The world’s first ocean cleanup system launched from San Francisco
The cleanup system is heading to a location 240 nautical miles offshore for a two-week trial before continuing its journey toward the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
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.
LEGO will stop production of plastic blocks by 2030
After 85 years of production, Lego has announced plans to make new pieces from plant-based plastic instead
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.
New Zealand to ban single-use plastic bags by next year
Single-use plastic bags are among the most common items found in coastal litter in New Zealand.
Single-use plastic bag sales in England fall 86% since 2015
Campaigners are now calling for charges on plastic bottles and disposable coffee cups in the hope of producing a similar effect.
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
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.
Seattle becomes the first major U.S. city to ban plastic straws
Seattle has become the first major city in the U.S. to ban plastic straws and utensils. Businesses that don’t comply with the ban can now face a $250 fine.
Chile set to become first American country to ban plastic bags
In a historic decision, Chile’s House of Representatives voted this Wednesday to ban the usage of plastic bags in all types of shops across the entire territory, making it the only country to prohibit them in the American continent.
Every major supermarket in Britain agrees to ban unnecessary single-use plastic packaging by 2025
The agreement, organised by Government-backed waste charity Wrap, is a world-leading collaborative effort by Britain’s biggest consumer companies to tackle the scourge of plastic waste on the environment.