Plastic is a problem but it looks like bacteria might just save us from ourselves. Scientists have engineered a bacterial enzyme that can break down plastic bottles at record speed. It turns a process that would take hundreds of years into one that only takes a few hours.
Read MorePosts by tag: plastic pollution
LEGOs Last A Long Time In The Ocean – toy blocks can go for over 1000 years
The ocean is pretty harsh when you’re just out there, exposed to the rolling waters. So harsh in fact that it can break down plastics like LEGO bricks which are built tough. We’ve known for a while that the plastic toys could survive for a long time in the sea but scientists have recently discovered that “a long time” could be as much as 1,300 years!
Read MoreSeeing The Invisible Effects of Plastic – new equation will help determine scope of pollution
Plastic pollution is a big problem but how large of one isn’t really known. Just that it’s. . . big. New research has given scientists a way to start analyzing the size of the issue so that we can get a better handle on what types of waste are doing the most harm.
Read MorePlastic That Breaks Down In The Ocean Can Happen – but there’s a catch
Making plastic that degrade in the ocean isn’t impossible, it’s VERY doable in a number of different ways in fact! But it turns out that implementing such things in a cost effective manner is a bit beyond us at this time so lets not ignore immediate benefits of the Three R’s, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
Read MoreAre Leaves The New Plastic – viral photos show the possibilities
What are we going to do without plastic? How will we survive without single use items? Well, for some where that is already a reality, the answer is leaves. Which is something that was used before single use plastic and is making a return.
Read MorePlastic Guide – check out this info-graphic on plastic
Plastic is in everything. It’s in EVERYTHING. Look around you, just thinking about how much plastic surrounds you, how much you’re literally holding if you’re reading this on a mobile device. We can all agree that it’s not great but it’s all not created equal. Here’s a handy chart of each of the major plastic types.
Read MoreYou Eat Plastic – about a spoonful a week
Plastic is everywhere and it stands to reason that you’ve already eaten some this week. You’re probably shaking your head because you would have remembered if you swallowed plastic, right? Well surprise! It’s microplastics. They’re in they water and now they’re in you, in us, too.
Read MoreNew Bill For Environmental Protections in the UK – bill has its detractors but most agree it’s a good step
A new, expanded Environment Bill in the UK is in the works to tackle plastic waste head on. The new bill will ban the export of plastic and put nature and sustainability at the forefront of efforts to slow down the rising tide of plastic waste.
Read MorePlastic Recycling Isn’t What You Think – most ends up in landfills
It’s time to get a reality check about recycling. There’s nothing wrong about it but it’s not the cure all to the plastic problem and in fact, most plastic ends up in landfills or burnt, not made into new products. In 2020, people should strive to purchase less plastic rather than counting on recycling to fix everything.
Read MoreChina Banning Single Use Plastic – country is taking a major stand on pollution
Single use plastics are a problem when it comes to pollution. Many of them aren’t being recycled and end up back in the ecosystem where they take years upon years to breakdown and in the meantime do damage to the natural world. China is saying no more! The country has plans to ban the material nation wide.
Read MorePlastic Waste Is A Huge Problem – even with all the press, it continues to be a huge mess
It’s 2020 and we need to be really honest about something: Plastic is a huge problem. Everyone knows that the material harmful to the environment that it often finds itself in but how big of a problem is something that we’re shielded from. Plastic pollution is a massive issue that will take decades to clean up and the only way to cut down on it is to stop using it.
Read MoreOcean Cleanup Works – now on to the next steps
Good news! The Ocean Cleanup’s device meant to clean up the ocean actually works! The first of the collected garbage has been successfully hauled back to shore after its successful test run. The company’s next steps are fortifying the device to handle the real deal garbage patch and figure out what to do with all that trash, both of which are harder than they seem.
Read MorePlastiglomerates – the plastic rock
Plastic is getting everywhere. Even rocks! A new kind of stone has formed dubbed plastiglomerates and it is made from all the normal things such as minerals, sand, shells, etc all held together with a melted plastic.
Read MoreRecycled Puffer Jacket – check out this coat made from bottles
It’s getting cold out there so you may be looking for a new winter coat. How about this totally vegan puffer jacket made from recycled materials given to us by Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA. Rap music may not be what you think of when you think of saving the planet but here we are.
Read MoreThe Problem of Plastic E-Waste – surprisingly little device waste has been recycled
We’ve talked about e-waste in the past. It’s one of the modern world’s growing issues as very little of it is recycled and much of it is plastic. Moving forward, corporations need to be mindful in providing avenues in which old devices and components can be easily recycled.
Read More