businesses Should Choose High-Quality, Recycled Plastics

To fight microplastic contamination, companies need to move to high-quality, certified substitutes such as recycled PET. Here’s why: ● Durability & longevity: Chemical recycling guarantees that rPET is put through strict quality control, which produces stronger, longer-lasting, and more durable chips. This not only improves material performance but also keeps plastic waste out of landfills. ● Enhances brand reputation: With sustainability rising as a consumer concern, brands are no longer able to fall back on greenwashing, aka the practice of using false sustainability claims. Using quality, recycled PET chips not only boosts trust but also appeals to green-conscious consumers who expect genuine environmental action. ● Meets regulatory needs: Governments worldwide are imposing more regulations on plastic pollution and microplastics. Using trusted recycled plastics builds credibility and appeals to environmentally sensitive customers. ● Decreases carbon footprint: rPET production requires much less energy than virgin plastic, reducing emissions and supporting climate action goals. ● Future-proofs business operations: As more attention is paid to sustainability as a market driver, quality recycled plastic investments can future-proof business operations.

The Way Forward

There is no denying the connection between microplastic contamination and poor-quality plastic. But switching to rPET offers an effective solution that can greatly reduce this environmental crisis. A landmark step in this journey is associating with rPET suppliers in India, such as JB rPET. We are making the transition viable with our rPET chips that keeps plastic in circulation. Our certifications, like GRS and USFDA, are a reflection of our ethical approach to upcycling. The final solution is to transition away from a linear “use and dispose” model to a circular economy where plastic gets recycled and reused and not wasted in landfills and oceans. Businesses should examine their supply chains more intensively, make sure recycled materials are traceable, and introduce circular solutions. Beyond compliance, adopting high-quality recycled pellets guarantees long-term sustainability and brand reputation. Customers also can make a difference by utilizing recycled products, cutting down single-use plastics, and backing brands that focus on a circular economy. We can work together to curb microplastic pollution and build a world where plastic waste is not a liability, but a resource in a circular economy.