Exposing the “Invisible” Threat of Microplastics

Plastic pollution is easy to spot when it floats. Soda bottles. Grocery bags. Foam containers caught in reeds. But what we see is only the beginning.

Over time, larger pieces break apart into fragments so small they slip from view. These microplastics drift through rivers, settle into sediments and move quietly through aquatic ecosystems. The water may look pristine. It may even feel untouched. However, clear water does not mean it’s free of plastic pollutants.

Researchers have now found microplastics far from landfills and far from shorelines in places such as Arctic sea ice, in deep-ocean trenches and in remote mountain lakes. They have been detected in drinking water, table salt and seafood. While more research is being conducted, some studies show microplastics are even being found in humans.

A study in Amsterdam found high levels of plastic particles in human blood. Researchers in Italy detected microplastics in human breast milk. Another team in Spain identified plastic fragments in people’s lower respiratory systems. Scientists are still working to understand how long these particles remain in the body and whether they may have any long-term health implications.

If we want to understand the true scale of plastic pollution, we have to research it. For SC Johnson, that belief has shaped a sustained approach: supporting the science that examines the problem, elevating the voices that study it and creating the public awareness and policy momentum needed to address it.
 

Making the Invisible Visible

Supporting microplastics testing for waterways is not new for SC Johnson. Long before the issue gained broader public attention, the company was funding and participating in research to better understand how plastic moves through water systems.

Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson and a Ph.D. scientist, has made this work visible. Over the past several years, he has joined researchers and nonprofit partners in the field, collecting water samples, documenting findings and speaking publicly about what the data reveals.
 
For example, in 2019, through collaboration with the nonprofit organization Ocean Wise, testing along the White Salmon River examined how plastic travels from inland waterways to the ocean. In 2024, Fisk joined 4Ocean in Miami and the Florida Keys to conduct field sampling while participating in cleanup missions, reinforcing the link between data collection and direct action.
 
He has also carried those findings beyond the shoreline. Fisk testified before Congress alongside WWF, sharing firsthand observations from global fieldwork and underscoring the need for systemic policy solutions to address plastic waste. He has spoken at universities, including Cornell, to discuss how microplastics testing informs broader environmental strategy.
 
Additionally, Fisk, along with Conservation International, a long time SC Johnson partner, outlined the need for a global plastics treaty in a Newsweek op-ed. Their op-ed highlights both the versatility of plastics and environmental impact that they have witnessed firsthand by diving into the ocean and searching the Sahara Desert for microplastics. They explain the importance of a global plastics treaty and what it can do to help solve the plastic waste crisis.
 
Taken together, this is not a series of isolated moments, but a sustained commitment to connecting science to policy and public understanding.
 

Building an Ecosystem for Change

Testing is foundational, but to drive progress it must connect to education, advocacy and policy. Here’s a look at some recent examples of how SC Johnson is supporting and highlighting that effort:
 
Advancing Science
Partnerships with academic and field researchers continue to deepen understanding of how microplastics move through waterways and food webs.
 

Partnership with the University of Wisconsin- Green Bay

At the start of 2026, researchers and students at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay began collecting fish from sites across Lake Michigan and Green Bay to examine how microplastics accumulate in aquatic species. Results expected in 2028 will help clarify how these particles move through the food web.
 

Reef Check Taiwan

In Taiwan, SC Johnson supports Reef Check Taiwan’s marine and coastal surveys for the Coastal Protection Project across 25 sites. Sixteen eco-divers are trained to conduct reef checks along coastal areas throughout Taiwan. The data collected from the surveys is collated and provided to the Coastal Development Agency and Ministry of Environment for policy setting recommendations on resource recycling and used to educate the public on the impact of improper waste management, plastic pollution, and microplastics on marine and human health.
 

Fundación amigos Isla de Coco

In Costa Rica, Fundación Amigos Isla del Coco (FAIC) tests for microplastics in marine and freshwater environments within Isla del Coco National Park, informing conservation strategies and strengthening public awareness. SC Johnson partners with FAIC to help with their commitment to prioritize sustainability and social responsibility. 
 
Expanding Awareness and Advocacy
Scientific findings matter most when people can see what they mean. These efforts connect field research to everyday life. When communities understand how microplastics enter waterways through waste systems, product breakdown and mismanaged materials, they are better positioned to support smarter policies and more responsible consumption.