Industries Impacted by DTSC Microplastics Classification

(Safer Consumer Products – Candidate Chemicals → Priority Product risk): Microplastics risk is no longer abstract. It’s concentrated in specific industries, enforced through supply chains, and accelerated by procurement pressure, regulatory scrutiny, and brand liability. If your sector is on this list, the question is no longer if you’re exposed—it’s how fast that exposure becomes operational, financial, and contractual.

DTSC’s approach focuses on products that contain or generate microplastics across their lifecycle. That means impact is not limited to consumer brands—it extends upstream and downstream through supply chains.

Life Sciences, Healthcare & Laboratories

HIGH IMPACT

Includes:

• Biotech & pharma

• Clinical, diagnostic, and research labs

• Medical device manufacturers

• Hospital systems & outpatient clinics

Why:

High-volume single-use plastics (pipette tips, PPE, wipes, cultureware), filtration, sterilization, and disposal pathways that generate microplastics.

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Consumer Products & Packaging

HIGH IMPACT

Includes:

• Personal care & cosmetics

• Household cleaning products

• Food & beverage packaging

• Single-use and flexible packaging manufacturers

Why:

Intentional and unintentional microplastics, abrasion during use, and end-of-life fragmentation are already a DTSC focus area.

Textiles, Apparel & Nonwovens

HIGH IMPACT

Includes:

• Clothing & performance fabrics

• Industrial textiles

• PPE, wipes, and hygiene products

Why:

Microfiber shedding is one of the most documented microplastics pathways and a priority for regulators.

Recycling, Materials Recovery & Reclaimers

HIGH IMPACT (Often Overlooked...)

Includes:

• Plastic recyclers & reclaimers

• Mechanical & chemical recycling facilities

• Closed-loop recycling programs

• Waste processors marketing sustainability claims

Why:

DTSC scrutiny extends to release during processing, fines, dust, wash water, and residual fate—not just diversion.

Critical point:

Recyclers may not be regulated directly, but they are pulled in through brand liability and supplier audits.

PPE, Medical Supplies & Disposables

HIGH IMPACT

Includes:

• Glove manufacturers

• Mask & gown producers

• Single-use medical consumables

  
  

Why:

Massive waste volumes, fiber fragmentation, incineration residues, and landfill breakdown.

Chemicals, Coatings & Advanced Materials

MEDIUM–HIGH IMPACT

Includes:

• Paints, sealants, adhesives

• Industrial coatings

• Polymer additives and fillers

Why:

Abrasion and degradation create microplastics even when they’re not intentionally added.

Manufacturing (Broad Industrial Sector)

MEDIUM–HIGH IMPACT

Includes:

• Electronics & semiconductor manufacturing

• Automotive & aerospace

• Industrial equipment manufacturing

Why:

Use of plastic components, protective films, wipes, and packaging—plus supplier obligations driven by downstream brands.

Commercial Facilities & Institutions

MEDIUM IMPACT

Includes:

• Universities & research institutions

• Government labs

• Corporate campuses

Why:

Large-scale use of lab consumables, PPE, cleaning materials, and centralized waste contracts.

Food Service & Hospitality

EMERGING IMPACT

Includes:

• Food service packaging

• Disposable serviceware

• Institutional catering

  
  

Why:

Packaging fragmentation, liners, and takeout materials increasingly fall under microplastics scrutiny.

Why This Is Bigger Than “California”

DTSC’s SCP program often becomes a national compliance benchmark. Once large brands adapt to California rules, they typically apply those standards across all U.S. operations to reduce complexity and risk.