The treaty focuses on ending plastic pollution, not eliminating the use of plastics. But some countries are more ambitious than others.

With oil production dropping, a new process that uses natural gas to create a key ingredient for plastic could help avoid shortages.

As it travels around the ocean, plastic litter can harm wildlife and marine habitats in many ways. This study highlights five key hotspots where floating plastic poses the biggest risk.

Scientists have been debating the start of the Anthropocene Epoch for 15 years. I was part of those discussions, and I agree with the vote rejecting it.

"...we can turn it into something that behaves like a hard, high-strength material or something that's quite flexible, like a rubber band."

"Understanding the shape and chemistry of the actual nanoplastics is an essential first step in determining their toxicity..."

Hermit crabs have been using plastic waste such as bottle tops as homes instead of empty snail shells.

Retail stores in Boulder, Colo., banned plastic bags and will charge 10 cents for paper bags in an effort to reduce plastic waste. But do bans and taxes like this really work?

Retail stores in Boulder, Colo., banned plastic bags and will charge 10 cents for paper bags in an effort to reduce plastic waste. But do bans and taxes like this really work?