Plastic Pollution

In recent years, drink chains have switched their single-use cups from plastic to paper to avoid plastic pollution and pile-ups in landfills. But according to recent research, the plastic cup that we feel good walking out of a cafe with isn’t great for the environment either. A study published last…

New research has found that exposure to microplastics led to behavioral changes and immune alterations in mice, particularly older ones. The study discovered that microplastics accumulated in multiple tissues, including the brain, and may contribute to conditions similar to dementia. The study indicates a potential risk for serious health consequences,…

When plastic – including plastic used in food and beverage packaging – is not disposed of correctly, it can end up leaking into the environment and even into people. Last year, four high production volume polymers applied in plastic were identified and quantified for the first time in human blood​.…

Plastic pollution is a global concern, with an estimated eight million tonnes entering the marine environment every year. By 2050, there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish. Can we innovate our way out of the plastic problem? The next wave of packaging pioneers thinks so, and they’re…

Of the 141m tonnes of plastic food and beverage packaging produced annually, just 14% is recycled, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. The problem lies in overconsumption, says Adam Herriott, senior specialist at WRAP – a British NGO advocating for change in the way packaging is produced and disposed of.…

Could plants be the answer to the looming threat of microplastic pollution? Scientists at UBC's BioProducts Institute found that if you add tannins -- natural plant compounds that make your mouth pucker if you bite into an unripe fruit -- to a layer of wood dust, you can create a…

University of British Columbia Could plants be the answer to the looming threat of microplastic pollution? Scientists at UBC's BioProducts Institute found that if you add tannins—natural plant compounds that make your mouth pucker if you bite into an unripe fruit—to a layer of wood dust, you can create a…

Of the estimated 460m tonnes of plastic that is produced annually, 141m tonnes are thought to be attributed to food and beverage packaging. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, just 14% of the plastic packaging used globally is recycled - while 40% ends up in landfill and one-third leaks into…

Photo by Pierre Pistorius A new study has found that marine plastic pollution can lead to the starvation of seabirds, affecting their population numbers, and ultimately affect marine ecosystems and wildlife globally.  Seabirds mistake plastic for food and “in some cases, these are then fed to their chicks waiting at…

The number of cigarette butts being found in rivers in the UK has exceeded the amount of plastic litter, according to volunteers who are taking part in the annual Plasticblitz. The Plasticblitz, which takes place each year to maintain the level of litter in the Thames, is organised by the…