These microplastics aren’t a byproduct of plastic waste — they’re the raw material used to make plastic in the first place.

More information: Ignaas S. M. Jimidar et al, Granular Interfaces in TENGs: The Role of Close‐Packed Polymer Bead Monolayers for Energy Harvesters, Small (2025). DOI: 10.1002/smll.202410155 ...

If you don’t look close enough, you’ll miss them. Small plastic beads, called Nurdles, are all over the beach on Sullivan’s Island. Sullivan’s Island Town Officials said they're partnering ...

POTTER TWP. ― Environmental groups plan to sue Styropek for “routinely and illegally” discharging small plastic beads, or nurdles, into Beaver County waterways in violation of the federal ...

The resulting product — small plastic beads — are then mixed into asphalt or concrete at the plants and sent off to job sites. The beads change the chemistry of the materials, making them bind ...

Beads that don’t make it to the landfill might have a more direct environmental impact. In 2018, workers found 93,000 pounds of beads caught up in city’s storm drains.

The Michigan Democrats say the small plastic beads aren’t biodegradable and can make it through wastewater treatment systems. They say fish can mistake the beads for food.

Granular Interfaces in TENGs: The Role of Close‐Packed Polymer Bead Monolayers for Energy Harvesters. Small, 2025; DOI: 10.1002/smll.202410155 ...