Plastic recycling is failing – here's how the world must respond

Making less plastic and reusing what exists should be the priority.

Stephanie Northen, Research Associate, Revolution Plastics, University of Portsmouth • conversation
May 30, 2023 • ~7 min

Biodegradable plastic in clothing doesn't break down nearly as quickly as hoped – new research

Polylactic acid – a popular bioplastic – does not readily break down when released into the ocean, and could disrupt marine ecosystems

Muhammad Ali, Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering, University of Portsmouth • conversation
May 24, 2023 • ~7 min

Reusable nappies can reduce the environmental footprint of parenting – but only if they're used with care

How to be more a more eco-friendly parent – it’s not as simple as ditching disposable nappies.

Sharon George, Research Chair, Indigenous Approaches to Environmental Management, Keele University • conversation
May 15, 2023 • ~7 min

Researchers turned superglue into a recyclable, cheap, oil-free plastic alternative

Researchers have developed a method for producing strong plastic materials by tweaking the chemical structure of superglue.

Scott Phillips, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Boise State University • conversation
March 22, 2023 • ~5 min

Seabirds that swallow ocean plastic waste have scarring in their stomachs – scientists have named this disease 'plasticosis'

Many marine animals, birds and fish are ingesting plastic. New research identifies the first named health effect from it.

Matthew Savoca, Postdoctoral researcher, Stanford University • conversation
March 21, 2023 • ~9 min

My art uses plastic recovered from beaches around the world to understand how our consumer society is transforming the ocean

Pam Longobardi collects and documents ocean plastic waste and transforms it into public art and photography. Her work makes statements about consumption, globalism and conservation.

Pam Longobardi, Regents' Professor of Art and Design, Georgia State University • conversation
Feb. 14, 2023 • ~8 min

Single-use plastic bans: research shows three ways to make them effective

How to make England’s new ban a success.

Tegan Evans, PhD Candidate in Ocean Governance, University of Portsmouth • conversation
Jan. 13, 2023 • ~6 min

The plastic crisis has deep corporate roots: to protect our planet, they need to be exposed

The plastic industry uses powerful tactics to convince us it’s not that bad, but in reality many of their green solutions aren’t working.

Alice Mah, Professor of Sociology, University of Warwick • conversation
Aug. 4, 2022 • ~8 min

What is BPA and why is it in so many plastic products?

The US Environmental Protection Agency is reexamining the health effects of bisphenol A. A chemist explains why BPA is in plastics and why it’s hard to find a safe replacement.

Benjamin Elling, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Wesleyan University • conversation
June 23, 2022 • ~6 min

Decades of research document the detrimental health effects of BPA – an expert on environmental pollution and maternal health explains what it all means

Due to increasing concerns over the health hazards posed by BPA, the Food and Drug Administration plans to reevaluate the safety of the controversial chemical for use in everyday products.

Tracey Woodruff, Professor of Environmental Health, University of California, San Francisco • conversation
June 17, 2022 • ~9 min

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