In an article on the Climate Home News website, Joe Lo writes about the US government’s shift in its position on plastic pollution. The shift sparked accusations of betrayal from the plastics industry and celebrations from environmental campaigners and a Pacific negotiator. US turns against plastic producers, boosting hopes for ambitious treaty After two … Continue reading The US government has told campaigners that it will push for a new global treaty on plastic waste to limit the production of plastics rather than just encouraging measures like recycling
Category: plastic pollution
The energy giant Shell promised to turn 1m tonnes of plastic waste into oil each year, but now says goal is unfeasible
Dharna Noor writes on the Guardian website about Shell’s decision to roll back on the promise to increase “advanced recycling” of plastics. The company said the walk-back was necessary due to changes in the market. Also, slow technology development has indeed been a factor in the advanced recycling market. Many feel Shell made a wise … Continue reading The energy giant Shell promised to turn 1m tonnes of plastic waste into oil each year, but now says goal is unfeasible
New EEA monitoring tool and briefing on plastics circularity
Plastics production and consumption patterns across Europe remain unsustainable and need to be made more circular to reduce waste, pollution, climate change and other negative impacts on the environment according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing published this week. The briefing also highlights the introduction of a new monitoring tool where people, policy makers … Continue reading New EEA monitoring tool and briefing on plastics circularity
Energy in Demand News, April 28, 2024
Economic damage from natural catastrophes is raising concern that some areas could be rendered uninsurable, according to Petra Hielkema, head of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (Eiopa), quoted in the Financial Times (behind a paywall). “The EU suffered more than €50bn in economic losses from natural catastrophes in both 2021 and 2022, according … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, April 28, 2024
“The fossil fuel lobby is holding us back from negotiating a treaty that will end the plastics crisis”
The fourth meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, is taking place in Ottawa, Canada. This meeting is being held pursuant to the resolution adopted by the resumed fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2), which requests the UN Environment … Continue reading “The fossil fuel lobby is holding us back from negotiating a treaty that will end the plastics crisis”
Plastics producers deceived public about recycling, report reveals
Companies knew for decades recycling was not viable but promoted it regardless, a Center for Climate Integrity study finds. The findings are discussed in an article by Michael Copley on the National Public Radio website. Reduce, reuse, redirect outrage: How plastic makers used recycling as a fig leaf The plastics industry has worked for … Continue reading Plastics producers deceived public about recycling, report reveals
Many nations agree that a binding treaty on plastic pollution is critical to solving the plastic pollution problem
As most of us were focussing on COP28 in Dubai, there was also much happening on plastic waste and the implications for energy consumption. In November 2023, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution met in Nairobi, Kenya, for the third negotiating round of a planned five sessions. Not that much headway was made. The … Continue reading Many nations agree that a binding treaty on plastic pollution is critical to solving the plastic pollution problem
Lego ditches oil-free brick in sustainability setback
World’s biggest toymaker says new material made from recycled bottles would have bigger carbon footprint. Latest analysis shows using recycled polyethylene terephthalate (RPET) would have led to higher carbon emissions over the product’s lifetime as it would have required new equipment. Noor Nanji discusses latest developments in an article on the BBC News website. … Continue reading Lego ditches oil-free brick in sustainability setback
“The highly profitable and fast-growing bottled water industry is masking the failure of public systems to supply reliable drinking water for all”
As the bottled water market grows, it is more important than ever to strengthen legislation that regulates the industry and its water quality standards. Such legislation can impact bottled water quality control, groundwater exploitation, land use, plastic waste management, carbon emissions, finance and transparency obligations, to mention a few. Zeineb Bouhlel and Vladimir Smakhtin from … Continue reading “The highly profitable and fast-growing bottled water industry is masking the failure of public systems to supply reliable drinking water for all”
New EEA briefing on impact of plastic packaging
Plastics are used across Europe in everything from construction materials to consumer products. Recent policy actions on plastic packaging at EU and national level have established collection schemes and introduced waste prevention measures. However, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published this week, a significant fraction of Europe’s total plastic consumption is outside … Continue reading New EEA briefing on impact of plastic packaging
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 