Plastic pollution
Ariel and Lenor Clean Up Their Act on Plastic Waste
P&G brands Ariel and Lenor have committed to reducing plastic packaging use across Europe by 30% before 2025. The parent company claims the amount of plastic saved by 2025 as a result of the initiative will be equivalent to a…
Ralph Lauren Unveils Polo Shirts Made from Plastic Bottles
Ralph Lauren has unveiled a new line of polo shirts made from recycled plastic bottles. The shirts are made in Taiwan, which is where the bottles are collected, and are dyed without needing to use any water. Each shirt uses…
Plastic Pollution in the World’s Oceans ‘Costs up to $2.5bn a Year’
Plastic pollution in the world’s oceans costs up to $2.5 billion (£1.9bn) a year in damaged and lost resources. That’s according to a new study published in Marine Pollution Bulletin, which suggests industries such as fishing, aquaculture and recreation, as…
The Last Straw: European Parliament Votes to Ban Single-Use Plastics
The European parliament has voted to ban single-use plastic cutlery, cotton buds, straws and stirrers as part of a sweeping law against plastic waste that despoils beaches and pollutes oceans. The vote by MEPs paves the way for a ban…
Lidl Trials Removal of 9p Plastic Bags in Wales
Lidl is trialling the removal of 9p plastic bags from 54 of its shops in Wales. The brand says it discovered the cheap reusable bags were frequently being used just once before being thrown away – to combat this, it…
Scientists Have an Inkling Squids Could Help Cut Plastic Pollution
A recently-discovered squid protein could be used to stop microplastic fibres leaking into the environment. A review published in Frontiers in Chemistry, conducted by scientists at Penn State University in US, suggests material found in the ringed teeth of a…
Banning Single-Use Plastics ‘Could Lead to Higher Carbon Emissions’
Banning single-use plastics could lead to higher carbon emissions. That’s according to a new report published by BP, which says a worldwide ban on the use of plastics for packaging and other single-use purposes from 2040 onwards would lead to…