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Tackling our plastic problem

24 September 2018
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Plastic is an intrinsic part of our daily lives but can have a huge impact on our environment and health. Image credit - Pxhere, licensed under CC0

From its reliance on fossil fuels to the waste littering our oceans, plastic is a problem requiring innovative solutions. Our stories take a fresh look at how scientists and researchers are working to find eco-friendly alternatives and design solutions to tackle plastic pollution, clean our seas and redefine the role plastic plays in our everyday lives. We also cover crucial policy developments and the issues shaping the conversation about plastic. 

There is 'large uncertainty' surrounding the risk from microplastics, pieces of plastic less than 5mm wide, says Prof. Bart Koelmans. Image credit - 5Gyres, courtesy of Oregon State University licenced under CC BY-SA 2.0
interview | environment | policy
30 April 2019

‘We still don’t know enough about the dangers of microplastics’

An estimated 5.25 trillion particles of plastic float in Earth’s oceans, threatening not only the health of marine ecosystems and animals, but that of humans in the water we drink and the food we eat. However, research into the extent of the dangers posed by microplastics is still just in its infancy.

The production of this leather-like textile is considered to be zero impact as it is created from grape marc - a waste material from wine production. Image credit - Vegea
environment | industry | open innovation
25 July 2018

Chicken plastic and wine leather – giving waste new life

A fashion collection made from the remains of grapes from the wine industry and plastic made from chicken feathers are two new twists on the practice of making new products from waste, and a growing demand for sustainability from consumers mean there could be a ready market for this type of innovation.

PET-bottles-recycling
environment | policy
05 June 2018

Smart containers to reward people for recycling properly

Smart recycling containers that reward people for proper use could help drive up the rate of plastic recycling, reducing the amount of plastic that goes into oceans and landfill, and creating business opportunities out of the challenge to cut back on waste.

Lactips ecofriendly biodegradable packaging film
environment | industry
07 May 2018

Not so fantastic single-use plastic to get an eco-friendly makeover

Milk-based edible food packaging and ready-meal trays made from wood could help reduce the pervasiveness of single-use plastic, a major cause of environmental pollution adversely affecting wildlife, habitats and human health.

Microplastics are considered the most common form of marine litter. Image credit - Nils Ally, licensed under Creative Commons 3.0
environment | health
23 April 2018

Sticky tape and simulations help assess microplastic risk

Tiny pieces of plastic, now ubiquitous in the marine environment, have long been a cause of concern for their ability to absorb toxic substances and potentially penetrate the food chain. Now scientists are beginning to understand the level of threat posed to life, by gauging the extent of marine accumulation and tracking the movement of these contaminants.

It is estimated that more than 150 million tonnes of plastics have already accumulated in the world's oceans. Image credit - Pxhere/ 1060974, licensed under CC0 Public Domain
environment
03 April 2018

Garbage-collecting aqua drones and jellyfish filters for cleaner oceans

A Roomba-like ocean trash collector modelled on a whale shark and a microplastic filter made from jellyfish slime could prevent litter from entering our oceans and help tackle a growing problem that poses threats to wildlife, deters tourists and impacts on coastal economies.

Getting people involved in local community projects can help them engage with how the oceans are changing. Credit — Avalonas5673, licensed under CC-BY-SA-4.0
environment | open to the world
19 February 2018

Raising ocean literacy levels could protect marine environment

Hundreds of kilometres away from any sea, ocean or sandy beach, students from countries such as the Czech Republic have been discovering their connection with the marine world.

Europeans discard 200 million tonnes of household waste every year. Image credit: ‘Poland. Trash 002’ by Albertyanks Albert Jankowski is in the public domain
environment
16 June 2017

Microwaves and microbes turn household waste into biodegradable plastic

Microwaving waste and feeding it to genetically engineered microbes can turn your rubbish into new materials, like biodegradable plastic.

Traces of pollutants were found in tiny amphipods who live more than 6 km underwater. © Dr Alan J. Jamieson, Newcastle University, UK.
environment | frontier research
20 April 2017

Deep-sea trenches contain chemicals and radioactivity

The deepest parts of the ocean were once assumed to be pristine, but recent discoveries of chemicals and radioactive products at the bottom of underwater trenches has shown that humanity’s footprint extends to the furthest reaches of the earth – and it could affect the balance of oxygen in the oceans and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.