Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic that measures less than five millimeters in size. Some microplastics are formed by breaking away from larger plastics that have fragmented over time. Others are made intentionally small, otherwise known as microbeads. These are also used in cosmetics products such as face scrubs, as well as detergents, paints, medicines, nappies and pesticides. The use of microbeads in cosmetics is banned in the EU.