Nicotine Pouches: Do We Need to Worry About Microplastics?

Microplastics are everywhere. They’re in the ocean, the air, and in our soil. They’re even in our bodies and have been linked to a whole host of health issues, like inflammation, infertility, heart attacks and strokes.

Talk of microplastics is just as ubiquitous. Over the years, endless papers, articles, and reports have been released on the subject. Just last year, the World Economic Forum asked whether these tiny plastic particles are causing a new health crisis.

As people scour the market for products that produce microplastics, nicotine pouches have come under question. So, it’s time to ask a question of our own: do nicotine pouches contain or produce microplastics?

What are microplastics?

Before we get into the gritty details, it’s worth defining microplastics. Essentially, they are microscopic pieces of plastic less than 5 millimetres in size. While typically, they come from the breakdown of larger pieces of plastic, they are also intentionally manufactured for use in cosmetic and industrial products.

Do nicotine pouches contain microplastics?

There is no evidence to suggest that nicotine pouches contain microplastics. Typically, there are three main production methods that brands use in their products. They are:

• Viscose fibres or other plant-derived fibres.
• Non-woven fleece made from organic cellulose compounds.
• Non-woven fabric.

All of these materials are organic, not plastic-derived. Without plastic, you don’t have microplastics.

So, what explains the various claims by bodies like Nordic Welfare that pouches “contain small amounts of plastic, which prevents them from fully decomposing”, this European Commission document suggesting pouches contain plastic, or this Finnish student health body advancing the same myth?

It’s hard to say exactly why bad ideas gain purchase. But if I had to hazard a guess, I’d suggest that the combination of eco-alarmism and anti-tobacco industry rhetoric is proving too hard to resist for certain quarters of our enlightened activist class.

Pouches are the safest way to consume nicotine. However, by dint of association with tobacco companies, outlandish arguments that bear no relation with reality are allowed to pass by uncontested.

What about microcrystalline?

In some online forums and posts on X, posters have expressed concerns about microcrystalline particles in nicotine pouches. These members of the public worry that they are similar to microplastics, but the two substances are distinct.

Microcrystalline refers to a type of substance with a crystalline structure that is so fine that it can’t be seen by the naked eye. Certain rocks or materials like bone and shell can exhibit these forms, but the substances are also used in pharmaceuticals, food products, and cosmetics because they make products retain moisture and are easy to compress into shape.

Nicotine pouches use microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) for various reasons, such as texture and controlled nicotine release. Again, it’s an organic material made from wood pulp or plant matter. The FDA and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) regard it as safe for use in food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

Perhaps most importantly, MCC is biodegradable. Of course, just because nicotine pouches can decompose, that doesn’t mean they should be disposed of improperly or tossed in nature or the streets. Most pouch cans come with a compartment that allows you to store spent pouches and transfer them to a bin.

Final thoughts

Attempts to exaggerate the harms of using nicotine pouches come in many forms. While most of the scaremongering centres around cardiovascular effects, pouches have also been dragged into eco-alarmism, with suggestions that pouches contain microplastics. There is no evidence for this position.

Sure, we all need to worry about microplastics in general, but just not from nicotine pouches.