India bans six single-use plastic products
India is set to impose a nationwide ban on plastic bags, cups and straws on Oct. 2, in its most sweeping measure yet to stamp out single-use plastics.
Plastic pollution
Plastic pollution touches every ocean, watershed, and food chain on Earth — but solutions are gaining ground. This archive tracks scientific advances, policy wins, and community-led efforts that are reducing plastic waste and cleaning up what’s already out there.
Supreme Court of Malawi bans thin plastic production
The court’s decision makes production of thin plastics under 60 microns in thickness illegal with immediate effect.
Nestle creates wrapper that degrades in the sea within six months
“We know it will degrade in a marine environment within six months, which, compared to the flow wrap that it’s currently in, it’s about 450 years.”
Maine and Vermont ban plastic bags
Governors in Vermont and Maine signed bills on the same day that will ban plastic bags in their states in 2020.
G20 agree to reduce marine plastic
The agreement promised to “promote a comprehensive life-cycle approach to urgently and effectively prevent and reduce plastic litter discharge to the oceans.”
Canada to ban single-use plastic as early as 2021
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government will ban single-use plastics, which could include bags, straws and cutlery, in Canada in 2021.
U.K. government announces ban on all plastic straws, cotton buds and drink stirrers
The ban will come into place in April 2020 and will be applied throughout towns and cities in England.
Tanzania bans the use of plastic bags
In a historic conservation move the government of the United Republic of Tanzania has announced the ban on plastic bag use beginning June 1, 2019.
187 nations signed a UN plastics waste protocol
The protocol requires countries that want to ship their waste products to other nations to first obtain the permission of the receiving nations.
Bali bans single-use plastics
Bali Governor Wayan Koster announced that the Indonesian province of Bali is officially banning single-use plastics. The country produces 3.2 million tons of plastic annually.