Hikers Unknowingly Trail Microplastics Into the Wilderness
Hiking, good for you, bad for the environment?
A new study has revealed that hikers may be carrying an invisible pollutant deep into some of the most pristine corners of nature: microplastics. Research conducted in New York’s Adirondack Mountains suggests that hiking shoes and outdoor gear are a surprisingly significant source of microplastic contamination in remote wilderness lakes.
Scientists compared two high-altitude lakes that feed the Hudson River — one heavily frequented by hikers, and another secluded and rarely visited. The difference was striking: the lake along the popular trail contained about 23 times more microplastic particles than its untouched counterpart.
Soft-soled trail shoes and synthetic clothing appear to be significant contributors to microplastics finding their way into these remote, otherwise pristine waters.
From “Airborne” to “Underfoot” Pollution
In 2023, Keyes’s team initially suspected airborne deposition—tiny particles carried by precipitation—was responsible for microplastic pollution in Lake Tear of the Clouds, a lake perched 4,300 feet above sea level and popular among hikers. Samples at the time showed 9.45 microplastic particles per milliliter (mL).
When researchers returned two years later, they expanded their study to include Moss Pond, a remote, trailless lake at a similar elevation. The results were clear: Moss Pond contained just 0.73 particles per mL, while Lake Tear showed 16.54 particles per mL—a 23-fold increase.
It’s a pretty clear indication, Keyes said. The lake that sees tens of thousands of hikers annually had vastly higher microplastic levels than a nearly untouched lake just a short bushwhack away.
PHA to the rescue!
The study highlights a growing call for the footwear and outdoor industry to address microplastic shedding at its source.
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) — natural polymers produced by microorganisms — can be used to create 100% biobased and fully biodegradable shoe soles.
Centexbel is actively advancing PHA research through major European projects such as:
- NENU2PHAR: Developing sustainable European value chains for PHA-based consumer products
- BioSupPack: Creating innovative bioplastic packaging derived from brewery by-products
Unlike petroleum-based rubbers, PHA materials can break down naturally in the environment, offering the durability of elastomeric soles without the long-term pollution.
Award winning biobased solutions and patented expertise
In 2022, we received the Techtextil Innovation Award for our patented development of biobased and biodegradable dispersions for inks and coatings
- Centexbel's corresponding patent EP3875545A1, published September 8, 2021, describes the use of a dispersion for coating textiles, wherein the dispersion contains a powder dispersed in an aqueous medium. The powder includes a thermoplastic biopolymer plasticized with an ethoxylated fatty acid and an additional plasticizer distinct from the ethoxylated fatty acid.
- Another Centexbel patent EP4588969A1, published July 23, 2025, discloses a biodegradable plastisol composition made from a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and a plasticizer.
Challenge us !
The Adirondack study underscores the paradox of outdoor recreation: even those who seek to protect nature can unknowingly harm it.
Contact Centexbel for guidance on sustainable product innovation — from bio-based / biodegradable footwear to eco-friendly packaging.
Together, science and industry can help ensure that the paths we walk leave fewer traces behind.
