October 19 26 2025 Microplastics Awareness Week

WHEREAS, Michigan is home to more than 11,000 inland lakes, tens of thousands of miles of rivers and streams, 6.5 million acres of wetlands, 3,200 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, 230,000 acres of coastal dunes, and vast groundwater resources; and,

WHEREAS, Michigan’s lakes and ecosystems provide a multitude of ecological, social, and economic benefits for millions of residents, as well as support diverse and abundant wildlife; and,

WHEREAS, environmental impacts to the waters of Michigan represent a risk to drinking water resources for 10 million residents; and,

WHEREAS, plastics are widespread throughout the Great Lakes region; have been detected in water, air, soil, and living organisms, such as mussels, birds, fish, and algae; and can enter the environment through a variety of sources; and,

WHEREAS, microplastics come from a variety of sources, including the breakdown of larger plastics (e.g., plastic bottles/bags, rope, nets, or other debris), release during plastic manufacturing (e.g., nurdles, microbeads, or plastic containing wastewater), and release during the use of plastic products (such as synthetic clothing and vehicle tires); and,

WHEREAS, emerging scientific evidence suggests that impacts from plastic pollution, including microplastics, chemical additives, and contaminants absorbed by plastic particles, may affect human health and organisms; and,

WHEREAS, more research is needed to investigate plastic pollution throughout the environment and potential links to understand human and environmental health effects; and,

WHEREAS, successfully combatting plastic pollution requires a comprehensive approach to addressing the full life cycle of plastics; and,

WHEREAS, the November 2024 Final Report of the International Joint Commission Great Lakes Science Advisory Board Work Group on Microplastics recommends better understanding of microplastic pollution, creating a consistent way to track and report it across the region, and supporting efforts to protect the Great Lakes from its harmful effects; and

WHEREAS, Michigan can work to prevent plastics from entering Michigan and Great Lakes waters through research, monitoring, long-term planning, adaptive management, policy, innovation, education, and outreach; and,

WHEREAS, we encourage industries, businesses, and the public to explore and use alternatives to plastics in their product choices, manufacturing processes, and waste management practices (e.g., recycling and reuse) to reduce our dependency on plastics and the volume of plastics being released into the environment; and,

WHEREAS, during this week, we encourage Michiganders to learn about microplastics and preventing plastic pollution by exploring ways to take action, such as beach or community cleanups, reducing single-use plastics, and supporting local efforts to keep our waterways clean;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim October 19-26, 2025, as Microplastics Awareness Week in Michigan.