What Your Membership Unlocks
Right now we can run 2 studies. If more members join, we can unlock a third.
Proposed studies.
Nine studies on the table this season. Members vote on which ones run.
Trending #1
Do tea bags release microplastics into every cup you brew?
Most commercial tea bags are made from plastic mesh or sealed with plastic. Studies have found that a single bag can release billions of microplastic particles into hot water during brewing. We'll test popular brands to quantify exactly how much and find out whether loose leaf is meaningfully safer.
Trending #2
Which toothpaste brands are actually clean and which ones aren't?
We'll test the most popular brands for microplastics, heavy metals, and PFAS and tell you exactly which ones to use and which to avoid.
Most toilet paper contains cancer-linked chemicals. Which brands are actually safe?
Chlorine bleaching creates dioxins. Formaldehyde is added for wet strength. PFAS have been detected across conventional and alternative brands alike. We'll test national brands, recycled, and bamboo options.
If you never expose it to heat, is plastic water actually that much worse than glass?
We'll test plastic and glass bottled water brands under normal storage conditions to find out whether the switch is actually worth making.
How contaminated is the chicken you buy — and does it matter where you shop?
We'll test chicken from major grocery chains for microplastics, pesticides, and heavy metals to find out whether your store of choice makes a real difference.
What's actually in your dish soap — and is it ending up on your plates?
We'll test popular brands for microplastics, phthalates, and chemical residue to find out what you're actually washing your dishes with — and whether any of it stays behind.
Is buying organic strawberries actually worth it?
Strawberries have topped the pesticide dirty dozen for years. We'll test organic vs conventional samples to find out if paying more actually gets you meaningfully less contamination.
What's actually in the olive oil you're buying?
We'll test popular brands for pesticides, microplastics, and chemical contaminants. We'll also note product grade and sourcing claims since mislabeling is widespread in this category.
Should you throw out your nonstick pan?
We'll test what nonstick coatings release at normal cooking temperatures — including scratched versus unscratched surfaces — and compare against stainless steel and cast iron.
Study Voting
Vote on which studies run next. Highest demand advances first.
Voting is available to Investigators and Patrons.
You can see how the community is voting below.
Your votes are in.
If enough members join to fund more independent science, a 3rd vote — and beyond — will unlock here. The more of us there are, the more answers we can find about the industrial chemicals hiding in plain sight.
Things are moving.
Recent updates from the lab as the research season progresses.
Season 1 member vote is open. Voting is currently underway. Members are directing which studies run this season.
Ongoing
Accredited lab selected for particle analysis. We have confirmed a partner lab to handle particle testing.
Apr 2026
Petrochemical expert invited to advisory panel. We have reached out to an independent petrochemical expert to join our scientific advisory panel.
Apr 2026
Unplastic Labs Season 1 launched. First members joined. Study proposals opened to the community.
Mar 2026
The Signal.
A distillation of Season 1 findings — what we learned, what it means, and where we go next.
Publishing at the close of Research Season 1
The Signal is coming.
A complete distillation of everything we found — the most important results, what they mean for your home, and the clearest path forward. No noise.
What should we test next?
Your ideas shape the next research season.
Studies don't start in a vacuum. Community ideas — surfaced here and reviewed by our our lab team — are what feed the pipeline. The ones with the most traction and scientific merit make it to the official proposed studies list, where members vote on what runs. If you've got something you want tested, put it in.
Community idea
Lab team review
Proposed study
Member vote
Research season
Current frontrunners
#1
Are air fryers releasing toxic compounds into the food we cook in them?
Food
#2
What's actually in baby formula — and how do different brands compare?
Food
#3
Do laundry detergent residues stay on clothes after washing?
Home
#4
How much microplastic is in the tap water coming out of your kitchen faucet?
Water
#5
Are plastic cutting boards a significant source of microplastic contamination in food?
Home
Submit an idea
What do you want us to test? Be as specific as you like.
Idea received — thank you.
