A conversation that’s getting closer to home

This Monday, a room full of scientists, doctors, policymakers and innovators came together around one shared question:

What do we do next?

For years, the conversation around plastic has focused on pollution in our oceans and natural environment. But that conversation is shifting and it’s accelerating.

With the release of A Plastic Detox on Netflix, microplastics and their potential impact on human health have moved firmly into the mainstream.

What was once seen as an environmental issue is now much closer to home.

Our health.

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From the environment to the human body

One of the key questions throughout the evening was: How microplastics are moving from the world around us into the human body?

Not through abstract systems, but through everyday exposure. Clothing, chemicals, food packaging and even something as routine as a takeaway coffee.

The conversation then moved to the more complex question: What does this mean for our health, and for future generations?

What came through clearly is that research is no longer looking at this issue from a distance. Plastic particles and the chemicals associated with them are increasingly being detected in the human body.

This marks an important shift.

The issue is no longer only about waste or environmental impact. It is about exposure, and the materials we interact with every day.

Panel 1: The science behind microplastics

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The evening opened with a discussion focused on the latest scientific research, hosted by Sian Sutherland, Co-Founder of A Plastic Planet.

She was joined by Dr Jane Muncke, Chief Scientific Officer at the Food Packaging Forum, Dr Leonardo Trasande, and Professor Paul Fowler, Chair in Translational Medical Sciences.

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The panel explored what we currently understand about microplastics in the human body, how exposure is happening across everyday systems, and why the conversation is increasingly shifting from environmental concern to human health.

What stood out was the tone of the discussion. The science is still evolving, but the direction of travel is becoming clearer.

The signals are strong enough that this can no longer be treated as a distant or emerging issue. It is one that requires attention now.

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Panel 2: From awareness to action

The second panel shifted the conversation towards solutions, hosted by David Fein, Vice Chair of The Earthshot Prize.

He was joined by Anthony Kolanko, Chief Revenue Officer at Matter, and Pierre Paslier, Co-Founder of Notpla.

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The discussion moved from understanding the problem to exploring what action looks like in practice. This included innovations already working to reduce plastic and microplastic exposure, as well as the challenge of scaling those solutions across industries.

There was also a strong focus on what needs to happen next, across science, business and communities, to turn momentum into meaningful change.

One point came through consistently. This is not a problem any one organisation can solve alone.

It requires shared understanding, open dialogue and, most importantly, collective action.

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Rethinking materials at the source

At Notpla, this is where we focus.

Rather than redesigning plastic, we believe the solution starts with rethinking materials altogether.

Inspired by nature, we design packaging using materials like seaweed. Materials that perform during use, but behave very differently after disposal.

This shift in thinking changes the question. It’s no longer just about how we manage plastic waste.

It’s about why we are using materials that create this problem in the first place.

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This is just the beginning

This event marked an important moment, but not an endpoint.

The conversation around microplastics and human health is only just beginning to take shape at a global level. As awareness grows, so does the responsibility to act.

At Notpla, we are committed to continuing this work. That means creating space for dialogue, supporting the science, and accelerating material innovation.

Because the materials we design today will shape the systems we live with tomorrow.

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Join the conversation

Watch A Plastic Detox on Netflix and explore the issue further.

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With thanks to our collaborators

Hosted by Notpla × A Plastic Planet × The Earthshot Prize × Macaw Coffee
In collaboration with The Conduit Club

With contributions from leading voices across science, innovation and industry.

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