What Do We Actually Know About the Microplastics Inside Us?

Pervasive plastic contamination and unreliable methods have clouded the science on microplastics in the human body.

Microplastic pollution can fuel rise in antibiotic resistance, studies find

Plastic pollution is among the gravest environmental crises facing humanity. Plastic production since 1950 has exceeded 8,300 million metric tons, with most plastic waste ending up in the environment, affecting wildlife, ecosystem functionality, and …

Hawaii is turning ocean plastic and fishing nets into roads

Hawaii researchers are giving old fishing nets and recycled plastic a second life by mixing them into asphalt roads.

We found microplastics in hedgehogs – then we traced them back to pet food

Many hedgehogs have become reliant on human-provided food.

Plastic food packaging blankets the world’s coastlines, study finds

Food packaging ranks among the top plastic pollutants littering the world’s coastlines, a new study confirms.

Toward standardized microplastics monitoring in rivers

Microplastics (MPs), defined as plastic fragments smaller than 5 mm, have become so pervasive that they are detectable in nearly every environment studied—from remote ocean trenches to urban air, tap water, and human blood.

Sri Lanka bans single-use plastic bottles at government events, charges for plastic bags

COLOMBO — Sri Lanka banned the purchase and use of single-use plastic water bottles in all government institutions effective May 31, under a new government circular that targets reduction of wasteful plastic consumption within the state sector.

A lot of 'recycled' plastic is being burned overseas—and causing widespread pollution linked to health problems

Picture a pile of trash the size of Manhattan and taller than one and a half Empire State Buildings. That's how much plastic waste the world is predicted to be generating every year by 2050 if nothing is done to change course.

Researchers build a hemp plastic that rivals PET | The Optimist Daily

How the plastic bottle cap became a parable for the value of EU regulation | Alberto Alemanno

Supporters of deregulation want Europe to be more like the US. But that would serve only American interests, says Alberto Alemanno, a professor of EU law

The impact of microplastics on ocean carbon uptake

Marine microplastics affect algae's ability to grow and photosynthesize. Researchers have now calculated what impact this has on the greenhouse effect and the ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide.

Phone Case Brand Designs Autonomous Floating Plastic Collection Platform to Combat Ocean Waste

According to a release from parent company RHINOSHIELF, the squadron of AI-driven drones identify pollution hotspots in real time.

Food and drink plastics dominate marine litter across 112 nations, research reveals

Plastic food packaging, caps and lids, and plastic bottles are the planet's predominant items of marine litter, according to the world's first overview of marine litter by usage type.

Shredded car plastics could reenter new vehicles, cutting emissions by up to 29%

Each year, 4 to 6 million cars are scrapped in the EU—resulting in the loss of resources. The EU End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation is intended to ensure that these materials are recovered and reused in new vehicles in the future.

Young inventor plans to stop 90% of floating sea plastic by 2040

In an era of climate anxiety, a Dutch nonprofit is developing river-based technology that could dramatically cut ocean plastic within decades

Is Polyester Bad for You? What the Research Says (And What It Doesn't)

Is polyester bad for you? We break down the research on skin reactions, hormone disruption, cancer risk, and microplastics from the world's most common fabric.

Colored microplastics could be making global warming worse

There's more bad news about microplastics. We already know they pose a risk to health and can pollute ecosystems, but now researchers have discovered that tiny plastic particles drifting in Earth's atmosphere could be a significant contributor to glo…

Airborne Microplastics May Be Warming the Planet

Scotland's Plastic Wet Wipes Ban is a Win for Beaches, Sewers, and Wildlife | Happy Eco News

Scotland’s plastic wet wipes ban takes effect on August 11, 2027, outlawing the sale of wipes containing plastic fibers. The law targets marine litter, sewer blockages, and microplastic pollution, with exemptions for medical and industrial use.

Scientists Unveil Hemp Alternative to Plastic That Can Withstand Boiling Water and Stretch to 1,600% its Size

A surprisingly robust, green alternative to plastic packaging was developed using the hemp plant, instead of expensive fossil fuels.

Mushroom slime removes up to 98.4% of microplastics from water, researchers report

Microplastics and nanoplastics are tiny plastic particles that result from the breakdown of larger plastic products due to sunlight, waves, and other environmental conditions.

How microplastics hurt the hidden helpers that keep our coasts healthy

Tiny seafloor creatures play a vital role in coastal ecosystems. New research suggests microplastics may now be interfering with that balance.

The Last Molecule Standing

How One Reservoir, One Strait, and Five Manufacturers Became the Hidden Operating System of Seven Global Industries

Dishwashing with side effects: Kitchen sponges release microplastics

Kitchen sponges are considered a potential, yet largely understudied, source of microplastics in households.

Troubled Waters: How Microplastics Are Impacting Our Oceans and Our Health - resilience

Microplastic pollution is poisoning nearly everything on the planet—from the deepest parts of the ocean to inside the cells of living beings.