Opinion: Plastic packaging should be simplified

Cradle to Cradle scientist Michael Braungart calls for fewer and simplified polymers to create material cycles rather than waste

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

Microplastics are ‘everywhere’

U.S. radio station WBUR summarizes challenges and issues related to microplastics pollution

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

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

France to tax non-recycled plastic packaging

French government plans to make products packaged in non-recycled plastic more expensive than those using recycled packaging

UK: Most plastic food packaging unrecyclable

UK Local Government Association finds only one third of collected plastic food packaging is recyclable, calls for better packaging design, ban on low-grade plastics, greater contribution of producers to cost of collection and disposal

Plastic pollution a risk for business

NGO ClientEarth outlines four types of material business risks faced by companies that create plastic waste, urges companies to ensure these risks are properly dealt with