plastics

As ocean plastics and landfill levels are on the rise, Americans are gearing up for another litter-heavy holiday. Whether you’re participating in Plastic Free July or just want to cut down on waste this Independence Day, here are 13 ways to have a plastic-free Fourth of July get-together that’s every bit as patriotic as it […]

Although it’s convenient, single-waste plastic is plaguing our planet. Thankfully, some people are looking to reduce their plastic consumption. If you’re one of them, you may face a crossroads with the complicated plastic razor. Though not categorized as “single-use,” billions of plastic razors end up in landfills each year. Razors are sharp objects that can’t […]

In its latest environmental commitment, New Zealand has announced a ban on the majority of single-use plastics by 2025. The new measure builds on the country’s 2019 decision to phase-out plastic bags and includes everything from disposable cutlery to ear buds and fruit labels, The Guardian reported. “These types of plastics often end up as […]

Researchers have devised a sweet solution to the plastic pollution crisis — turn it into vanilla flavoring. In a study published in Green Chemistry last week, scientists at the University of Edinburgh detailed how they used common bacteria to transform polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic into a useful chemical for the first time, and that chemical […]

In recent years, it’s been a fad to skip the straw to save the turtles, but what you may not know is that straws are not the biggest offenders when it comes to ocean plastic, according to a new study. Instead, researchers are turning their attention to takeout containers and convenience food as the worst […]

By Hom Dhakal Plastics are very useful materials. They’ve contributed significant benefits to modern society. But the unprecedented amount of plastics produced over the past few decades has caused serious environmental pollution. Packaging alone was responsible for 46% out of 340 million tonnes of plastic waste generated globally in 2018. Although plastic recycling has increased […]

Along the banks of the Mississippi River, right before it spills out past New Orleans into the sea lies Cancer Alley. An 85 mile strip of shoreline where residents are contracting cancer at astronomical rates. But this isn’t a phenomenon based in genetics or some cruel twist of fate. Cancer Alley is the product of […]

Ocean bound plastic is plastic waste that is headed toward our oceans. The term “ocean bound plastic” was popularized by Jenna Jambeck, Ph.D., a professor from the University of Georgia. In 2015, she and a team of researchers estimated the amount of plastic waste entering the ocean from land.