What they do
Plastic Soup Foundation is a Netherlands-based organization fighting plastic pollution through research, campaigns, and digital tools. They developed the Beat the Microbead app (scan cosmetic products for microplastics), run the Plastic Health Summit, and maintain a research library on the health impacts of microplastics. Their Ocean Clean Wash campaign addresses microfiber release from synthetic textiles.
Why they matter
While most ocean plastic organizations focus on visible waste, Plastic Soup Foundation targets the invisible threat: microplastics. Their research compilation on microplastics in human blood, lungs, and placenta brings urgency that beach cleanup photos cannot. The Beat the Microbead app empowers consumers to avoid products containing microplastics, and their policy advocacy has contributed to microplastic bans in the EU.
How to support
Download the Beat the Microbead app and scan your personal care products. Share their research on microplastic health impacts. Donations fund research compilation and policy advocacy. Use a microfiber filter on your washing machine (they maintain a tested product list).
Key project to explore
The Beat the Microbead app lets consumers scan cosmetic and personal care product barcodes to identify microplastic ingredients, empowering purchasing decisions and building the case for industry-wide reformulation.