Tootfinder

"Microplastics found in rural woodland at higher levels than in city centers"
#Microplastics #Plastic #Plastics

Microplastics found in rural woodland at higher levels than in city centers
Air-polluting microplastics have been found in rural environments in greater quantities than in urban locations, researchers say. Scientists led by the University of Leeds detected up to 500 microscopic particles of plastic per square meter per day in an area of woodland during the three-month study—almost twice as much as in a sample collected in a city center. The findings are published in the journal Environmental Pollution.

"Plastic household waste burned as fuel on rise in Global South, risking health"
#Plastic #Plastics

Plastic household waste burned as fuel on rise in Global South, risking health
Burning plastic waste for household fuel, or to manage household waste, may be far more prevalent in poor urban areas in developing countries than previously thought, raising serious environmental pollution and public health concerns for individuals, families and communities. That’s according to a new global study that surveyed more than 1,000 “key informants,” including researchers, […]

"Biodegradable Plastics Made from Fish Waste Offer New Path to Sustainable Materials"
#Plastic #Plastics
https://

Biodegradable Plastics Made from Fish Waste Offer New Path to Sustainable Materials | Happy Eco News
An MIT senior developed biodegradable plastic made from fish waste, transforming fish scales into compostable thin films suitable for single-use products.

"Plastics dominate UK litter as rural and outdoor spaces emerge as pollution hotspots"
#UK #UnitedKingdom #Plastic #Plastics

Plastics dominate UK litter as rural and outdoor spaces emerge as pollution hotspots
A new study by the University of Portsmouth shows that plastic items make up more than seven in ten pieces of litter recorded across the UK, with countryside locations and public recreation areas carrying some of the heaviest burdens.

😕 Questions are being raised about microplastics studies—here's what's solid science and what isn't
https://phys.org/news/2026-01-microplastics-solid-science-isnt.html

Questions are being raised about microplastics studies—here's what's solid science and what isn't
Over the past few years, studies have suggested that plastic particles from bottles, food packaging and waste have been detected in human blood, lungs, placentas, arteries and even the brain. But a recent investigation by The Guardian suggests that some of these claims may be less robust than they first appeared.

"The hidden health risks of bottled water"
#Water #Plastic #Plastics

The hidden health risks of bottled water
Plastic bottled water is popular despite health risks and environmental costs but decentralised technologies could cut plastic waste while improving water safety.

"The Ocean Cleanup removed a record 25 million kilos of plastic in 2025 (and they’re just getting started)"
#Oceans #Environment #Plastic

The Ocean Cleanup removed a record 25 million kilos of plastic in 2025 (and they’re just getting started) | The Optimist Daily
With 25 million kilos of plastic removed in 2025 alone, The Ocean Cleanup is scaling up efforts to tackle plastic pollution from rivers to open ocean.

🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on KEXP's #Vinelands
Plastic Weather:
🎵 Doppelganger
#PlasticWeather
https://plasticweather.bandcamp.com/track/doppelg-nger
https://open.spotify.com/track/3YgWU54edHO6aWXqMogxdT

"Lack of demand hampering flexible plastics recycling, warns industry alliance"
#Plastic #Plastics #Recycling

"Reuse and return schemes could help eliminate plastic pollution in 15 years, says report"
#Plastic #Plastics #Environment

"Australia says goodbye to plastic soy sauce fish in world-first ban"
#Australia #Plastic #Plastics

"An app that uses drone footage to track plastic litter on beaches is promoting voluntary cleanup in Ireland"
#Ireland #Environment #Plastic

An app that uses drone footage to track plastic litter on beaches is promoting voluntary cleanup in Ireland
Plastic pollution is one of those problems everyone can see, yet few know how to tackle it effectively. I grew up walking the beaches around Tramore in County Waterford, Ireland, where plastic debris has always been part of the coastline, including bottles, fragments of fishing gear and food packaging.

"Surprising number of foods contain microplastics. Here’s how to reduce the amount you consume"
#Plastic #Plastics #Microplastics

Surprising number of foods contain microplastics. Here’s how to reduce the amount you consume
Microwaving food in glass containers is a good idea to prevent microplastics leaching into your food.

🧋 Microbubbles can release microplastics into our water
#plastics

Microbubbles can release microplastics into our water
Microbubbles in the tap water you just poured into a plastic glass are strong enough to create tiny abrasions on the inner layer of the plastic—quietly adding to our growing microplastic problem.

"Scientists Create Durable Biodegradable Bamboo Plastic That’s Stronger Than Petroleum-Based Materials"
#Bamboo #Plastic #Plastics

Scientists Create Durable Biodegradable Bamboo Plastic That’s Stronger Than Petroleum-Based Materials | Happy Eco News
Chinese researchers created biodegradable bamboo plastic with 110 MPa tensile strength that decomposes in soil within 50 days. Published in Nature Communications (October 2025), the material outperforms petroleum-based plastics in terms of strength and stability, while maintaining 90% of its original strength after recycling. This makes it a renewable and recyclable alternative for industrial use.

"Fish-inspired filter removes 99% of microplastics from washing machine wastewater"
#Microplastics #Plastic #Plastics

Fish-inspired filter removes 99% of microplastics from washing machine wastewater
Wastewater from washing machines is considered a major source of microplastics—tiny plastic particles that are suspected of harming human and animal health. Researchers at the University of Bonn have now developed a filter to curb this problem. Their invention was inspired by the gill arch system in fish.

"Cutting-Edge Plant-Based Plastic Bag Dissolves In Seawater Leaving No Microplastics"
#Microplastics #Plastic #Plastics

Cutting-Edge Plant-Based Plastic Bag Dissolves In Seawater Leaving No Microplastics
A team of researchers has demonstrated a cutting-edge plant-based plastic bag that can dissolve in water without producing microplastics

"Three sugar cubes worth of plastic enough to kill a puffin, study finds"
#Plastic #Plastics #Birds

"Oceans struggle to absorb Earth's carbon dioxide as microplastics invade their waters"
#Oceans #Microplastics #Plastic

Oceans struggle to absorb Earth's carbon dioxide as microplastics invade their waters
A new study reveals that microplastics are impairing the oceans' ability to absorb carbon dioxide, a process scientists find crucial for regulating Earth's temperature.

"Another threat to reefs: Microplastic chemicals may harm coral reproduction"
#CoralReef #Microplastics #Plastic

Another threat to reefs: Microplastic chemicals may harm coral reproduction
As the sliver of a new moon shines over Kāneʻohe Bay, Oʻahu, millions of tiny orbs ascend from a reef and swirl in the water column. These spheres are bundles of coral eggs and sperm responding to lunar cycles and chemical cues in the water that tell them when to fertilize and where to settle […]

"Plastics everywhere, and the myth that made it possible"
#Plastic #Plastics #Environment

Plastics everywhere, and the myth that made it possible
If there's one material that defines modern life more than any other, it's plastic: present from the moment we're born in newborn stool, in product packaging, in the soil beneath our feet and the air we breathe.

"Washing machine filter captures microfibers as small as 20 micrometers in size"
#Plastic #Plastics
https://

Washing machine filter captures microfibers as small as 20 micrometers in size
A single laundry load containing synthetic clothing can release thousands of plastic microfibers from nylon, acrylic and polyester materials. Lab testing of an SA-made washing machine filter at Flinders University shows it can be a useful new way to help protect waterways from polyester and other synthetic microparticles.

"Environmental trade-offs of biodegradable plastics revealed"
#Plastic #Plastics #Environment

Environmental trade-offs of biodegradable plastics revealed
Switching to biodegradable plastics could slash toxic pollution by more than a third and dramatically reduce global waste by mid-century, but only if cities and companies invest in the right disposal systems, a Yale School of the Environment study found. Without proper composting facilities, biodegradable plastics could double greenhouse gas emissions.

"Success! EU Microplastic Ban Regulation Drives Innovation in Biodegradable Alternatives"
#EU #EuropeanUnion #Plastic

Success! EU Microplastic Ban Regulation Drives Innovation in Biodegradable Alternatives | Happy Eco News
EU microplastic ban regulations introduced through REACH in 2023 are transforming how industries use plastics. The comprehensive rules phase out microplastics from cosmetics, detergents, and agricultural products by 2035, pushing companies to develop biodegradable alternatives. Major corporations and startups are responding with innovative solutions that break down naturally while maintaining performance.

🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on #KEXP's #MorningShow
John Lennon & Plastic Ono Band:
🎵 Imagine
#JohnLennon #PlasticOnoBand

🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on #BBC6Music's #LaurenLaverne
John Lennon, Yoko Ono & Plastic Ono Band:
🎵 Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (feat. The Harlem Community Choir)
#JohnLennon #YokoOno #PlasticOnoBand

"MP calls for ban on ‘biobeads’ at sewage works after devastating Camber Sands spillage"
#UK #UnitedKingdom #Sewage #Plastic

"Scientists trace microplastics in fertilizer from fields to the beach"
#Plastic #Plastics #Microplastics

Scientists trace microplastics in fertilizer from fields to the beach
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have studied how polymer-coated fertilizer (PCF) applied to fields ends up on beaches and in the sea. They studied PCF deposits on beaches around Japan, finding that only 0.2% of used PCFs are washed into rivers and returned to the coastline. When there are canals connecting fields to the sea, this rises to 28%.

"Takeaway coffee cups release thousands of microplastic particles, research reveals"
#Plastic #Plastics #Microplastics

Takeaway coffee cups release thousands of microplastic particles, research reveals
It's 7:45am. You grab a takeout coffee from your local café, wrap your hands around the warm cup, take a sip, and head to the office.

🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on #BBC6Music's #LaurenLaverne
John Lennon & Plastic Ono Band:
🎵 Power To The People
#JohnLennon #PlasticOnoBand

🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on KEXP's #MorningShow
John Lennon & Plastic Ono Band:
🎵 Instant Karma
#JohnLennon #PlasticOnoBand

"UK can create 5,400 jobs if it stops plastic waste exports, report finds"
#UK #UnitedKingdom #Plastic #Plastics

"Crickets munch on microplastics—especially if they have a big mouth"
#Crickets #Animals #Plastic #Microplastics

Crickets munch on microplastics—especially if they have a big mouth
To a human, microplastics are very small at less than 5 millimeters (mm) wide. But to an insect, microplastics might be the same size as the food they usually eat. Researchers reporting in the journal Environmental Science & Technology have shown that crickets can and will consume polyethylene microplastics if their mouth is larger than the plastic particle. The study suggests that crickets—and likely many other insects—cannot distinguish plastic from food.

"Tiny Fiddler crabs are hoovering up and breaking down microplastics, study finds"
#Crabs #Plastic #Plastics #Microplastics

Fiddler crabs are hoovering up and breaking down microplastics - study
Despite being the size of a Post-It note, these tiny fiddler crabs can ingest and break down microplastic particles, researchers say.

"One-Third of Pacific Island Fish Contaminated With Microplastics"
#Microplastics #Plastic #Plastics #Fish

One-Third of Pacific Island Fish Contaminated With Microplastics - Inside Climate News
From the coral-covered coastlines of Tonga to the remote sandy atolls of Tuvalu, microscopic synthetic fibers are infiltrating the region’s species and food systems. One-third of fish living in Pacific island waters—like Fiji’s thumbprint emperor or Vanuatu’s dash-and-dot goatfish—are contaminated with microplastics, according to data published Wednesday by researchers at the University of the South […]

"The Indian designers turning waste into art – and insult into pride"
#Rubbish #Waste #Plastic #Plastics

The Indian designers turning waste into art – and insult into pride
Persecuted craftspeople in Mumbai are transforming old tyres into sustainable accessories beloved by celebrities