why are people more concerned about microplastics than regular plastic, doesn’t regular plastic also break down into smaller and smaller pieces?

Question

Like when people are worried about the microplastics in toothpaste, but not the plastic tube it comes in. Isn’t that tube going to break down into way more microplastics than the toothpaste itself contains?

In: Other

Answer 1

>Isn’t that tube going to break down into way more microplastics than the toothpaste itself contains?

Not in a meaningful amount while you’re still brushing.

When you throw the empty tube in the forest or the next river instead of properly disposing it, it WILL turn to microplastic after some years, but hey at least not inside your mouth.

Where I live we have recycling bins that will mostly end up being burned to generate heating or electricity.