Tootfinder

"A lot of 'recycled' plastic is being burned overseas—and causing widespread pollution linked to health problems"
#Plastic #Plastics #Recycling

A lot of 'recycled' plastic is being burned overseas—and causing widespread pollution linked to health problems
Picture a pile of trash the size of Manhattan and taller than one and a half Empire State Buildings. That's how much plastic waste the world is predicted to be generating every year by 2050 if nothing is done to change course.

"Scotland’s Plastic Wet Wipes Ban is a Win for Beaches, Sewers, and Wildlife"
#Scotland #Plastics #Environment

Scotland's Plastic Wet Wipes Ban is a Win for Beaches, Sewers, and Wildlife | Happy Eco News
Scotland’s plastic wet wipes ban takes effect on August 11, 2027, outlawing the sale of wipes containing plastic fibers. The law targets marine litter, sewer blockages, and microplastic pollution, with exemptions for medical and industrial use.

"Scientists Unveil Hemp Alternative to Plastic That Can Withstand Boiling Water and Stretch to 1,600% its Size"
#Hemp #Plastics #Packaging

Scientists Unveil Hemp Alternative to Plastic That Can Withstand Boiling Water and Stretch to 1,600% its Size
A surprisingly robust, green alternative to plastic packaging was developed using the hemp plant, instead of expensive fossil fuels.

"Food and drink plastics dominate marine litter across 112 nations, research reveals"
#Plastic #Plastics #Environment

Food and drink plastics dominate marine litter across 112 nations, research reveals
Plastic food packaging, caps and lids, and plastic bottles are the planet's predominant items of marine litter, according to the world's first overview of marine litter by usage type.

"The impact of microplastics on ocean carbon uptake"
#Plastic #Plastics
https://phys.org…

The impact of microplastics on ocean carbon uptake
Marine microplastics affect algae's ability to grow and photosynthesize. Researchers have now calculated what impact this has on the greenhouse effect and the ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide.

"Phone Case Brand Designs Autonomous Floating Plastic Collection Platform to Combat Ocean Waste"
#Oceans #Plastic #Plastics

Phone Case Brand Designs Autonomous Floating Plastic Collection Platform to Combat Ocean Waste
According to a release from parent company RHINOSHIELF, the squadron of AI-driven drones identify pollution hotspots in real time.

"Mushroom slime removes up to 98.4% of microplastics from water, researchers report"
#Mushrooms #Plastics #Microplastics

Mushroom slime removes up to 98.4% of microplastics from water, researchers report
Microplastics and nanoplastics are tiny plastic particles that result from the breakdown of larger plastic products due to sunlight, waves, and other environmental conditions. In recent years, these particles have been increasingly detected in aquatic environments, raising concerns about their potential harmful effects on aquatic life and ecosystems. Even though awareness of this issue is growing, there is still no safe, practical, and established method to filter these particles from polluted …

"How microplastics hurt the hidden helpers that keep our coasts healthy"
#Plastic #Plastics #Microplastics #Environment

How microplastics hurt the hidden helpers that keep our coasts healthy
Tiny seafloor creatures play a vital role in coastal ecosystems. New research suggests microplastics may now be interfering with that balance.

"Plastic food packaging blankets the world’s coastlines, study finds"
#Plastic #Plastics #Pollution

Plastic food packaging blankets the world’s coastlines, study finds
Food packaging ranks among the top plastic pollutants littering the world’s coastlines, a new study confirms. The study, published May 20 in the journal One Earth, analyzed data from 112 nations, including 5,300 shoreline litter surveys, to produce the first global index of macroplastic pollution by usage type. Based on 355 peer-reviewed studies, it found […]

"Young inventor plans to stop 90% of floating sea plastic by 2040"
#Plastic #Plastics #Environment

Young inventor plans to stop 90% of floating sea plastic by 2040
In an era of climate anxiety, a Dutch nonprofit is developing river-based technology that could dramatically cut ocean plastic within decades

"Toward standardized microplastics monitoring in rivers"
#Plastic #Plastics #Microplastics

Toward standardized microplastics monitoring in rivers
Microplastics (MPs), defined as plastic fragments smaller than 5 mm, have become so pervasive that they are detectable in nearly every environment studied—from remote ocean trenches to urban air, tap water, and human blood. MPs are hardly uniform; they span an enormous size range. Larger fragments are visible to the naked eye, while the smallest ones have a diameter of a few micrometers. These variations in size are important, as smaller particles are far more numerous, behave differently in …

"Sri Lanka bans single-use plastic bottles at government events, charges for plastic bags"
#SriLanka #Plastic #Plastics

Sri Lanka bans single-use plastic bottles at government events, charges for plastic bags
COLOMBO — Sri Lanka banned the purchase and use of single-use plastic water bottles in all government institutions effective May 31, under a new government circular that targets reduction of wasteful plastic consumption within the state sector. The move is the latest in a long line of attempts by the island nation to reduce plastic […]

"Colored microplastics could be making global warming worse"
#Plastic #Plastics #Microplastics

Colored microplastics could be making global warming worse
There's more bad news about microplastics. We already know they pose a risk to health and can pollute ecosystems, but now researchers have discovered that tiny plastic particles drifting in Earth's atmosphere could be a significant contributor to global warming.

"Airborne Microplastics May Be Warming the Planet"
#Microplastics #Plastic #Plastics

Airborne Microplastics May Be Warming the Planet

"Shredded car plastics could reenter new vehicles, cutting emissions by up to 29%"
#Cars #Vehicles #Plastic #Plastics

Shredded car plastics could reenter new vehicles, cutting emissions by up to 29%
Each year, 4 to 6 million cars are scrapped in the EU—resulting in the loss of resources. The EU End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation is intended to ensure that these materials are recovered and reused in new vehicles in the future. Researchers at the TUM have now analyzed a process developed within the Car2Car research project that enables plastics to remain within the recycling loop. The study, published in Waste Management, shows potential climate benefits as well as the possibility of meeting …

"Researchers build a hemp plastic that rivals PET"
#Plastic #Plastics #PET #Hemp

Researchers build a hemp plastic that rivals PET | The Optimist Daily

"How the plastic bottle cap became a parable for the value of EU regulation"
#EU #EuropeanUnion #Plastic #Plastics

"We found microplastics in hedgehogs – then we traced them back to pet food"
#Hedgehogs #Animals #Plasic #Plastics

We found microplastics in hedgehogs – then we traced them back to pet food
Many hedgehogs have become reliant on human-provided food.

"Is Polyester Bad for You? The Health Risks of the World’s Most Common Fabric"
#Polyester #Plastic #Plastics #Clothes

Is Polyester Bad for You? What the Research Says (And What It Doesn't)
Is polyester bad for you? We break down the research on skin reactions, hormone disruption, cancer risk, and microplastics from the world's most common fabric.