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"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.

"Microplastics and nanoplastics in urban air originate mainly from tire abrasion, research reveals"
#Plastic #Plastics #MicroPlastics

Microplastics and nanoplastics in urban air originate mainly from tire abrasion, research reveals
Although plastic particles in the air are increasingly coming into focus, knowledge about their distribution and effects is still limited. Chemical analyses from Leipzig now provide details from Germany for the first time: Around 4% of the particulate matter consists of plastic. Around two-thirds of this comes from tire abrasion.

🧋 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.

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

🧼 New chemi-mechanical process removes pigments and restores properties in recycled plastics
https://phys.org/news/2026-01-chemi-mechanical-pigments-properties-recycled.html

New chemi-mechanical process removes pigments and restores properties in recycled plastics
Researchers in Worcester Polytechnic Institute's Department of Chemical Engineering and at the University of Akron have published research in Chemical Engineering Journal about a new technology that seeks to solve long-standing challenges in plastic recycling that limit the overwhelming majority of plastics to a single use and contribute to the accumulation of plastic waste.

"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.

"‘They pushed so many lies about recycling’: the fight to stop big oil pumping billions more into plastics"
#Plastic #Plastics #Recycling

"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.

"Biodegradable Plastics Made from Fish Waste Offer New Path to Sustainable Materials"
#Plastic #Plastics
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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.

"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.

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

"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.

"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.

😕 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.

"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%.

"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 […]

"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

"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.

"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, […]

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"Even in Antarctica, Insects Are Eating Microplastics"
#Antarctica #Microplastics #Plastic #Plastics

Even in Antarctica, Insects Are Eating Microplastics