Cradle to Cradle scientist Michael Braungart calls for fewer and simplified polymers to create material cycles rather than waste
3rd plastics update conference
Plastics Innovation Competence Centre hosts 3rd Plastics Update Conference in Fribourg, Switzerland; registration open until November 1, 2018
Plastic pollution through the food chain
HuffPost video summarizes extent of plastic pollution, effects on wildlife and humans, proposed measures against single-use plastics
Packaging industry questions EU single-use plastics directive
European Organization for Packaging and the Environment and other packaging associations comment on proposed EU directive on single-use plastics, express concern over directive’s quality and impact on internal market
UK recycling and waste management conference
Exhibition and conference on recycling and waste management to take place on September 12-13, 2018, in Birmingham, UK; focus on plastic waste problems
Soil microbes eat biodegradable plastic
Swiss and Austrian researchers show that soil microorganisms fully metabolize biodegradable polymer polybutylene adipate terephthalate; European Bioplastics deems doubts about biodegradable plastics clarified
Laser marks on German fruit and vegetables
German retailer EDEKA launches laser marks on fruit and vegetables instead of using sticker labels or plastic film
Opinion: Unlearn how to waste plastics
Article by Environmental Health News discusses increasing challenge of plastic waste driven by economic pressure and growth; recycling and bioplastics deemed ‘simple solutions’ incapable of meeting problem’s scale