plastics

Pushing out plastic in consumer-goods packaging

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Pushing out plastic in consumer-goods packaging

Cellulose fibers are being used as a sustainable packaging option for various products including foods and electronics. Retailers Carrefour and U-Group, in Belgium, France, and Luxembourg, plan to test packaging made from cellulose fibers for items like yogurts, cheeses, and juices in 30 to 60 stores by the end of the year. This initiative is part of the R3PACK project, funded by the EU, aiming to replace plastic packaging with fiber-based alternatives. The project involves food producers and packagers like Candia and Thiolat and is set to expand to thousands of stores by May 2025. Europe generates nearly 190 kilograms of packaging waste per person annually, with almost a fifth being plastic in 2021. The R3PACK team is also exploring reusable packaging options. A Swedish startup, Yangi, has developed a competitive cellulose-based packaging using a less energy- and water-intensive manufacturing process called “dry forming.” This new packaging can be recycled in existing paper-recycling systems. In December 2023, EU governments agreed to amend legislation on packaging waste to promote reuse and recyclability, aligning with the European Green Deal’s circular economy goals.

Tragic tale of Cyprus turtle

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Tragic tale of Cyprus turtle

The beaches of north Cyprus have the second worst microplastic pollution in the world. The majority of turtles born in Cyprus are female due to the sex of a turtle being determined by the warmth of its nest, with warmer beaches resulting in fewer males being hatched. Climate change has increased sea temperatures, exacerbating this issue, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean where seas are warming 20% more quickly than the global average. Conservation efforts include shading or relocating nests and incubating eggs in controlled conditions to balance the sex ratio. Microplastics raise the temperature of the sand, negatively affecting turtle hatchlings, and larger plastics pose ingestion and entanglement risks to sea creatures. Research suggests that roughly one in 10,000 turtles survive to maturity. Jessica Mills, an executive at Intrepid Travel and author, has written a children’s book to raise awareness about marine pollution and the importance of protecting sea turtles. The book, “Wendy Wanderlust Wakes Up in Cape Greco,” has sold internationally and part of its proceeds go towards turtle conservation efforts in Cyprus.

Chemicals in plastics far more numerous than previous estimates, report says

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Chemicals in plastics far more numerous than previous estimates, report says

A report found that plastics contain at least 3,000 more chemicals than previously estimated by environment agencies, totaling over 16,000 chemicals, a quarter of which are considered hazardous to human health and the environment. This discovery raises concerns over pollution and consumer safety. The report, funded by the Norwegian Research Council, highlights the importance of addressing the full life cycle of plastics and the chemicals they contain to solve plastic pollution effectively. The research indicates that plastic chemicals can leach into water and food, potentially leading to adverse health outcomes such as fertility issues and cardiovascular disease. The study also points out the need for greater transparency regarding the chemicals used in plastics, including recycled products, noting that a quarter of the identified chemicals lack basic information on their chemical identity. Only 6% of the chemicals found in plastics are regulated internationally, underscoring the need for a global treaty to address these issues. Negotiations for such a treaty are ongoing, with the aim of finalizing it by December in Busan, South Korea.