Plastic

Plastic refers to synthetic or semi-synthetic polymer-based materials that can be moulded into diverse shapes and products. Derived mainly from fossil-fuel feedstocks, plastic materials are used widely in packaging, construction, electronics, textiles and medical applications. Due to their durability and slow degradation, plastic products contribute to environmental pollution, accumulate in terrestrial and marine systems and generate microplastics, raising concerns about ecosystem and human health impacts, waste management and regulatory responses.

Plastic pollution
Plastic pollution recovery efforts uncover vital trends in Japanese riversClimate

Plastic pollution recovery efforts uncover vital trends in Japanese rivers

Plastic waste in Japan’s rivers reveals not just the scale of pollution but also critical trends shaping cleanup efforts and community responses. A nationwide analysis…
Muser NewsDeskMuser NewsDeskDecember 12, 2024 Full article
Image: dried mealworms
Plastic-eating bugs: A potential ally in combating microplastic pollutionScience

Plastic-eating bugs: A potential ally in combating microplastic pollution

Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) are investigating whether insects can offer a viable solution to the persistent problem of microplastic pollution. A…
Muser NewsDeskMuser NewsDeskDecember 4, 2024 Full article
Seagull with a plastic bag
Divided plastic pollution negotiators call for more timeNews

Divided plastic pollution negotiators call for more time

Busan, South Korea | AFP Negotiators have failed to reach agreement on a landmark treaty to curb plastic pollution and need more time to continue…
SourceSourceDecember 1, 2024 Full article
Image: Landfill (s. plastics, climate action plans)
Calls for extension as plastic treaty negotiations falterNews

Calls for extension as plastic treaty negotiations falter

By Sara Hussein and Katie Forster Busan, South Korea | AFP - Delegates seeking the world's first deal to curb plastic pollution began openly advocating…
SourceSourceDecember 1, 2024 Full article
Image: Plastic pollution
From paradise to plastics pollution: Bali’s battle for marine plastics debrisNews

From paradise to plastics pollution: Bali’s battle for marine plastics debris

Bali is cleaning up its ocean of plastics. Bali has a unique opportunity to address plastic waste by integrating sustainable practices into the tourism experience.…
SourceSourceDecember 1, 2024 Full article
Image: Large amount of plastic bottles in a cage
Nations warn of ‘obstruction’ at plastic talksNews

Nations warn of ‘obstruction’ at plastic talks

Busan, South Korea | AFP Dozens of countries warned Sunday that a handful of nations were obstructing efforts in South Korea to reach an ambitious…
SourceSourceDecember 1, 2024 Full article
Image: Landfill (s. plastics, climate action plans)
EU committed to conclusion of global agreement on plastic as final negotiations startNews

EU committed to conclusion of global agreement on plastic as final negotiations start

It wants the new treaty to address the adverse impacts of plastic pollution on the environment and human health. The Commission is participating in the…
SourceSourceNovember 25, 2024 Full article
Image: Once a beautiful beach now litters with plastic waste calling attention to environment
‘Existential challenge’: plastic pollution treaty talks beginNews

‘Existential challenge’: plastic pollution treaty talks begin

By Sara Hussein and Roland de Courson | AFP Busan, South Korea - A final round of talks on a treaty to end plastic pollution…
SourceSourceNovember 25, 2024 Full article
Small iceberg floating in ocean water under a bright sky with the Sun visible above - climate change effects (s. science, climate, Muser)
Climate Science Digest: November 21, 2024Science

Climate Science Digest: November 21, 2024

Environmental impacts of plastics: Moving beyond the perspective on waste A UFZ team analyses the impacts of plastics on climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental…
SourceSourceNovember 22, 2024 Full article
Small iceberg floating in ocean water under a bright sky with the Sun visible above - climate change effects (s. science, climate, Muser)
Climate Science Digest: November 14, 2024Science

Climate Science Digest: November 14, 2024

National and EU Policy critical to control emissions in Germany’s emerging hydrogen economy A new study by the Research Institute for Sustainability – Helmholtz Centre…
Muser NewsDeskMuser NewsDeskNovember 14, 2024 Full article
Small iceberg floating in ocean water under a bright sky with the Sun visible above - climate change effects (s. science, climate, Muser)
Climate Science Digest: November 7, 2024NewsScience

Climate Science Digest: November 7, 2024

New fungal spore calendar offers crucial aid for allergy and asthma sufferers Researchers in Leicester have created England's first comprehensive fungal spore calendar, a tool…
Muser NewsDeskMuser NewsDeskNovember 7, 2024 Full article
Image: Sunlit clouds providing a bright airy background
Microplastics found to shape cloud formation, potentially altering weather patterns and climateScience

Microplastics found to shape cloud formation, potentially altering weather patterns and climate

Penn State researchers have revealed that microplastics may be influencing the way clouds form, with potential implications for weather patterns, climate models, and even aviation…
Muser NewsDeskMuser NewsDeskNovember 7, 2024 Full article
Image: DNA representation concept
Plastic chemical causes DNA breakage and chromosome defects in sex cellsNews

Plastic chemical causes DNA breakage and chromosome defects in sex cells

PLOS - A new study conducted in roundworms finds that a common plastic ingredient causes breaks in DNA strands, resulting in egg cells with the…
SourceSourceOctober 25, 2024 Full article
Image: Person, Pear, Lightbulb
$79 billion annual climate costs linked to U.S. material productionClimate

$79 billion annual climate costs linked to U.S. material production

A new study published in Environmental Research Letters has brought to light the significant climate-related costs associated with the production of nine common materials in…
Adrian AlexandreAdrian AlexandreOctober 25, 2024 Full article
Image: Starfish with plastic pieces
Climate and ecotoxicity risks of biodegradable microplasticsScience

Climate and ecotoxicity risks of biodegradable microplastics

Biodegradable plastics, often promoted as a greener alternative to traditional plastics, may not be as harmless as they seem when they enter the natural environment.…
Adrian AlexandreAdrian AlexandreOctober 23, 2024 Full article
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California sues oil giant Exxon over plastic recycling ‘myth’News

California sues oil giant Exxon over plastic recycling ‘myth’

Los Angeles, United States (AFP) - California began legal action Monday against oil giant ExxonMobil over a "decades-long campaign of deception" about plastics recycling that…
SourceSourceSeptember 24, 2024 Full article
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Is your dental care hurting the Planet?News

Is your dental care hurting the Planet?

Orthodontic aligners have transformed dental care, offering a discreet and comfortable alternative to traditional braces. Yet, as millions of people worldwide opt for these clear…
Adrian AlexandreAdrian AlexandreSeptember 23, 2024 Full article
Image: Male surgeon removing surgical gloves in operation theater at hospital
Danish hospitals aim to reduce plastic waste and boost recyclingNews

Danish hospitals aim to reduce plastic waste and boost recycling

Researchers from Roskilde University are leading an ambitious project called CircleHealth, which aims to reduce the consumption of plastic and textiles in hospitals across three…
Adrian AlexandreAdrian AlexandreSeptember 10, 2024 Full article
Image: Pile of waste (s. uncollected waste, plastic pollution)
Global plastic pollution crisis driven by uncollected waste and open burningScience

Global plastic pollution crisis driven by uncollected waste and open burning

A new study by researchers at the University of Leeds has unveiled the vast scale of uncollected waste and open burning of plastic as primary…
Adrian AlexandreAdrian AlexandreSeptember 4, 2024 Full article
Image: drink bottle caps
Advancements in chemical plastics recycling pave the way for high-quality sustainable productsScience

Advancements in chemical plastics recycling pave the way for high-quality sustainable products

Scientists at ETH Zurich have made significant strides in chemical recycling, a process poised to transform plastic waste management by producing high-quality products from discarded…
Adrian AlexandreAdrian AlexandreAugust 29, 2024 Full article
Image: Buck's horn plantain (Plantago coronopus)
Combined effects of plastic pollution and seawater flooding amplify threats to coastal plant speciesScience

Combined effects of plastic pollution and seawater flooding amplify threats to coastal plant species

Two of the planet’s more pressing environmental stressors have the potential to alter the growth and reproductive output of plants found right along the world’s…
SourceSourceAugust 2, 2024 Full article
Image: plastic pollution
Norway can lead the fight against plastic pollutionScience

Norway can lead the fight against plastic pollution

Norway's long, rugged coastline – more than 28,953 kilometers long, including the fjords – suffers from plastic pollution even though it is so remote. It's…
SourceSourceJuly 5, 2024 Full article
Image: Once a beautiful beach now litters with plastic waste calling attention to environment
Global warming and plastic pollution fuel each other in vicious cycle, study findsNewsScience

Global warming and plastic pollution fuel each other in vicious cycle, study finds

In a new report published in Nature Communications, researchers from KTH Royal Institute of Technology shed light on the interconnectedness of global warming and plastic…
Adrian AlexandreAdrian AlexandreMarch 20, 2024 Full article
Plastic pollution - oceans
A novel approach to tackling marine plastic pollution: evaluating cleanup technologiesScience

A novel approach to tackling marine plastic pollution: evaluating cleanup technologies

Marine plastic pollution poses a significant threat to our oceans and marine life, necessitating innovative solutions to address the growing crisis. In response to the…
Muser NewsDeskMuser NewsDeskNovember 13, 2023 Full article