Sachets are a technological marvel. Flexible, light, waterproof, colourful, sterile and cheap, they’re perfect for storing and selling small amounts of food or liquid.

Most sachets are a sophisticated multi layered composite of aluminium, adhesives, and various plastics (such as PVC or polystyrene).

Multi-layering brings great properties but makes sachets almost impossible to recycle. Even if they were captured from the waste stream, very few facilities worldwide could recycle them, and fewer still could do it economically.more...

Rahul gave me a challenge – Chuck a water bottle on the ground and see how long it stays there.

So I did.

In Amritsar I kicked an empty water bottle 10 feet from me and waited. Rahul thought I might have to wait 30 minutes, but in less than five a small boy, probably around 10, with a large white plastic sack on his back came by, scooped it up and walked off.more...

Plastic waste is a problem here in the UK, but a far bigger problem in Asia where plastic capture is more sporadic. Instead of making it to landfill or incinerators (neither of which are great options) much of it gets into waterways and ultimately into the oceans.

According to research by German scientists, eight rivers in Asia are among the top ten sources of plastics pollution in the world’s oceans.more...

We know our obsession with using plastic is bad news for the planet, but there is increasing evidence of its adverse effects on our own health.

It was well known that we ingest tiny plastic particles in food and water, and inhale them, but researchers have for the first time detected microplastic in human blood.more...

The OECD (Global Plastics Outlook) has produced some shocking data on how the world is producing and wasting plastic.

Some of the key insights include:

In 2019, 6.1 million tonnes leaked into aquatic environments, of which 1.7 million tonnes went into our oceans, so now there is some 30 million tonnes of it in seas and oceans, and 109 million tonnes in rivers.more...

Our electric vans are delivering refill products to doorsteps in Brighton

Several reports over recent months have highlighted the less than stellar headway companies are making in pushing back against the ongoing use of single-use plastic and continuing build up of plastic waste.

In the autumn, a report from not-for-profit As You Sow produced its Corporate Plastic Pollution Scorecard, 2021 report. This showed that whilst companies are starting to take steps to deal with plastic pollution, only one company earned the highest grade and all companies must do significantly more to reduce, if not eliminate, the environmental and financial impact of plastic pollution. The report also noted a large increase in calls for plastic reduction goals and support for expanded manufacturer responsibility.  more...

Reports show how the use of plastics is growing, with even more plastic waste destined for landfills, incineration and oceans [Image Credit: © Google]

Unilever makes a lot of noise about the things they are doing to abate plastic waste, but their plastic usage statistics remain awful and some of its practices are being questioned [Image Credit: © Greenpeace USA]

The UK Prime Minister breaks from the Government's own messaging to pour doubt on the role recycling can play in fighting single-use plastic [Image Credit: © Wiki Commons]

Data from an October 2021 report describes plastics as representing a new climate change threat, replacing coal [Image Credit: © Beyond Plastics]

Scientists detect microplastics in human placentas