Caribbean island of Dominica bans plastic and Styrofoam
The island nation has announced its aim to completely ban common plastics and single-use Styrofoam cups and food containers — effective January 2019.
Ocean health
San Francisco bans plastic straws
San Francisco supervisors voted unanimously to ban restaurants, bars and retailers from selling or using on Tuesday, becoming the largest city to block establishments from giving out plastic straws
The Belize Barrier Reef – the world’s second largest coral reef – is removed from endangered list
The World Heritage Committee credited Belize’s safeguarding measures as the cause for the historic conservational victory.
Starbucks says it will stop offering plastic straws by 2020
Starbucks says it will eliminate plastic straws from its stores globally by 2020. The company becomes the largest food and beverage company to do so as calls to cut waste globally grow louder.
Hawaii legislature passes bill banning sunscreens containing chemicals that kill coral reefs
The Hawaiian state legislature just passed a bill that would ban the sale of sunscreens containing the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate. Research has shown these chemicals are toxic to coral.
Australia is investing $379 million to save the Great Barrier Reef
The landmark plan includes funds for improving water quality by reducing pollution from farm fertilizer runoff, and encourage reef restoration by experimenting with laboratory-grown coral that is more durable at higher temperatures.
Vanuatu bans non-biodegradable plastic to protect ocean life
Single-use non-biodegradable plastic, including bags and polystyrene takeaway containers, will be banned in Vanuatu from January 31, as the Government tries to control a growing plastic waste problem.
U.K. bans plastic microbeads in effort to protect marine life
Manufacturing ban means the tiny beads which harm marine life can no longer be used in cosmetics and personal care products
One of world’s largest marine parks created off coast of Easter Island
Rapa Nui protection area, about same size as Chilean mainland, will protect up to 142 species, including 27 threatened with extinction.
Nine of the world’s largest fisheries pledge to eradicate overfishing
Signatories of the pact include Maruha Nichiro Corporation and Nippon Suisan Kaish, the two largest fishing companies by revenues, as well as the world’s two largest tuna companies and the two largest aquafeed companies.