ClimateAugust 16, 2026

nurdles

NUR-duhlz

Definition

Small, lentil-sized plastic pellets that serve as the raw material for the manufacturing of almost all plastic products.

Etymology

The word is of uncertain origin, likely appearing in the 1970s as a whimsical or invented term within the plastics industry to describe these specific, uniform pellets.

In the news

The article identifies nurdles as a significant source of industrial plastic pollution caused by the accidental release of these raw manufacturing materials into the environment.

Reducing use of microplastics for a cleaner, healthier, and resilient planet

Read the full article ↗

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