Tootfinder

"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

🧼 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.

"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

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

"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.

"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.

"Plastic washing at recycling plants can spike phthalates in wastewater, study suggests"
#Plastic #Plastics #Environment

Plastic washing at recycling plants can spike phthalates in wastewater, study suggests
Potentially harmful chemicals can contaminate untreated water used in recycling plants to clean plastics before they're processed into new products, according to a new study by an Iowa State University research group. Researchers from Iowa State's Polymer and Food Protection Consortium tested common industrial plastic-washing practices and found that some methods left the wash water with high levels of two types of phthalates—a class of widely used additives linked to cancer risks and hormone…

"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.

"The fossil fuel industry’s backup plan? Plastic."
#FossilFuels #Plastic #Plastics

The fossil fuel industry’s backup plan? Plastic.
In her new book, journalist and author Beth Gardiner explains how the industry has made plastic part of our daily lives – and what we can do about it.

"Once Dried up and Full of Plastic, Canal in India Is Now Clear and Lined with Mangroves"
#India #Environment #Plastic

Once Dried up and Full of Plastic, Canal in India Is Now Clear and Lined with Mangrove Trees
750 kilograms—almost 2,000 pounds—of trash were pulled from the canal along with heaps of invasive prosopis plants. 

"Dishwashing with side effects: Kitchen sponges release microplastics"
#Microplastics #Plastic #Plastics

Dishwashing with side effects: Kitchen sponges release microplastics
Kitchen sponges are considered a potential, yet largely understudied, source of microplastics in households. A study in Environmental Advances investigated how many microplastic particles are released from kitchen sponges during use and what environmental impacts result. The paper is titled "From sink to sea: Microplastic release from kitchen sponges and potential environmental effects."

"Penguins are ingesting worrying amounts of white plastic. Could switching colours protect them?"
#Penguins #Animals #Plastic

Penguins are attracted to harmful white plastics, study shows
Researchers set out to discover why seabirds appear to be attracted to white plastic over other colours.

"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.

"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.

"Huge amounts of nanoplastics discovered in tap and bottled water"
#Water #Plastic #Plastics #Microplastics

Huge amounts of nanoplastics discovered in tap and bottled water
The amount of nanoplastics in drinking water in the U.S. has been wildly underestimated. That’s according to a new study that found the amount of plastic in both tap and bottled water was 10-100 times higher than previous estimates. For the new study, researchers used more advanced methodology and found more plastic. “It is like […]

"Rivers and tidal currents keep 80% of microfibers from reaching oceans, study suggests"
#Plastic #Plastics #Oceans #Water

Microbes make microplastics more likely to form ice in clouds, research reveals
Tiny pieces of plastic, called microplastics, are showing up everywhere, even in the water in clouds, rain, and snow—and they may be affecting our weather and temperatures. A study published in Environmental Science & Technology and led by Hosein Foroutan, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, found that microbes living on microplastics dramatically boost their ability to trigger ice formation in clouds.

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

Even in Antarctica, Insects Are Eating Microplastics

"Seabird nests built with plastic waste off the coast of Germany: Photo of the week"
#Germany #Birds #Plastic #Plastics

Seabird nests built with plastic waste off the coast of Germany: Photo of the week
The northern gannet, a seabird that lives across the northern Atlantic Ocean, typically builds its nests from seaweed and other aquatic plants. But more recently, its nests have started to include plastic material fished from the ocean. Martin Brogger, a researcher at Argentina’s Institute of Marine Organisms Biology (IBIOMAR), photographed several gannet nests containing plastic […]