Plastic

The key to combating pollution is to build alternatives to plastic
Sustainable plastic substitutes abound in nature, but to increase production and remove restrictions, nations and businesses must cooperate across borders

Scientists issue a warning as plastic garbage creates rocks off the coast of Brazil: “pollution has reached geology.”
Geologists in Brazil’s Trindade Island have discovered “terrifying” rocks consisting of plastic trash.

Exmouth has received official “plastic-free” status
Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), a nonprofit organisation dedicated to marine conservation, has officially recognised Exmouth as a Plastic Free Community.

Catching the Wave of Ocean Pollution
Our ocean’s plastic pollution has terrible effects on biodiversity, fishing, tourism, and coastal communities. In order to address this issue, the EU has taken numerous actions, including direct legislative measures, awareness-raising efforts (such as the ongoing #EUBeachCleanup), and financial support for creative projects addressing marine plastic pollution. One of those initiatives is the EU-funded project “STRANDET,” which helps recycle a significant volume of plastic that has been gathered on beaches in Denmark’s north-west Jutland.

High Street Chemist ‘Boots’ to Stop Selling Plastic-Based Wet Wipes in the UK
Pharmacy joins other retail chains vowing to stop sales of plastic wipes by end of this year, as part of efforts to cut non-biodegradable waste.

Amount of waste on UK beaches is falling, national clean-up finds
75% of ocean littler is still plastic or polystyrene and the government approach not good enough, say campaigners

Ocean largely littered with take-out food, study shows
44% of ocean plastics are linked to takeaway food and drink items, scientists say the pollution must be stopped at source.

Waitrose responds to 10-year old girl campaigning to ditch plastic toys in magazines
Waitrose has said it will no longer stock magazines with disposable plastic toys in an effort to help tackle plastic pollution.

Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Nestlé named world’s worst plastic polluters for third year in a row
Coca-Cola ranked world’s largest plastic polluter according to Break Free From Plastic’s annual audit.