Plastics Research Tools & Resources

The Brand Audit is a global participatory science initiative tracking corporate plastic pollution through branded waste analysis, led by Break Free From Plastic

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

An open-access database of >10,000 necropsies and their associated macroplastic burden ins bin marine animals with a novel risk assessment framework.

An open database and web map tool from NOAA that provides access to aggregated global data on microplastics in marine settings

Commercially available microplastic fragments and fibers with published characterization data for QA/QC, method validation, and toxicity testing.

Global database mapping ocean microplastic occurrence from researchers and governments worldwide, with interactive 2D visualizations of survey locations an

The Global Plastic Policy Tool models policy interventions to project future scenarios of plastic mismanaged, incinerated and landfilled waste.

MATLAB algorithm for rapid single-particle chemical imaging of nanoplastics using stimulated Raman scattering microscopy and automated plastic identificati

A machine-learning model that predicts (rough estimates) of micro- and macro-plastic abundance in rivers prior to sampling.

A European Citizen Science Campaign in which school clasess and youth groups collect plastic samples from streams and rivers and document their findings.

Open database tracking quantitative company metrics on plastic packaging production, reusable alternatives, recycled content, and reduction targets worldwi

A MATLAB-based numerical model described in Nature Protocols for robust in vitro dosimetry of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), relevant for microplastic

Washing machine microplastic filter removing >80% of fibers ≥50 µm from laundry effluent. Meets mandates in France, UK, California, and Canada.

List of resources for lessons plans and other educational resources for microplastics and plastic pollution grouped by grade.

Currently under development – a thin solid-state nanopore instrument designed for rapid and accurate monitoring of nanoplastics. Project funded by NOAA.

A digital platform for crowdsourcing structured information about plastic waste that utilizes an app that scans product barcodes.

Patent-pending device capturing tire wear particles at the source using electrostatics and airflow to reduce microplastic pollution.

Plasticpedia is an informational database from Toling Corp, guiding manufacturers on plastic material properties, processing, and testing standards like ASTM, etc.

A framework and roadmap for long-term macroplastic monitoring in rivers, guiding researchers and policymakers in designing and comparing robust surveillanc

This framework guides researchers in designing and comparing riverbank plastic monitoring strategies, improving data consistency and comparability for macroplastics.

NMP-TSAT is a spreadsheet for screening and prioritizing nano- and microplastic toxicity studies to assess human health risks

Living data repository and analytical tools for visualizing and interrogating integrated nanomaterial datasets.

Project to develop instrument platform for in situ and cost-effective analysis of microplastics

eNanoMapper provides a computational infrastructure for managing and modeling toxicological data of engineered nanomaterials for researchers and regulatory