Microplastics Risks

Microplastics: From environmental concern to insurance exposure

A new insurance challenge is surfacing. Microplastics, once viewed as purely an environmental issue, are emerging as a significant consideration for insurers, underwriters, claims managers, risk managers and their corporate clients across Australia and the Asia Pacific.

Microplastics have now been detected in human blood, brain tissue, and vital organs. With researchers now exploring whether microplastics may be a contributing factor to a range of health issues, the question is evolving from whether microplastics litigation will materialise, to when, and how well-prepared insurers and organisations will be when it does.

Wotton Kearney is actively tracking this evolving risk landscape and translating developments into practical insights to keep you informed.

Across the Asia Pacific we’re working to build understanding of the potential exposures, explore emerging proposed regulatory reform, potential claims patterns, and develop strategies that strengthen business resilience as this issue unfolds.

Contact our Microplastics Risks Team

Microplastics – What we're learning

Microplastics present a unique and evolving risk landscape that makes early engagement valuable.

These contaminants are ubiquitous, persistent, and may be increasingly linked to serious health outcomes. Microplastics present distinct characteristics for insurers to consider:

Data complexity

Microplastics represent a vast, evolving category of contaminants without standardised measurement or CAS identification numbers

Causation complexities

Establishing causation between microplastic exposure and specific health outcomes is scientifically developing, creating questions around claims assessment approaches

Widespread exposure pathways

From food packaging and bottled water to tyre particles and synthetic textiles, microplastic sources are diverse and interconnected

Regulatory momentum

The EU introduced Synthetic Polymer Microparticles (SPM) restrictions in October 2025, with ECHA.1 reporting due May 2026. The proposed US Microplastics Safety Act (July 2025) signals legislative intent to fund comprehensive health impact research

Understanding the Australian landscape

Some researchers are examining the potential link for microplastics to be contributing to serious health issues alongside obesity, diet, and lifestyle factors.

Meanwhile, Australia's advocacy for binding international plastics treaties in 2025, strongly supported given the "outsized impact" on Pacific nations, highlights the current regulatory gap that may influence how this issue develops through litigation rather than legislation.

The 2026-27 period presents a window of opportunity for Australian insurers and underwriters to build understanding and readiness.

The impact on insurance claims portfolios

Microplastics risks span multiple insurance lines, creating interconnected exposure scenarios worth exploring across Liability & Casualty, Directors & Officers Liability, Professional Indemnity, Environmental Liability, Health, Class Actions and Commercial Litigation.

Microplastics Risks Insights

Our Microplastics Risks Team is tracking global developments, analysing potential litigation patterns, and translating complex science and research into practical insurance perspectives. Explore our latest insights to understand how this issue is developing and what it might mean for your organisation.

Microplastics: Tiny particles, big risks

Stay ahead of emerging risks as microplastics move from environmental concern to potential liability for insurers.

Read here

Exploring this challenge together

Understanding microplastics risks requires more than legal expertise, it calls for research and medical literacy, regulatory awareness, and deep insurance market knowledge. Our Microplastics Risks Team brings together specialists in insurance litigation, environmental law, product liability, class actions, and corporate governance to provide comprehensive and strategic support.

Whether you're exploring policy language questions, considering underwriting exposures, developing long-term risk strategies, or preparing for potential claims, we're here to work alongside you as this issue unfolds. The microplastics risks landscape is evolving, and you don't need to navigate it in a silo.

Who we work with

We partner with insurers, underwriters, risk managers, and general counsel across the Asia Pacific to:

Conduct policy reviews and exposure assessments
Deliver tailored briefings and workshops for underwriting and claims teams
Advise on claims management approaches and coverage questions
Provide strategic perspectives on litigation risk and response options
Support corporate governance and disclosure considerations
Monitor regulatory developments and translate them into business context.

The value of early engagement

Insurers who begin exploring this issue now, while scientific evidence is still developing, have valuable time to understand exposures, refine policy language, and build strategic readiness. The PFAS experience shows that claims can emerge before scientific consensus is complete, and by then, policy terms are already in place, exposures are already written, and response options are more limited.

We welcome the opportunity to discuss how we can support your organisation's understanding and preparation as this issue develops.