How Earth's plastic pollution problem could look by 2040

Plastic flows to the world's waterbodies could double over the next two decades.

Ed Cook, Research Fellow in Circular Economy Systems, University of Leeds • conversation
July 24, 2020 ~8 min

How your car sheds microplastics into the ocean thousands of miles away

New research reveals how roads channel microplastics from car tires and brake pads to remote ocean habitats.

Claire Gwinnett, Professor in Forensic and Environmental Science, Staffordshire University • conversation
July 14, 2020 ~6 min


COVID-19 has resurrected single-use plastics – are they back to stay?

Pandemic precautions have given new life to disposable plastic products, which the industry claims are more 'hygienic' than reusables. But critics say there's no scientific evidence this is so.

Kate O'Neill, Professor, Global Environmental Politics, University of California, Berkeley • conversation
July 14, 2020 ~9 min

Microscopic animals are busy distributing microplastics throughout the world's soil

Our research on a remote Antarctic island found microplastics in the intestines of tiny animals.

Tancredi Caruso, Associate Professor, School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin • conversation
June 25, 2020 ~6 min

Plastic pollution: why chemical recycling could provide a solution

Even recycled plastics still end up in landfill with our current system.

Alvin Orbaek White, Senior Lecturer in The College of Engineering, Swansea University • conversation
April 21, 2020 ~6 min

Balloon releases have deadly consequences – we're helping citizen scientists map them

Releasing balloons at weddings and other celebrations is festive, until they break into pieces and become plastic pollution. A citizen science project is spotlighting the problem.

Shannon Brines, Applied Geographer, Lecturer and Manager, Environmental Spatial Analysis Laboratory, University of Michigan • conversation
March 18, 2020 ~8 min

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