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
Category: plastic pollution
Developing an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution
Michael Birnbaum writes on the Washington Post website about negotiations underway in Uruguay to have an international treaty to reduce plastic pollution. No one says it will be easy. For those wanting to follow latest developments, please go to the Energy Negotiations Bulletin website of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). Work is … Continue reading Developing an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution
Companies in Europe not living up to their commitments to reduce plastic packaging
Two-thirds of pledges to go greener on plastic fail or are dropped, a DW investigation has found. Here's how European food and drink companies break their own commitments, and how legislation might hold them accountable. Kira Schacht discusses the findings of the investigation in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. European food companies … Continue reading Companies in Europe not living up to their commitments to reduce plastic packaging
No matter if your concern is financial, environmental or health-related, there are plenty of reasons to worry about the plastics industry
Declining market share and increased governmental and public pressure should sway the plastics industry toward more sustainable practices, a recent report says. Ethan Freedman discusses in an article on The Independent website. ‘This industry is an environmental disaster’: Experts warn EU plastics industry to evolve - or die Declining market share and increased regulation are threatening … Continue reading No matter if your concern is financial, environmental or health-related, there are plenty of reasons to worry about the plastics industry
New enzyme invented that breaks down plastic waste in hours
The new recycling process could revolutionise how big industry reuses materials according to an article by Jane Dalton on The Independent website. Scientists invent enzyme that can break down plastic waste in ‘hours instead of centuries’ Scientists have invented an enzyme variant they say can break down plastic waste in just hours or days … Continue reading New enzyme invented that breaks down plastic waste in hours
Using plastic is posing a threat to our healthy living
Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star in Bangladesh writes on the paper’s website about the impact plastic has in the country. A World Bank study shows that there is a fundamental threat to the country’s future growth and prosperity It is a detailed account that all readers should learn from. Column … Continue reading Using plastic is posing a threat to our healthy living
The impact of bottled water on natural resources is 3,500 times higher than for tap water
In the US, 17m barrels of oil are needed to produce the plastic to meet annual bottled water demand. In addition, bottled water in the UK is at least 500 times more expensive than tap water. Drinking tap water is worse for local health in Barcelona, but when you weigh both, what you gain from … Continue reading The impact of bottled water on natural resources is 3,500 times higher than for tap water
New EEA briefing analyses the pandemic’s effect on the use of certain single-use plastics products
The coronavirus pandemic has challenged European societies in many ways. The European Environment Agency’s (EEA) briefing, published recently, analyses the pandemic’s effect on the use of certain single-use plastics products, which cause GHG and other emissions and can end up littering the environment. It also brings useful lessons to improve our response to future disruptive … Continue reading New EEA briefing analyses the pandemic’s effect on the use of certain single-use plastics products
New EEA report on the growing environmental concern from plastics
The ever-increasing amount of plastic, its impact on biodiversity and contribution to climate change, and how to deal with it in a circular economy perspective have been on the European Union’s policy agenda for years. The COVID-19 pandemic has only increased the attention for plastic waste with images of masks in our seas, and large … Continue reading New EEA report on the growing environmental concern from plastics
Fossil fuel industry is demanding a trade deal that weakens Kenya’s rules on plastics and on imports of American trash
Confronting a climate crisis that threatens the fossil fuel industry, oil companies are racing to make more plastic. That means more waste. Faced with plunging profits and a climate crisis that threatens fossil fuels, the industry is demanding a trade deal that weakens Kenya’s rules on plastics and on imports of American trash. Hiroko Tabuchi, … Continue reading Fossil fuel industry is demanding a trade deal that weakens Kenya’s rules on plastics and on imports of American trash
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 