plastics

First Comprehensive Plastics Database Tallies Staggering 16,000 Chemicals—And It’s Still IncompleteA massive new dataset highlights more than 4,200 plastic chemicals linked to health and environmental risks. But scientists say there are still large gaps in the scientific understanding of plastic ingredientsBy Katherine Bourzac Credit: Richard Drury/Getty ImagesPlastics are inescapable. That soda bottle or disposable razor or even the coating on your mattress may expose you to hundreds of different chemicals, some of which…

Skullcandy just announced new earbuds that go all-in on sustainability. The EcoBuds True Wireless earbuds are made with 65 percent certified recycled plastics and 57 percent less heavy metals than competing products. This gives the earbuds a 50 percent lower carbon footprint when compared to rival devices.The bad news? The move toward sustainability forced Skullcandy to nix the usual battery case that accompanies modern earbuds, as lithium battery packs are a To make up for the lack of a charging case, the new earbuds can…

Conceptual representation of MP particles distribution and concentration within lake sediments. Credit: Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi8136 A team of environmentalists, geographers and ecologists affiliated with several institutions in Europe has found that microplastics have migrated into multiple sediment layers in three lakes in Latvia. In their study, published in the journal Science Advances, the group…

The unique gut microbiome found within a tiny plastics-munching worm could potentially be harnessed to successfully break down problematic materials on a large scale.Zophobas atratus worms – more accurately, the larvae of the darkling beetle – are popular insect snacks in many countries where they are often bred and sold for pet reptile food. But while they're known as superworms for their protein-rich nutritional value, their true superpower may be found in the makeup of their gut bacteria. In this new study, Nanyang…

The University of Oxford proposes a plan for a sustainable plastic economy, focusing on reduced demand, renewable resources, increased recycling, and cleaner production methods. Credit: SciTechDaily.comOxford researchers outline a roadmap for a sustainable, net zero plastic economy, advocating for reduced demand, renewable raw materials, a significant increase in recycling, and integration with renewable energy.Researchers from the Oxford Martin Programme on the Future of Plastics, University of Oxford, have outlined…

While the use of recycled plastics is normally considered a noble endeavor, a new study says it's time to think twice. In an analysis of the material from more than 10 different countries, hundreds of potentially harmful chemicals were uncovered.The study, led by scientists at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, looked at recycled plastic pellets from 13 nations in Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. By using a range of chemical analysis tools, it was found that the pellets all contained a mind-boggling…

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The new Global Plastics Treaty must tackle the problem at the source, researchers say. An international negotiation meeting (INC-3) in Kenya begins on Monday, aiming to further develop a legally binding treaty on plastic pollution. Writing in the journal Science, researchers say the treaty must…

Chemists at the University of Colorado Boulder are developing the future of recycling polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a common type of plastic found in packaging and soda bottles. The method relies on electricity and chemical reactions to dissolve the plastic. The study addresses concerns about the problem of plastic waste around the world. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the total generation of municipal solid waste in 2018 was 292.4 million tons. This is approximately 23.7 million tons more than the…

CLIMATEWIRE | An international effort to rein in plastic pollution is running into resistance from China, Saudi Arabia and other nations that see a future in plastics amid declining demand for oil, gas and coal. That debate is playing out over the terms of a prospective global treaty that could set limits on plastic production and consumption. Environmentalists last year scored a landmark victory when 175 countries agreed to write a treaty designed to address the problems with plastic, which kills wildlife and…

Diplomats from 175 countries gathering in Paris for plastics treaty talks on Monday may want to pack an umbrella, but not just because there's a chance of rain.France's capital will also be showered during the five-day talks by billions of microplastic particles falling from the sky, according to the first-ever plastics pollution weather forecast.The predicted downpour will range between 40 and 48 kilograms (88 and 106 pounds) of free-floating plastic bits blanketing greater Paris every 24 hours, the scientists involved…