Plastiverse offers a curated and evolving directory of plastics research tools & resources – from open-access datasets and sampling/analysis protocols to remediation devices, policy frameworks, citizen science platforms, and much, much more! We pull the diamonds💎 out of the rough to enable more rapid progress on addressing impacts of microplastics pollution 💪. Whether you study microplastics in water 💦, track macroplastic waste 🍴, design cleanup strategies 🧹, or shape plastic-policy 🏛️, this page provides a one-stop reference to the tools, methods, data, and guidance currently available worldwide.
If you are aware of something missing or incorrectly described, please -> let us know <-
Sort by
Date range (of when resource was added to Plastiverse)
Type
Topics
Compartments
Open Data
Region(s)
Ultra-low-cost magnetic separation method for lab-generated paint microplastics using commercially available magnets, eliminating costly surface modification and expanding access to microplastics research
FCCgroup is an automated web tool grouping Food Contact Chemicals (FCCs) by structural similarity to prevent regrettable substitution and support hazard assessment
Community-led recycling program in South Africa that exchanges collected litter and plastic nurdles for tokens redeemable for food and clothing
Deep-MAP is a Google Colaboratory tool using deep learning for automated classification and quantification of microplastics from microscope images
The Brand Audit is a global participatory science initiative tracking corporate plastic pollution through branded waste analysis, led by Break Free From Plastic
A Brazilian network fostering public policy development to combat marine litter through collaboration and knowledge sharing across multiple states
GeoPlasticoBR maps microplastic data across Brazilian aquatic ecosystems, offering an interactive platform for georeferenced samples and statistics
Minga Opazo’s BioArt project demonstrates oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) mycelium for the mycoremediation of synthetic textile waste
Científicos de la Basura is a Chilean citizen science program monitoring marine and riverine litter across Latin America, engaging students and communities in data collection
A PostgreSQL relational database integrates marine litter, beach use, and coastal oceanographic data for environmental research, primarily in Brazil
Viajeros del Océano is a global citizen science project for researchers and volunteers, studying marine litter and epibionts as a transport mechanism for marine life
CoastSnap is a global citizen science app that uses smartphone photos and photogrammetry to monitor coastal change over time, helping researchers understand sea level rise...
COLIMAR is a didactic collection of marine litter specimens, developed by UFPB, for environmental education and standardizing classification methods
Life of a Pellet is an Ocean Wise stop-motion animation film using plastic pellets and trash to educate on nurdle pollution in Lake Ontario
The Big Microplastic Survey is a global citizen science project collecting essential data on microplastics and mesoplastics in rivers, lakes, and coastal regions.
ProyectoSub’s citizen science protocol guides volunteers in sampling and identifying microplastics (1-25mm) on coastal beaches to assess contamination levels
A global platform for data, knowledge, and collaboration on plastic pollution, offering indicators, case studies, and an action planning tool for researchers and policymakers focused...
This open-source machine learning workflow integrates multi-instrumental mass spectrometry data to chemically fingerprint and track microplastic pollution sources.
These Python-based machine-learning models enable rapid and customizable identification of microplastics using Raman microscopy for researchers.
RaSPI and RaMPI provide high-resolution Raman spectra and maps, offering a robust dataset for machine learning-based microplastic identification
IMDOS coordinates efforts to establish a global, interoperable marine debris monitoring system for researchers, policymakers, and the private sector
This protocol from SCCWRP and the University of Toronto standardizes microplastic sampling methods for ambient fresh, brackish, and seawater, detailing pump and net collection
A classroom protocol demonstrating polymer photodegradation effects on wettability, brittleness, and opacity, designed for chemistry education
The Plastics Litigation Tracker offers a searchable database of federal and state court cases addressing plastic products and pollution, for legal researchers
Chatham House Circular Economy Policy Tracker maps global circular economy policies and resource trade dynamics, aiding researchers and policymakers in understanding transitions.
Global Plastic Laws is an extensive database of plastic legislation worldwide, assisting policymakers, researchers, and advocates in understanding global plastic policy
LitChemPlast is an open database compiling chemo-analytical measurements of chemicals in plastics from raw materials, products, and waste streams
Browser-based Streamlit app that helps researchers explore microplastics trends across NIH grants, preprints, and conference proceedings
Systematic review extracting where, when, and what to measure for microplastics in rivers and estuaries from 173 laboratory studies published 2014–2024
An open-access dashboard database providing science-based data on plastic ingestion by marine, freshwater, and terrestrial wildlife.
Meta-analysis of 36 river microplastic studies with quality scoring framework for water column and benthic sediment sampling standardization
Interactive educational resource translating PlasticHeal research on micro- and nanoplastics health effects for primary and secondary school students
Open-source computer vision method using YOLOv12n object detection to measure spherical microplastic settling velocity in water columns with 6–7% accuracy
Self-guided platform and protocol for analyzing beach litter sources and pathways in the Arctic, along with living database
Python-based particle detection and Raman spectroscopy automation for identifying microplastics in the 20–53 µm size range, with validation data and code
Crowdsourced microplastic detection in drinking water using Nile Red fluorescence staining and public mapping. Open dataset for tap and filtered water.
Raman and μATR-FTIR spectral library for identifying bioplastics in environmental samples, covering 8 polymer types with 79–96% detection accuracy
TRADE is a platform that standardizes community-based rapid trash assessments for MS4 stormwater monitoring, visualization, and downloadable reporting-ready datasets.
The River-OSPAR Plastics Dataset contains >229k litter items collected from 4 continents with mass, volume, density, dimensions, and categorization.
MicroTrack sampling devices for microplastics: SDW01 tap-water nozzle, SDAIR02 air pump sampler, SDSW03 marine depth sampler via drone.
RShiny web app for site-specific ecological risk characterization fitting microplastic data into Bayesian Species Sensitivity Distribution-based risk.
Capture Tech by CAPTOPLASTIC is a continuous, in-line microplastics capture system based on agglomeration, using a reusable “capturer/collector” material to bind microplastics into aggregates that...
MP-SED is a microplastics database for sediment contamination and environmental monitoring research maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
One4All is an open-source portal and R package for validating, structuring, and sharing microplastics data- designed to accelerate FAIR data practices.
MaTCH is an AI-powered tool that harmonizes microplastics and trash datasets. Use the live app or open-source code to standardize plastic pollution data.
Harmonized reporting guidelines for microplastics studies – covering metadata, QA/QC, sampling, preparation, identification, quantification, and toxicology.
Authoritative sampling and QA/QC guidance on microplastics across matrices, covering contamination control, blanks, study design, and reporting best practices.
Open-access educational materials and activity guides from LOMP support microplastics citizen science, outreach, and environmental health education
Open-source tool that uses Monte Carlo simulations to derive microplastics hazard thresholds by propagating uncertainty across particle traits and toxicity
MPSizeBase is an open-access database of microplastic size distributions for research, standardization, and data sharing. Contribute and explore now!
Web platform for exploring Canadian marine microplastics monitoring data to support standardized, policy-relevant decision making.
Web-based multimedia fate model simulating nano/microplastics distribution across air, water, soil, and sediment for exposure assessment and risk evaluation.
An open-access database of >10,000 necropsies and their associated macroplastic burden ins bin marine animals with a novel risk assessment framework.
Evidence-based roadmap describing how to radically reduce ocean plastic pollution by 2040 developed by The Pew Charitable Trusts and SYSTEMIQ
A corporate accountability scorecard report on plastics led by As You Sow and Ubuntoo.
An RShiny-powered minimalist web app to visualize spectra for SLOPP/SLOPP-e Raman libraries developed by Professor Andrew Rate, School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia....
Free software that automates FTIR spectral data analysis for microplastic identification, combining user-friendly interface with high-speed processing.
A small RShiny-powered app that visualizes FLOPP/FLOPP-e spectra easily when not using instrument software.
A low-cost fluorescence method using Nile Red enables secondary students and citizen scientists to detect microplastics in sediments through hands-on STEM
A a low-cost portable microplastic detection system combining Nile Red staining and YOLOv8 deep learning. Unfortunately, authors have not released code or schematics, limiting reproducibility.
ISO-certified reference material for quantifying polyethylene terephthalate microplastics in drinking water, developed by the EU Joint Research Centre.
An open database and web map tool from NOAA that provides access to aggregated global data on microplastics in marine settings
Free environmental education lesson plans, classroom toolkits, activity guides, and more for all grade levels with a specific focus on ocean plastic pollution.
Commercially available microplastic fragments and fibers with published characterization data for QA/QC, method validation, and toxicity testing.
Consolidated database of >15,000 plastic chemicals from variuous sources, compiling hazard and other information, identifying plastic chemicals of concern.
Standard operating procedure for collecting microplastics samples in aquatic sediment and biota
Training video, method, parts list, and presentations for sampling microplastics in drinking water for regulatory use in California
Curriculum and toolkit for measuring microplastics for citizen scientists and students. Webpage is in Dutch.
The RSVP tool standardises statistical prediction of sufficient sample volumes, to ensure microplastics are detected with a given level of confidence.
Classifies microparticles by permittivity using impedance cytometry and microwave resonance on a microfluidic chip for environmental analysis
Fluorescence-based system that rapidly identifies microplastics in environmental samples using conjugated polymer nanoparticles.
In situ microplastics remediation device that utilizes magnetic field separation technology to remove microplastics and other particles from greywater.
Standardized kit containing 22 environmental plastic materials with ATR FTIR, DSC, and pyrolysis GC/MS spectral data for microplastic analytical method val
A book that that investigates the intersection of plastic pollution and the natural world through text and photographs in an artistic and scientific way.
Collection devices for floating plastics designed for urban areas.
Manual or autonomous floating waste collector device
Machine-learning based rapid & easy to use method for differentiating microplastics from natural particles in aqueous samples using flow cytometry.
Global database mapping ocean microplastic occurrence from researchers and governments worldwide, with interactive 2D visualizations of survey locations an
Free single-use plastic tracking mobile application created by Eckerd College professors to improve business sustainability.
Comprehensive database and report synthesizing evidence on 16,000+ chemicals in plastics, with hazard assessment and regulatory status for policy action.
Annual reports of amounts of virgin plastic and postconsumer recycled plastic used in beverage containers sold in California.
A static dataset of in vitro bioassay activity of chemical additives in food packaging. Includes data for pregnane X receptor (PXR), peroxisome proliferator receptor γ (PPARγ), estrogen receptor...
The Global Plastic Policy Tool models policy interventions to project future scenarios of plastic mismanaged, incinerated and landfilled waste.
Open-access repository archiving georeferenced environmental datasets including microplastics occurrence data across aquatic, terrestrial, and wastewater c
MATLAB algorithm for rapid single-particle chemical imaging of nanoplastics using stimulated Raman scattering microscopy and automated plastic identificati
CellProfiler and Python scripts for quantitative analysis of size/shape/colour of plastic debris. These scripts process photographs of plastic debris, detecting any objects present and measuring...
Python script that systematically color-corrects plastic debris photographs for accurate quantitative analysis across different camera setups and lighting
Open-source data portal mapping marine plastic pollution across Philippine coastal waters for local monitoring capacity.
Non-profit committed to removing trash from freshwater lakes in California and Nevada using underwater drones and other techniques.
Autonomous underwater vehicles designed for oceanographic work that can collect water samples for eDNA and other constituents
Optimized high-throughput microplastics sampling method based on ASTM D8332, now published with supporting videos and field demonstrations.
This open-source pipeline provides a spectral database and processing tools for identifying microplastics using Near-IR hyperspectral imaging in environments.
Long-running podcast focused on all aspects of plastic pollution by journalist Anja Krieger.
A toolkit and knowledge platform for scientists and decision-makers studying contaminant, nutrient, and carbon dynamics in temperate and polar coastal zones
A prototype high throughput portable sensor for detecting microplastics based on Raman spectrometry.
TrashAI applies artificial intelligence to plastic pollution monitoring, supporting scalable analysis for research, policy, and environmental protection.
Extensive collection of art portraying marine plastic by world-renowned artist Mandy Barker.
Open access filterable database mapping >3,500 studies on plastic chemical exposure and human health impacts.
A machine-learning model that predicts (rough estimates) of micro- and macro-plastic abundance in rivers prior to sampling.
A gamified web survey collecting information to inform educational and outreach tools for marine debris.