Microplastic-eating plankton may be worsening crisis in oceans, say scientists

A type of zooplankton found in marine and fresh water can ingest and break down microplastics, scientists have discovered. But rather than providing a solution to the threat plastics pose to aquatic life, the tiny creatures known as rotifers could be accelerating the risk by splitting the particles into thousands of smaller and potentially more …

Plastic waste ‘spiralling out of control’ across Africa, analysis shows

Plastic waste is “spiralling out of control” across Africa, where it is growing faster than any other region, new analysis has shown. At current levels, enough plastic waste to cover a football pitch is openly dumped or burned in sub-Saharan Africa every minute, according to the charity Tearfund. If the trend continues unabated, the region …

Drinks firms face EU-wide complaint over plastic bottle recycling claims

Big drinks companies are misleading customers with claims that their plastic water bottles are fully recycled or recyclable, according to consumer groups who have issued a formal complaint to the European Commission. The Bureau Européen des Unions de Consommateurs (BEUC) said claims that water bottles from brands owned by Coca-Cola, Danone and Nestlé are “100% …

Venezuelans handpick plastic and rake up oil in bid to save Lake Maracaibo – video

Anglers in Venezuela have been raking up oil spills and collecting plastic waste from Lake Maracaibo to try to save the lake that sustains their livelihoods. President Nicolás Maduro has ordered the implementation of a “rescue, attention and decontamination” plan for the 13,000 sq km lake, one of South America’s largest and one of the …

Microplastics detected in clouds hanging atop two Japanese mountains

Microplastics have been found everywhere from the oceans’ depths to the Antarctic ice, and now new research has detected it in an alarming new location – clouds hanging atop two Japanese mountains. The clouds around Japan’s Mount Fuji and Mount Oyama contain concerning levels of the tiny plastic bits, and highlight how the pollution can …

Lego abandons effort to make bricks from recycled plastic bottles

Lego has stopped a project to make bricks from recycled drinks bottles instead of oil-based plastic, saying it would have led to higher carbon emissions over the product’s lifetime. The move, first reported by the Financial Times, followed efforts by the world’s largest toymaker to research more sustainable materials, as part of a wave of …

Plastics spill from Queensland’s Bribie Island could harm wildlife for years, expert warns

A south-east Queensland plastics spill in which 40,000 small discs were flushed into the ocean could threaten birds and marine life for years to come, an expert says, amid criticism of CSIRO’s handling of the breach. A CSIRO spokesperson confirmed on Thursday that 40 litres of plastics known as biomedia were accidentally discharged from the …

‘The air tastes like burnt plastic’: Skopje’s chronic pollution problem

The hills that circle Skopje keep citizens safe when smog grows thick, but they also trap the toxins that make its air among the most menacing of any city in Europe. The mountains are the only escape, says Katarina, a 33-year-old accountant, as she walks home from an evening hike. “I was wearing a mask …

The Worst Types of Plastic for The Environment

What are the worst types of plastic for the environment? The worst types of plastic for the environment are those that cause the most degradation to natural resources, ecosystems, and organisms. This degradation can come in many forms such as: Plastics with these characteristics are the most threatening: The environmental impact of different types of …

Certifications & Labels for Plastics In Consumer Products

Labels such as “BPA Free” and “Phthalate Free” can be helpful in finding products that are safer than conventional alternatives, but just because a product makes a claim doesn’t guarantee it is accurate. There’s a significant difference between a product that has been tested and certified vs a product that is making a claim on …