Microplastics pollution is growing environmental and health crisis caused by the pervasive presence of tiny plastic particles, typically less than 5 millimetres in size, in ecosystems worldwide. These microplastics originate from the breakdown of larger plastic debris, industrial processes, and consumer products like cosmetics and synthetic textiles. Once introduced into the environment, microplastic particles persist due to the non-biodegradable nature of plastics, contaminating soil, waterways, and oceans.

The 2025 SINC Challenge aims to address microplastic pollution with teams developing approaches that could prevent release, enable capture or degradation, and/or recycle microplastics and their polymer subunits.

Participation in the Challenge is open to undergraduate students at UNSW. Higher degrees students are welcome to serve as team mentors and advisors