It’s just a plastic fork, just a takeout container, just one water bottle. Not exactly. Indulging in the modern convenience of single-use plastics seems harmless, but the consequences to our health, wildlife, and oceans will be with us for a long time to come. Globally, we produce 300 million tons of plastic annually, about half […]
A new study has found that 176 bird species around the world are building their nests with trash from humans, such as cigarette butts, candy wrappers and plastic string. Birds on all continents except Antarctica were found to make nests with this waste, which could harm the birds and the chicks. Researchers analyzed nearly 35,000 […]
A diverse microbiome of bacteria and plastic-degrading fungi lives in salt marshes on the coast of Jiangsu, China. It was identified by an international team of scientists who counted 55 bacterial and 184 fungal strains that are able to break down a biodegradable polyester called polycaprolactone (PCL), often used in polyurethane production, a press release […]
The Fourth of July has become synonymous with barbeques, flag memorabilia and fireworks shows as a celebration of American independence. And, while the latter dazzle the skies, they have harmful repercussions for the environment. Drone fireworks offer an eco-friendly alternative.
Mars, Inc. is testing out new, paper wrappers for its candy bars in a trial run at Tesco grocery stores in the UK. The paper wrappers are temporarily replacing plastic wrappers, which are not recyclable. The company plans to use feedback from the trial as it works toward developing alternative packaging options for its candy […]
Since 1970, the “chasing arrows” symbol has been an iconic marker of recyclability. But now, President Joe Biden’s administration is considering if the symbol has become misleading. The symbol was first designed by Gary Anderson, who was studying at University of Southern California and submitted the logo for the International Design Conference in 1970. It […]
While the amount of global plastic pollution is staggering, the United Nations Environment Programme has found that it is still possible to reduce plastic pollution as much as 80% by 2040. It would require major changes, but these efforts would still be convenient and even affordable to take on. The UNEP shared the possibility for […]
Quick Key Facts We use a lot of plastic. Since the 1950s, more than 8.3 billion tons of plastic has been produced by humans. All in all, only 9% of these plastics have actually been recycled, and the rest has either been incinerated or landed up in landfills — and, in many cases, in the […]
In a new program trial in Australia, oyster mushrooms are taking on an important new task. The fungi will consume the toxic chemicals and plastics inside up to 1.2 million cigarette butts, which will be diverted from landfills for the trial. In Australia, people smoke about 18 billion cigarettes a year, and up to 9 […]
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