A recent report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF) and the United Nations Environment Programme claims that the use of virgin plastic has ‘peaked’. However, this doesn’t represent the whole picture, David Burrows writes. He points to the difference between the 1.8 per cent reduction in virgin plastic observed over the past two years and […]
Read More… from Plastic packaging progress claims challenged by new data
Debate around single-use plastics tends to centre on plastic straws and bags, despite disposable nappies being one of the biggest contributors to plastic waste globally. They are typically made from a multitude of plastics, including a polyethylene waterproof back layer and a polypropylene inner layer. A baby may get through between 4,000 and 6,000 nappies […]
Read More… from Solving the plastic waste problem of nappies
COP26 deliberations came to an end recently. The wide-ranging set of decisions, resolutions and statements that constitute the outcome of the summit were the fruit of intense negotiations, strenuous formal and informal work over many months, and constant engagement both in-person and virtually for nearly two years. The package adopted, the UN says, was a […]
Read More… from COP26 finds consensus on key climate change strategies
Scientists have discovered microplastics in the blood of farm animals, including cows and pigs, for the first time, prompting concern over the material’s movement through the food chain towards humans. The research, which involved 12 cows and six pigs, was led by the Vrije University in Amsterdam. Those working on the project have warned of […]
Read More… from Microplastics found in the blood of farm animals for the first time
A report published on Tuesday (12 October) in Environmental Pollution has identified a link between phthalate exposure and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. The research states that, in a sample representative of the US population, the associated risks to mortality accrued societal costs of more than USD $39 billion per annum. The study sampled 5303 adults […]
Read More… from Study links phthalate exposure to all-cause and cardiovascular mortality
The US Environment Protection Agency recently found that recycled paper and construction materials “contained greater numbers of chemicals than virgin products”. Researchers found 733 chemicals in particular, including flame retardants, solvents, and dyes, which had a “greater occurrence in recycled compared to virgin materials”. The authors of the paper, which was published in Environmental Science […]
Read More… from Is recycling creating a toxic chemical problem?
Allowance of compostable liner bags, and in some cases compostable products, is a must for some clients of a Tennessee composter. Key has been tweaking processes and equipment to manage them successfully. In 2011, Edward Wansing launched The Compost Company in Ashland City, Tennessee, the first organics recycler in the mid-state region around Nashville. Wansing, […]
In response to an emerging need to better understand soils as key deliverers of these vital services, the make-up of the soil science research community has been transformed. Soil science has arguably shifted from a discipline largely concerned with the fundamental mechanics of soil systems (soil physics, soil biology, soil chemistry, soil hydrology, etc), to […]
Read More… from Sustainable futures over the next decade are rooted in soil science
The EU’s Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) came into force on 3 July. The guidelines can be accessed through the European Commission website. They involve important changes to labelling, to materials and products permitted to be sold on the European market. More specifically, the SUPD comprises product bans; design requirements; targets for separate plastic recycling collections; […]
Read More… from Single-Use Plastics Directive comes into force
On 31 May the EU Commission published the long awaited and delayed SUP guidelines, which aim to support Member States in the implementation of the Single-Use Plastic (SUP) Directive at national level by 3 July 2021. The EU Commission also published a Q&A on the application of SUP rules, as it can be expected that […]
Read More… from European Commission publishes new SUP guidelines