A life without plastic is no longer conceivable in our modern world. An unbelievable number of everyday objects are made out of plastic. It's light, cheap, and durable. Whether in the form of electrical devices, toys or food packaging, as writing and kitchen utensils, in the car or even as clothing. But plastic also ends up in the trash very quickly. In Austria alone, around 900,000 tons of plastic waste are generated every year. However, some of it ends up in nature, where it is slowly broken down into microplastic particles.
Often microplastics are intentionally added during production: A lot of personal care products contain microplastic additives, most of which end up in the drain and thus in the sewerage system immediately after use.

But the plastic doesn't go away. Tiny plastic parts are everywhere: in our everyday lives, in ecosystems and also in our bodies. According to new studies, the exposure is far higher than assumed.
It has now been proven for the first time that microplastics float in the atmosphere and fall on the ground through raindrops or snowflakes. From there it can get into our food chain and thus into our body. Recent studies have even found plastic residues in human stool.

The film illuminates the connections between trade, industry and the environment, but also the effects on humans and animals. Whoever is fully aware of the consequences of microplastics for our nature and for our health, the question arises whether the price for the excessive use of plastic in our consumer world is not too high.
But the film also shows solutions that show how plastic can be avoided more and more in the future.