One World – One Environment – One Network
Microbiologists at the University of Tübingen have modified bacteria to produce climate-neutral and rapidly degradable bioplastics. Cyanobacteria produce plastic naturally as a by-product of photosynthesis – and they do it in a sustainable and...
It is well-known that discarded plastic can break down into microplastics and cause harm to humans and the environment. Now, scientists have improved the method to estimate just how risky hazardous micropollutants from plastic...
Around 230,000 tonnes of plastic is dumped into the Mediterranean Sea every year. The figure could more than double in the next 20 years, says the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)...
New research shows that high levels of microplastics (MPs) are released from infant-feeding bottles (IFBs) during formula preparation. The research also indicates a strong relationship between heat and MP release, such that warmer liquids...
New research indicates that glitter could be causing ecological damage to our rivers and lakes. What’s more, biodegradable alternatives are no better for the environment, says the study. The new research from Anglia Ruskin...
Research has for the first time quantified the volume of plastic from European countries that contributes to ocean littering from exported recycling. Up to 31 per cent of plastic exported for recycling is not...
Plastic has proved its importance during the coronavirus crisis, but it remains important to tackle plastic pollution. Fauna & Flora International (FFI) is now taking major step to address pellet pollution, one of the...
Scientists have identified a microbe that can ingest polyurethrane – one of the most widely used oil-based plastics that is particularly hard to recycle or destroy safely. Scientists in Germany have identified and characterized...
Sea turtles around the world are threatened by marine plastic debris, mostly through ingestion and entanglement. New evidence explainswhy all that plastic is so dangerous for the turtles: they mistake the scent of plastic...
Fast-food giant McDonald’s has launched its global ‘Better M’ platform, which aims to showcase innovative packaging and recycling solutions in restaurants across Europe. McDonald’s is taking the fight against plastic waste into its own...
Researchers at McGill University in Montreal have discovered that plastic teabags release billions of micro- and nano-sized plastic particles into tea. The possible health effects are still unknown. Many argue that we are now...
A recent study found that three out of four plastic consumer products contain harmful chemicals. Bioplastics contained toxicants, too, reports Steinar Brandslet from Norway. A lot of people worry about microplastics and plastic pollution,...
Researchers in Germany and Switzerland have found microplastic in snow in the Alps and the Arctic. The minute particles are transported by the atmosphere and washed out of the air, especially by snow. Microplastic...
Cigarette butts – the most common form of litter on the planet – significantly reduce plant growth, according to new research. Researchers from Anglia Ruskin University have conducted the first-ever study showing the damage...
Coffee giant Starbucks has unveiled several new plans for sustainable coffee, including greener cups, fewer straws and the opportunity to digitally trace your coffee’s journey from seed to cup. According to a Starbucks press...
Food waste and by-products could make sustainable plastic and energy without petrochemicals, according to German researchers. The discovery has big implications for those seeking new, cost-efficient methods of manufacturing. “We could take a big...
Only a third of plastic used by households in the UK can be recycled, the Local Government Association has warned. The rest is sent to landfill. The blend of plastics used in packaging...
Students at the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland are working on an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic made from mycelium and sawdust. Their new material is resistant and yet fully biodegradable....
A record number of wet wipes have been found in the River Thames in London, with over 5,000 uncovered in one single area. Over 5,000 discarded wet wipes were found in one single...
Scientists have engineered an enzyme that can digest some of our most commonly polluting plastics. The discovery provides a potential solution to one of the world’s biggest environmental problems. The plastic-eating enzyme could lead...
