Fauna & Flora International

What are Nurdles?

Exposing the Hidden Threat of Nurdle Pollution

Fauna & Flora International (FFI), a leading wildlife conservation charity, asked us to create an animation that raises awareness of the catastrophic environmental impact of nurdles, tiny plastic pellets used to manufacture everyday items like bottles, food packaging and clothing.

Nurdles are increasingly polluting rivers, beaches and oceans, where they harm marine life and ecosystems. With an estimated 11.5 trillion entering the sea each year, the scale of the problem is vast.

FFI’s work focuses on prevention, aiming to stop nurdles from reaching the ocean in the first place. Once they’re in the water, they are nearly impossible to remove

 

An illustrated puffin floats in green ocean waves with wings outstretched, holding a small fish in its beak, symbolizing marine wildlife in its natural habitat.
An x-ray illustration of a moonfish reveals ingested nurdles. Tiny plastic pellets highlighting the impact of marine plastic pollution on ocean wildlife.

A Mixed-Media Approach

To highlight the impact of nurdle pollution, we created a mixed-media animation using real nurdles, stop-motion, and Dragonframe software. Combined with 2D, 3D animation and live-action footage from Fauna & Flora International, the film illustrates the scale of the issue and its effects on marine life. This hands-on, creative approach made the message both clear and compelling. The final explainer has reached over four million viewers and continues to raise awareness of this urgent environmental problem.

 

 

A collage of six taped polaroid photos shows plastic nurdles, polluted beaches, dead marine animals, and a person collecting pellets, illustrating the environmental impact of plastic pollution on wildlife.
An illustration of a cargo ship in stormy seas, with rain pouring and dark clouds above, symbolizing the environmental risks of maritime transport, especially during extreme weather events.
A view of Earth from space with two rings of blue dots encircling it, symbolizing the global spread of plastic nurdles or environmental pollution on a planetary scale.