plastic pollution

Plastic Bag Bans Actually Work, Study of European Waters Shows

Plastic Bag Bans Actually Work, Study of European Waters Shows

If you ever feel like the world’s plastic nightmare might never end, a new study shows proof that plastic pollution legislation actually works. There are significantly fewer plastic bags on the seafloor ever since a number of European countries introduced fees on the items, according to a 25-year study from the UK government’s Centre for […]

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    Study: 93% of Bottled Water Contains Microplastics

    Study: 93% of Bottled Water Contains Microplastics

    You now have another good reason to avoid bottled water. An investigation on brands from around the world determined that the water is often contaminated with tiny pieces of plastic. The new study, conducted by journalism organization Orb Media and researchers at the State University of New York at Fredonia, has already prompted the World […]

    Bottled Water, Brought to You by Fracking?

    Bottled Water, Brought to You by Fracking?

    By Wenonah Hauter The new Food & Water Watch report Take Back the Tap: The Big Business Hustle of Bottled Water details the deceit and trickery of the bottled water industry. Here’s one more angle to consider: The bottled water business is closely tied to fracking. The report reveals that the majority of bottled water […]

    First-of-its-Kind Study Points to Higher Levels of Ocean Microplastics

    First-of-its-Kind Study Points to Higher Levels of Ocean Microplastics

    Scientists and environmentalists have raised the alarm about microplastics polluting our oceans. Now, researchers at the University of Manchester have revealed more details of how they might get there. The first ever catchment-wide microplastic study, published March 12 in Nature Geoscience, assessed microplastic contamination in the sediments of river beds along 40 sites in northwest […]

    5 Items That Reincarnate Plastic Bottles Into Outdoor Gear

    5 Items That Reincarnate Plastic Bottles Into Outdoor Gear

    By Jill K. Robinson What’s the most environmentally friendly approach to gear and clothing? Hang on to what you have and repair your goods. When it’s replacement time, choose items upcycled from plastic to help keep bottles, fabric and other detritus out of landfills and waterways. Here are four items that source responsibly reincarnated plastic. […]

    640,000 Metric Tons of Ghost Gear Enters Oceans Each Year

    640,000 Metric Tons of Ghost Gear Enters Oceans Each Year

    Governments around the world are waking up to the scourge of plastics on our oceans and its creatures by banning items such as shopping bags and drinking straws. But an often-overlooked form of plastic waste is also a major threat to our seas: “ghost” gear. A report released Thursday from World Animal Protection highlights that […]

    ‘Plastic, Plastic, So Much Plastic!’: Diver Films Sea of Trash Off Bali

    ‘Plastic, Plastic, So Much Plastic!’: Diver Films Sea of Trash Off Bali

    British diver Rich Horner posted footage of his plastic-infested swim off Bali’s Manta Point on Saturday. “The ocean currents brought us in a lovely gift of a slick of jellyfish, plankton, leaves, branches, fronds, sticks, etc…. Oh, and some plastic,” Horner wrote on Facebook. “Some plastic bags, plastic bottles, plastic cups, plastic sheets, plastic buckets, […]

    World’s First Plastic-Free Supermarket Aisle Debuts in the Netherlands

    World’s First Plastic-Free Supermarket Aisle Debuts in the Netherlands

    The world’s first plastic-free supermarket aisle debuted in Amsterdam on Wednesday. Shoppers at the Jan Pieter Heijestraat branch of Dutch supermarket chain Ekoplaza will have roughly 700 plastic-free products to choose from, including meat, rice, sauces, dairy, chocolate, cereals, yogurt, snacks, fresh fruit and vegetables. Instead of plastic, items are packed in compostable materials or […]

    Plastic Straws, Stirrers, Utensils Banned From Malibu Restaurants

    Plastic Straws, Stirrers, Utensils Banned From Malibu Restaurants

    Malibu, the trendy Californian city in Los Angeles County known for its stunning ocean views and sandy beaches, is taking a stand against single-use plastics. According to the Los Angeles Times, the City Council voted Monday to ban nearly 70 restaurants and food vendors from selling or distributing plastic straws, stirrers and utensils to customers. […]