Deep Dives
Thought-provoking research providing extensive learning opportunities
Vallette, J. et al., Bennington College Plastics & Pollution
As of 2020, the U.S. plastics industry is responsible for at least 232 million tons of CO2e gas emissions per year. This amount is equivalent to the average emissions from 116 average-sized (500-megawatt) coal-fired power plants.
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United Nations Environment Programme Plastics & Pollution
From Pollution to Solution: A global assessment of marine litter and plastic pollution reveals the impact of marine litter and plastic pollution in the environment and their effects on the health of ecosystems, wildlife and humans.
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Tsiaras, K., et al., Frontiers in Marine Science Plastics & Pollution
The Mediterranean is considered a hot-spot for plastic pollution, due to its semi-enclosed nature and heavily populated coastal areas.
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Meys, R. et al., Science Plastics & Pollution
The great majority of plastics in current use are sourced from fossil fuels, with additional fossil fuels combusted to power their manufacture. Substantial research is focused on finding more sustainable building blocks for next-generation polymers.
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Andrew Turner, University of Plymouth Plastics & Pollution
Because paint particles consist of a resin (polymer) combined with one or more additives, they bear compositional similarities with microplastics. Despite these shared characteristics, however, paint particles are often undetected, deliberately overlooked or evade classification in the pool of micro-debris.
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Madeline C. Evans & Christopher S. Ruf, IEEE Xplore Plastics & Pollution
Most direct measurements come from plankton net trawling made in these regions; concentrations in other regions have been estimated by microplastic transport models that depend on large-scale ocean circulation patterns. However, global measurements of microplastic distribution and its temporal variability are lacking.
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Quartinello, F. et al., Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology Plastics & Pollution
Microorganisms, like bacteria and fungi, are becoming an emerging resource for the development of eco-sustainable plastic degradation and recycling processes.
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Bellou, N. et al., Nature Sustainability Plastics & Pollution
Marine litter is one of the most relevant pollution problems that our oceans are facing today. Marine litter in our oceans is a major threat to a sustainable planet.
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Audrey Nakagawa, EcoWatch Plastics & Pollution
Ocean bound plastic is plastic waste that is headed toward our oceans.
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Dickson, B. et al., UNEP Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports Tourism
To launch the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, UNEP has released this synthesis report as a call to action for anyone and everyone to join the #GenerationRestoration movement to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems worldwide.
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Tim Lydon, The Revelator Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports
A rise in container-ship accidents adds to the growing marine plastic pollution problem and poses risks to ocean health, wildlife and mariners.
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XiaoZhi Lim, Nature Plastics & Pollution
Scientists are rushing to study the tiny plastic specks that are in marine animals — and in us.
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Ian Kane & Andrea Fildani, Geology Plastics & Pollution
A new focus article in the May issue of Geology summarizes research on plastic waste in marine and sedimentary environments.
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Meijer, L.J.J. et al, Science Advances Plastics & Pollution
Plastic waste increasingly accumulates in the marine environment, but data on the distribution and quantification of riverine sources required for development of effective mitigation are limited.
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United Nations Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports Tourism
The Second World Ocean Assessment (WOA II) is the major output of the second cycle of the Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the States of the Marine Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects. It is the newest outcome of the only integrated assessment of the world’s ocean at the global level covering environmental, economic and social aspects.
Read more → (more than an hour read)
United Nations Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports Tourism
The Second World Ocean Assessment (WOA II) is the major output of the second cycle of the Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the States of the Marine Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects. It is the newest outcome of the only integrated assessment of the world’s ocean at the global level covering environmental, economic and social aspects.
Read more → (more than an hour read)
Ocean Conservancy Plastics & Pollution
Volunteers removed 107,219 items of personal protective equipment (PPE) from beaches and waterways worldwide in second half of 2020.
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Savoca, M.S. et al., Global Change Biology Plastics & Pollution
Plastic pollution has pervaded almost every facet of the biosphere, yet we lack an understanding of consumption risk by marine species at the global scale.
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The Circulate Initiative Plastics & Pollution
As more companies and governments make commitments to address plastic pollution, several plastic offset claims and credit schemes have emerged.
We reviewed the current landscape of standards, certifications and credit programs to assess the strengths and weaknesses of current programs and whether they are equipped to help buyers meet their impact objectives.
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Vanessa Fajans-Turner Plastics & Pollution
Plastics are the most common form of marine debris. They originate with a variety of land and ocean-based sources across industries; enter the water in many ways; and negatively impact the ocean and Great Lakes. Once in the water, plastic debris never fully biodegrades.
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