Plastic Pollution

Plastic microfibres that come off clothes in washing machines can be degraded and dissolved by a new filter developed at the University of Exeter. The "smart filter" catches microfibres and uses a set of enzymes to break down plastic into two by-products tha…

#2030Now: Refilling stations emerge as best solution to plastic pollution

Delicate wash cycles in washing machines found to release more plastic microfibres than other cycles. New research led by Newcastle University has shown that it is the volume of water used during the wash cycle, rather than the spinning action of the washing…

For the past century, Earth's oceans have helped humans largely ignore the effects of climate change. About a quarter of the carbon dioxide that factories, vehicles and other polluters emit is trapped by oceans. They also absorb about 90 percent of the excess…

Scientists have developed a new method to investigate links between top predator diets and the amount of microplastic they consume through their prey. The new research from Abertay University in collaboration with Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), the Univer…

Plastic pollution continues in Lake Malawi despite a recent ban on the use of plastics. Conservationists say the plastic is putting a strain on aquatic life in the lake. Studies have warned that the fish stock in the lake could be depleted by 2050 unless the …

Thousands of volunteers wielding nets and bin bags scoured coasts, parks and riverbanks across the globe Saturday, in a litter-picking drive highlighting the vast quantity of trash dumped worldwide, a day after mass international climate protests. Campaigner…

An entire state may join the war against single-use plastics. Long Island Democratic Senator Todd Kaminsky, in partnership with a group of lawmakers, is leading a campaign to ban individually-packaged amenities in New York state hotels with more than 50 room…

Technology uses banana leaves as a biodegradable alternative to single-use plastic

The guys behind the Runamics stumbled across a pretty strange and worrying fact. Your synthetic polyester sports and gym-wear has pretty far and wide-reaching consequences. With each wash, small plastic fibers dislodge from your garment, finding their way eve…