Posts Tagged ‘plastic pollution’
A next-generation plastic that can be recycled again and again
A team of researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has designed a recyclable plastic. Like a Lego playset, it can be disassembled into its constituent parts at the molecular level. It can then be reassembled into a different shape, texture, and colour again and again without loss of performance or…
Read MoreNature may have the answer to plastic pollution
Scientists working on solutions to the growing problem of plastic pollution are now focusing attention on a potential breakthrough supplied by Mother Nature. A study by researchers at Utrecht University reveals that several species of mushrooms will break down and ‘eat’ plastic, sometimes in a matter of weeks. Some, such as the oyster mushroom, are…
Read MoreEU parliament approves ban on single use plastics
The European Union parliament has announced today that it has approved a ban on single-use plastics, a move that would reduce the amount of plastic pollution feeding into rivers and then out to the ocean. The ban covers several types of products, such as straws, cutlery and cotton buds, with the EU also encouraging all…
Read MorePlastic found in all whales and dolphins examined for UK research project
Scientists examining dolphins, whales and seals washed up dead around the UK have found every single one had plastic in their digestive systems. All 50 bodies from 10 different species that had died from a variety of causes contained microplastic particles – mostly synthetic fibres that may have been shed by clothes or fishing nets.…
Read MoreEuropean Union agrees ban on some single-use plastics
Representatives from the European Union’s 28 member states have agreed to a ban on some single-use plastics, including plastic cutlery, plates and straws, as part of a plan to cut plastic pollution in the ocean and increase the use of recycled plastic. Back in May, the European Commission put forward the proposal for a European Directive…
Read MoreStranded whale had 6 kg of plastic inside their body
A dead sperm whale who washed up on a beach in Indonesia this week was found to have nearly 6kg of plastic inside their body. Whale Stranding Indonesia posted the news online, reporting that “soft plastic, hard plastic, plastic bags, plastic cups, bottled drinks, sandals and raffia” were among the items retrieved from the carcass.…
Read MoreFootballs used to highlight plastic waste
Photographer, Mandy Barker has combined her interest in taking pictures and football (or soccer) to highlight the issue of plastic pollution in the ocean and on the shorelines of the world. Her latest, thought-provoking photography project was triggered in the run-up to the 2018 World Cup and uses striking images of washed-up plastic footballs to…
Read MoreStudy reveals plastic now inside humans
The first evidence of microplastics making their way into humans has been revealed by scientists studying participants from the UK, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia and Austria. Nine different types of plastic were found in the faeces of every person who took part in the study, 20 microplastic particles in every 10 grams of stool, which suggests humans…
Read MoreCoca-Cola listed as top ocean plastic polluter in global audit report
Break Free From Plastic, a global movement campaigning against the rise in plastic pollution has released a report naming Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestlé as the most frequent companies identified in 239 clean ups and brand audits spanning 42 countries and 6 continents. Described as the most comprehensive snapshot of the worst plastic polluting companies around…
Read MorePlans for new plastic 'eating' ship are revealed
Design plans for a new eco-yacht that collects plastic from the ocean and recycles it into fuel have been unveiled in Southampton. The £40million ‘Ocean Saviour’ has been specially designed to scoop up five tonnes of plastic pollution each day, which is then recycled into fuel that will power the vessel itself. The ‘Ocean Saviour’…
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