Micro- and Nano-Plastic Pollution

This Fuel is 50% Plastic - and it’s Slipping Through a Loophole in International Waste Law

Every year, a large amount of plastic waste is traded in the form of “refuse-derived fuel,” or RDF, ground-up packaging and plastic waste to be burned for energy. Environmental groups say these exports perpetuate “waste colonialism” and jeopardize public health. 

Malaysia bans shipments of plastic waste from U.S.

Malaysia joins China in rejecting discarded waste from rich nations, saying it doesn’t want to be ‘trash bin.’  New York Times article via San Diego Tribune. 

California’s ban on toxic IV bags marks a shift for health care plastics

A new law, which will go into effect in 2030, will end the use of intravenous medical supplies that contain between 30 percent to 80 percent toxic chemicals including Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP). Mixed with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic to soften it, DEHP is among the suspected cancerous chemicals known as phthalates. 

YouTube video: How Waste Plastic is Converted into Fuel

The HiCOP method uses catalysts already employed in petroleum refining to distil heavy crude oil molecules into lighter molecules, such as gasoline. Discover how Japan leads the charge with this innovative solution towards a greener, more sustainable future.

YouTube video: Why ExxonMobil, Sinopec and Dow Are Betting On Plastic

Oil and gas companies are looking towards plastic as their next major growth market, particularly in the developing world. But while producers like ExxonMobil, Sinopec and Dow Chemical are planning for growth, consumers are fed up with plastic waste, and governments around the world are seeking to limit new plastic production.  

YouTube video: ExxonMobil lawsuit press conference

California Attorney General Rob Bonta held a press conference to announce a lawsuit against ExxonMobil "for allegedly engaging in a decades-long campaign of deception that caused and exacerbated the global plastics pollution crisis," according to a press release obtained by NBC News. [Be sure to view the end of the presentation which features a press conference and the Attorney General’s responses to questions.] 

YouTube video: Advanced Recycling: Does Big Plastic’s Idea Work? | CBS Reports

The city of Houston, ExxonMobil, and other partners announced a new program that promised to recycle nearly all of the city’s plastic waste. CBS Reports and Inside Climate News investigate whether this proposed solution to our plastic recycling crisis is indeed too good to be true.

PFN (Plastics Footprint Network) Plastic Footprint Guidelines

Leading organizations have united within the Plastic Footprint Network to chart a new, more effective path toward plastic pollution mitigation. The network unified the framework for measuring plastic leakage into a science-based methodology for assessing the environmental impact. Over 100 professionals from 35 organizations worked to establish the resulting methodology. 

Youtube video: Plastics Problem Overview

Microplastics can be found everywhere. They comprise particles so minute that they can only be seen under a microscope. Professor Christian Laforsch has devised his own customized instruments to track down microplastics in water, the air and farmland soil, and find out how dangerous they are for humans and our environment.

Youtube video: Plastics are a never-ending gift from the fossil fuel industry – Medical Focus

Roger Seheult, MD of MedCram discusses scientific findings of the prevalence and implications of microplastics in our food and body.

Website:  Global Treaty To End Plastic Pollution

The world produces over 462 million tons of plastic annually. While plastic can be a useful material, 90% of it pollutes our planet. This is particularly true of single-use items such as plastic cutlery, packaging, and microplastics. An estimated 9-14 million tons of plastic waste ends up in our oceans each year. Plastic waste has been found in all areas of the globe, from the deepest seas to the most remote mountains. It causes major harm to wildlife and ecosystems, disrupts the livelihood of millions of people, and poses significant risks to human health and the world economy.

Webinar:  The End of Plastic Pollution: How Business Can Operationalize Circularity  (requires signup to view)

Organizations must rethink single-use plastics, evaluate how to operationalize circularity, and irrevocably shift business models.  Companies must go beyond processes and risk management to capitalize on the market opportunity of the circular economy. A panel of experts from business, technology, and civil society discuss the implications for packaging suppliers and brands.

Plastics production on the Gulf Coast is exploding. Here’s how to respond

The Gulf Coast petrochemical industry has big expansion plans for plastics production that threaten to undermine corporate efforts to reduce plastics use and waste as well as the international negotiations for the Global Plastics Treaty.

Plastic Free Packaging Design Guide

Product packaging traditionally relies heavily on mixed material formats, particularly those incorporating plastic. This poses a significant recycling challenge and creates a significant waste stream if it isn’t accepted for recycling. Google has researched solutions that prioritize both sustainability and performance. This guide documents our journey to eliminate plastics and transition our packaging to fiber-based materials for our consumer electronics products.

PBS TV Special:  We're All Plastic People Now

Introduced by actor and environmentalist Ted Danson, We’re All Plastic People Now investigates the hidden story of plastic and its effects on human health. In an era of throw-away ease, convenience has cost us our well-being. We’re All Plastic People Now asks the question, how much evidence do we need before we decide to take action?