Quick Dips
Curated topical articles on the Blue Economy

The war on plastics, 2022: A change of climate

Joel Makower, GreenBiz Plastics & Pollution

It wasn’t long ago that the world seemed wrapped up in plastic: outrage over plastic drinking straws and bags, mostly, but also the entire plastics and packaging industries.

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Companies race to stem flood of microplastic fibres into the oceans

Damian Carrington, The Guardian Plastics & Pollution

New products range from washing machine filters and balls to fabrics made from kelp and orange peel.

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The Quest for a Disposable Mask That Won't Pollute

K Oanh Ha, Bloomberg Plastics & Pollution

Companies experiment with ways to make the plastic used in most face coverings biodegradable, so it won't threaten marine life. 

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Insight Hour: Plastics and circularity—closing the plastic loop

World Ocean Initiative, The Economist Group Plastics & Pollution

Can new technologies accelerate plastic recycling in Europe?

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Heading Towards a Global Plastic Treaty?

Planet Tracker Plastics & Pollution

A revival of calls for a global plastic treaty is encouraging. 

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Coastal species are forming colonies on plastic trash in the ocean, study finds

Adrienne Matei, The Guardian Plastics & Pollution

Termed “neopelagic communities”, these colonies are thriving in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and going where the current flows.

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Plastic is Even Worse for the Environment than We Thought

ETH Zurich, Futurity Plastics & Pollution

Researchers have revealed that the impact of plastics on climate and health is bigger than originally thought due to the increased use of coal for process heat, electricity, and as a raw material in production.

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Recycled regatta: world heritage site highlights plastic pollution crisis

Anne Pinto-Rodrigues, The Guardian Plastics & Pollution

When environmentalists on a Seychelles atoll decided to race boats made from ocean litter, they had 500 tonnes to pick from.

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Nurdles: the worst toxic waste you’ve probably never heard of

Karen McVeigh, The Guardian Plastics & Pollution

Billions of these tiny plastic pellets are floating in the ocean, causing as much damage as oil spills, yet they are still not classified as hazardous.

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Reframing tourism to address plastic pollution

UNEP Plastics & Pollution Tourism

At the intersection of greater environmental awareness, stricter public health measures and the return of the tourism industry lies an enduring threat: plastic pollution.

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How plastic and chemical pollution contribute to the climate crisis

Clean Seas Team, Marine Conservation Society Plastics & Pollution

It's a common misconception that marine pollution and the climate crisis are completely separate issues – but they're actually fundamentally linked.

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6 reasons to blame plastic pollution for climate change

Nina Tsydenova & Pawan Patel, World Bank Blogs Plastics & Pollution

As world leaders, scientists, investors and activists gather in Glasgow for COP26, there are six facts linking the plastic lifecycle to climate change that must be taken into account.

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Nearly 29,000 Tons of COVID Plastic Now Floats in the Oceans, Study Finds

Olivia Rosane, EcoWatch Plastics & Pollution

One of the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic has been the introduction of a new type of plastic waste in the form of single-use personal protective equipment (PPE).

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Maui Launches Stainless-Steel, Zero-Waste To-Go Container Program

Tiffany Duong, EcoWatch Plastics & Pollution

HuiZero, Hawaii's first zero-waste to-go container program, has just launched at participating restaurants across the island of Maui.

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‘The cusp of a reuse revolution’: startups take the waste out of takeout

Amanda Schupak, The Guardian Plastics & Pollution

More than 70% of Americans report ordering takeout or delivery one to three times a week – resulting in hundreds of billions of single-use products.

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Plastic pollution on course to double by 2030

United Nations Plastics & Pollution

Plastic pollution in oceans and other bodies of water continues to grow sharply and could more than double by 2030, according to an assessment released on Thursday by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

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US plastics to outstrip coal’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, study finds

Maya Yang, The Guardian Plastics & Pollution

American plastics industry, described by experts as ‘the new coal’, releasing at least 232m tons of gas annually.

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Deadly ‘ghost nets’ increase in Gulf of Carpentaria despite years of clean-ups

Donna Lu, The Guardian Plastics & Pollution

Study author calls for coordinated efforts to remove discarded fishing nets before they reach threatened marine life in gulf’s ‘high biodiversity region’

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These Maldives islanders once saw sharks as the threat. Now they fear the plastic

Graeme Green, The Guardian Plastics & Pollution Tourism

Diving with tiger sharks off Fuvahmulah brought a tourist boom that has led to a destructive tide of plastic waste. But now locals are pushing back.

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This is how oil spills damage our environment

Charlotte Edmond, World Economic Forum Plastics & Pollution

Oil can kill surface-dwelling animals and birds by poisoning or suffocation, as well as affecting buoyancy and natural waterproofing.

Read more → (4 minute read)