Microplastic Free UK

Privacy Policy

This privacy policy explains how Microplastic Free ("we", "us", "our") collects, uses, and protects your personal data when you visit microplasticfree.co.uk. We are committed to protecting your privacy and complying with UK data protection law, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Data Controller

The data controller for this website is Microplastic Free. You can contact us at hello@microplasticfree.co.uk.

What Data We Collect

We collect minimal personal data. Specifically:

  • Cookie consent preference — stored locally in your browser (localStorage), not on our servers.
  • Email address — only if you voluntarily sign up for our newsletter.
  • Basic analytics data — anonymous page view data collected via Umami, a privacy-friendly analytics tool. Umami does not use cookies, does not track you across websites, and does not collect personal information. We use it solely to understand which pages are most visited and how visitors find our site. You can learn more at umami.is.

Legal Basis for Processing

  • Analytics: Legitimate interest — we have a legitimate interest in understanding how visitors use our site to improve it. We use Umami, a cookieless analytics tool that does not track individuals across sites or collect personal data. No cookie consent is required for this type of analytics under UK PECR guidance.
  • Newsletter: Consent — you explicitly opt in by providing your email address. You can withdraw consent at any time by unsubscribing.
  • Product links: Legitimate interest — when you click a product link, the retailer may set their own cookies. This is governed by their privacy policy, not ours.

Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services that may process your data. For details on how product links work on this site, see our disclosure page.

  • Netlify (hosting) — processes server logs including IP addresses for security purposes. Netlify Privacy Policy
  • Umami (analytics) — collects anonymous page view data without cookies or personal identifiers. Umami is a privacy-focused, GDPR-compliant analytics platform. Umami Privacy Policy
  • Buttondown (newsletter) — stores your email address if you subscribe. Buttondown Privacy Policy

Email Newsletter

If you subscribe to our newsletter, we collect and process your email address as follows:

  • What we collect: Your email address only. We do not collect your name, address, or any other personal data through the newsletter signup form.
  • How it's processed: Your email address is stored and processed by Buttondown, our newsletter provider. Buttondown is a US-based service.
  • Double opt-in: After entering your email, you will receive a confirmation email. Your subscription is only active after you click the confirmation link. This ensures you genuinely want to receive our emails.
  • What we send: 1–2 emails per month covering new product reviews, buying guides, and microplastics research updates.
  • How to unsubscribe: Every email includes an unsubscribe link at the bottom. Click it to immediately remove yourself from the mailing list. You can also contact us at hello@microplasticfree.co.uk to request removal.
  • Data retention: Your email address is retained for as long as you remain subscribed. Upon unsubscription, your email is deleted from the mailing list. Buttondown may retain server logs in accordance with their own data retention policy.

Cookies

This site uses minimal cookies. Your cookie consent preference is stored in your browser's localStorage (not as a cookie). Third-party services (such as Netlify) may set their own cookies — see their privacy policies above.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies. Note that blocking cookies may affect some site functionality.

Data Retention

  • Analytics data: Retained by Umami Cloud per their data retention policy. Analytics data is aggregated and does not contain personally identifiable information.
  • Newsletter email: Retained until you unsubscribe. Upon unsubscription, your email is deleted from our mailing list.
  • Cookie consent: Stored in your browser until you clear your browser data.

Your Rights Under UK GDPR

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

  • Right of access — request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
  • Right to rectification — request correction of inaccurate data
  • Right to erasure — request deletion of your personal data
  • Right to restrict processing — request we limit how we use your data
  • Right to data portability — request your data in a portable format
  • Right to object — object to processing based on legitimate interest
  • Right to withdraw consent — withdraw consent at any time (for newsletter)

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at hello@microplasticfree.co.uk. We will respond within 30 days.

Complaints

If you are unhappy with how we handle your data, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO): ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

Last updated: April 2026