Plastics

Category

Global plastics treaty

The United Nations is set to approve a plan to create the world’s first ever global plastic pollution treaty, describing it as the most significant green deal since the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Member states have held talks for more than a week in Nairobi to agree the outline of a pact to rein in plastic pollution, an environmental crisis that extends from ocean trenches to mountain tops. Government officials will later today approve a resolution that lays out the...

The unseen but very real problem…Plastics!

  Plastic – a family of polymers that is cheap, lightweight, strong, durable and very versatile, making it a primary choice for a variety of applications – has for the exact become same reasons become an environmental burden and a human health concern. Up to 14 million tons of plastic waste enter the ocean every year.  It takes years….. to degrade! Here are some updates – good news of positive actions, and ‘reality checks’ from the United Kingdom. Some good...

Reducing plastic bags not enough

From shocking footage of an albatross chick killed by a plastic toothpick to images of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and recent coverage of the increase in litter left behind by visitors to the British countryside during the pandemic, there is no shortage of evidence of the harm and ugliness caused by plastic – reports The Guardian ( https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/04/the-guardian-view-on-plastics-reducing-bag-use-is-not-enough?CMP=twt_a-environment_b-gdneco ) Public awareness of the problem has grown rapidly over recent years in many countries, and led to new legislation. But while environmental organisations work hard...

Tiny, deadly! Micro plastics a very real problem!

Happy Plastic Free July! Over the past few years, marine debris, in particular larger plastic items like water bottles and straws, has received a great deal of attention, and with the help of people like you, more and more people know it is a problem! AUSMAP and many other scientists, however, see the microplastics (plastics < 5mm) as a potentially greater danger, even calling for them to be listed as a hazardous substance. Of the close to 300 recognised impacts to wildlife from marine...