When we think about sustainable travel, we often picture avoiding flights or packing eco-friendly gear. But what if the real danger lies in something we can’t even see - in microplastics?

In this episode of Travel Devil, host Clara Francken talks to Dana Zhaxylykova, a microplastic researcher from Kazakhstan and co-founder of the Microplastic Free app, about how travel habits contribute to microplastic pollution. We discuss topics from tire dust on roads to the “paper” cups we drink from on planes.

Dana shares her journey from the Aral Sea region to studying microplastics across Europe, uncovering how even our most “harmless” travel routines leave invisible traces behind.

In this episode we cover:

• How microplastics form and why they’re dangerous
• The hidden microplastics in airplanes, buses, and tires
• Why a “recyclable” coffee cup might not be so innocent
• The truth about plastic water bottles and travel gear
• What fabrics shed microplastics and which ones are good alternatives
• How to reduce plastic waste when traveling
• Are bioplastics and silicone really better alternatives?
• The impact of laundry and clothing on plastic pollution
• Why microplastics affect every ecosystem, even how it reacts in snow
• Practical tips for sustainable, low-plastic travel

Episode 42 of Travel Devil is out now on all podcast platforms.

More of Dana’s work:

• Connect with Dana on Instagram
• Check out her Microplastic Free App

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