On July 31, 2023, the global organizer of Earth Day, http://www.EarthDay.org, announced https://www.earthday.org/press-release/planet-vs-plasticsglobal-theme-for-earth-day-2024/ the global theme for Earth Day 2024 is: “Planet vs. Plastics” which in intended to unite individuals and organizations “… in an unwavering commitment to call for the end of plastics for the sake of human and planetary health, demanding a 60% reduction in […]
News and Updates
Single Use Plastic – British Columbia Single-Use and Plastic Waste Prevention Regulation take effect December 20, 2023
According to a July 19, 2023 Gowling WLG article https://gowlingwlg.com/en/insights-resources/articles/2023/british-columbia-takes-action-on-plastic-waste/ “… On July 14, 2023, the Province of British Columbia published the Single-Use and Plastic Waste Prevention Regulation, which will … lead to the phasing-out of oxo-degradable plastic packaging and products, shopping bags, and food service ware and accessories in British Columbia. The publication of this regulation ends […]
Beverage Container Deposit Systems do not Cause a Decline in Beverage Sales
According to a July 19, 2023 joint Container Recycling Institute (CRI) and Reloop news release https://www.container-recycling.org/images/2023/DRS%20Impact%20on%20Beverage%20Sales%20report%20final%20for%20website.pdf “… A study released today … finds no definitive evidence that new or expanded beverage container deposit return systems (DRS, aka bottle bills) alone impact beverage sales – suggesting beverage industry concerns that deposit systems lead to sales declines […]
Reusable Plastic Food Packaging – Coca-Cola “is accelerating its test-learn-scale approach … in North America”
According to a July 13, 2023 Coca‑Cola news release https://www.coca-colacompany.com/media-center/coca-cola-north-america-ramps-up-reusable-packaging-pilots#:~:text=The%20Coca%E2%80%91Cola%20Company%20made,to%20consumers%20in%20reusable%20packaging “… The company is accelerating its test-learn-scale approach with several reusable packaging pilots in North America, including a new partnership with r.Cup – which replaces single-use cups with its end-to-end reusable cup solutions to large-scale sports and entertainment venues, cinemas, festivals and events … Once binned and […]
Use of Plastic Waste in Infrastructure
According to a July 18, 2023 National Academies news release about a report issued that day https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2023/07/u-s-should-expand-and-standardize-plastics-collection-and-recycling-study-potential-uses-in-infrastructure-says-new-report EPA and DoT should “… explore new applications for plastics waste in infrastructure … Generally, plastic collection, recycling, and reuse is hindered by the large number of types and formulations of plastics; the high cost and complexity of […]
Micro and Nano Plastic Particles – Removal from Water by Aquatic Plants Studied
According to the abstract of an August 15, 2023 Water Research article https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2023.120249 by researchers with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Qingdao University in China, Institute of Environmental Sciences in the Netherlands and University of Potsdam in Germany “… our present work aimed to accurately trace the uptake and transport of […]
Plastic Waste – UN Negotiations – Nature Editorial – “researchers must play their part in designing adequate measurement, monitoring and compliance systems”
According to a July 12, 2023, Nature Editorial https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02252-x “… Plastic waste is everywhere — and countries must be held accountable for reducing it … As UN negotiations on eliminating plastic pollution enter a crucial phase, researchers must play their part in designing adequate measurement, monitoring and compliance systems … Plastics have infiltrated some of […]
Micro and Nano Plastic Particles – Further Research is Required to Understand how Exposure Affects the Gut Microbiome and Health
According to the executive summary of a 2023 UN Food and Agriculture Organization report, titled “The Impact of Microplastics on the Gut Microbiome and Health – A Food Safety Perspective” https://www.fao.org/3/cc5294en/cc5294en.pdf “… Microplastics … and nanoplastics … are ubiquitous contaminants of emerging interest due to their potential effects on the environment, animals and human health. […]
Single Use Plastic – Pineapple Stem Starch Film Studied as a Substitute
According to the abstract of an April 24, 2023 Membranes article https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13050458 by researchers with Mahidol University in Thailand and others “… biodegradable starch film was developed from pineapple stem waste as a substitute for non-biodegradable petroleum-based films for single-use applications where strength is not too demanding. High amylose starch from a pineapple stem was […]
Copolyester-Hemp Blends Studied as Replacement for Plastic Packaging
According to the abstract of an April 14, 2023 Journal of Polymer Science article https://doi.org/10.1002/pol.20230060 by researchers with Western University in Canada “… There is growing interest in biodegradable and bio-based materials that can replace conventional plastics in applications such as packaging … Described here is the preparation of a small library of copolyesters based […]