About two years ago, I had a real eye-opener. I’d already spent years cutting out plastic by ditching bottles, switching to bars, and saying no to cling wrap. But one morning, while making tea, it hit me: I was boiling water in a plastic kettle. Something I used every day, without ever thinking about it.

That moment sent me down a rabbit hole. Finding a plastic-free kettle wasn’t easy, and it made me realise how many “invisible” plastics sneak into our daily routines. We often think of containers and packaging, but plastic shows up in places you'd never expect.

A study by WWF and the University of Newcastle found we may be consuming around 2,000 tiny pieces of plastic every week, often from the most ordinary things.

So, we’ve pulled together a list of five surprising everyday items that might be sneaking microplastics to your drinks, and simple, sustainable swaps to help cut them out. 

Because when we know better, we do better.

1. Ditch the Plastic Teabags

As someone who drinks tea every day, a study from McGill University blew my mind. They found that a single plastic tea bag can release 11.6 billion microplastic particles and 3.1 billion nanoplastic particles into just one cup of tea.

When you think about it, it makes sense. We're steeping plastic in boiling water and then drinking it. Yikes!

Depending on the tea you drink, you might think your tea bag is made of paper, but if it really were just paper, it would dissolve and fall apart in your cup. That’s why most tea bags are reinforced with a plastic called polypropylene to keep their shape.

The fix? Go old-school and grab some loose-leaf tea and a teapot, we love the tea from The Loose Tea Company or Nurtur Tea. If you don't have a teapot, you can use a stainless steel tea straineror a reusable muslin tea bag. You’ll get all the flavour with none of the plastic nasties. Bonus points for composting your used tea leaves, your garden will love you for it.

2. Upgrade to a Plastic-Free Kettle

Kettles were once made from materials like stainless steel, clay or copper. Today, most kettles are made from plastic, which sheds microplastics & releases endocrine-disrupting chemicals into our drinks. A study found that BPAleaches up to 55 times faster in boiling water compared to room temperature. Right?! That was also my aha moment! Heat and plastic are not a great combo.

When researching kettles, the best materials are stainless steel or glass. Finding a plastic-free kettle is quite hard. This is the one I have here. Look for kettles made from glass or stainless steel and try to avoid any with internal plastic elements.

3. Avoid Bottled and Plastic-Packaged Drinks

I’m sure you know this one, but let’s see this as a reminder. A 2018 investigation by Orb Media found that 93% of bottled water samples contained microplastics, sometimes at levels 100 times higher than tap water.

Plastic bottles, especially when exposed to sunlight or heat during transport, can break down and leach microplastics into the drink inside. Instead, use a reusable bottle made from stainless steel or glass. It's better for your body and the planet

Note: BPA-free claims don’t mean a product is safe. Alternatives used to replace BPA, like BPS and BPF, have been found to cause similar or worse hormone-disrupting effects. Learn more here.

4. Bring Your Own Cup (and Skip the Lid)

Did you know that the takeaway coffee cup you grab on the run (yep, the one that looks like paper) is lined with plastic so it becomes leak-proof. One study found that a 100 ml coffee poured into a disposable cup released around 25,000 microplastic particles within just 15 minutes.

Most takeaway coffee cups are lined with polyethylene plastic, which helps them hold liquid but also makes them non-recyclable and prone to shedding microplastics in high heat. And then we drink it through a plastic lid...

Grab a cup from home, reuse a jar or a reusable cup made from glass or stainless steel, and skip the lid when you can. It’s a simple swap that adds up, especially when you’re grabbing a coffee every day.

5. Filter Your Tap Water at Home

You might be surprised to learn that microplastics have been found in over 80% of global tap water samples. And while bottled water isn’t any better, there’s an easy fix: a high-quality water filter.

Filters like Tappwater are designed to reduce microplastics, chlorine, heavy metals, and other nasties. It’s one of the easiest upgrades you can make to your home, and your health.

Sip Smarter This Plastic Free July

As you can see, small changes make a big impact. Cutting out tea bags for old school stainless steel tea strainers or simply refusing takeaway cups to avoid drinking microplastics, every little plastic-free change has an impact. Your body (and the ocean) will thank you. You've got this!

Next week, we’re heading to the bathroom to keep the Plastic Free July momentum going.

Lots of love,
Ellie x

Resources

• https://www.wwf.mg/en/?348371/Could-you-be-eating-a-credit-card-a-week
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31552738/
• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080130092108.htm
• https://orbmedia.org/plus-plastic-text
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304389420321087?via%3Dihub
  
• https://orbmedia.org/invisibles-final-report

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some surprising sources of microplastics in everyday life?
Some surprising sources of microplastics include plastic teabags, plastic kettles, bottled drinks, takeaway coffee cups, and even tap water.

How many microplastic particles can one plastic teabag release?
One plastic teabag can release up to 11.6 billion microplastic and 3.1 billion nanoplastic particles into a single cup of tea, according to a study by McGill University.

Is bottled water safer than tap water when it comes to microplastics?
No. A 2018 investigation found 93% of bottled water samples contained microplastics—sometimes at levels 100 times higher than tap water. Filtered tap water is generally a safer option.

Do takeaway coffee cups contain plastic?
Yes. Most disposable coffee cups are lined with polyethylene plastic, which helps them hold liquid but can releaseup to 25,000 microplastic particles within 15 minutes of contact with hot liquids.

How can I reduce microplastics in my daily drinks?
To reduce microplastics, switch to:

• Loose-leaf tea with a stainless steel infuser

• A glass or stainless steel kettle

• Filtered tap water

• A reusable bottle and coffee cup

• Skipping plastic lids when possible
  

Can microplastics be filtered out of tap water?
Yes. High-quality water filters, like Tappwater, can reduce microplastics along with chlorine, heavy metals, and other contaminants in household tap water.