A study from the University of Bonn shows that kitchen sponges shed microplastics during regular use. Emissions vary by sponge type, but water consumption drives most of the environmental impact from hand dishwashing.
Researchers tested three sponge types in German and North American homes as well as with a lab device called SpongeBot. Every sponge lost material, releasing between 0.68 grams and 4.21 grams of microplastics per person each year. Sponges with lower plastic content shed fewer particles.