World Earth Day 2024: Global network presents solutions for cutting down plastic use in food chain

Slow Food Earth Markets around the world suggest steps undertaken by it to reduce plastics in their food systems

Unintended consequences: Street vendors in India struggle amid the single-use plastic ban

The sudden ban on single-use plastics has left vendors grappling to find suitable alternatives, significantly impacting their businesses

Psychology of plastic use: How marketing, packaging and product design affect customer behaviour

Sustainability-focused behavioural shift necessary to reduce consumption of plastic

Conserving Chitkul: Why the ‘last village of India’ cannot be allowed to drown in plastic

The pristine hamlet has heaps of plastic waste lurking in its inconspicuous corners

Let’s beat plastic pollution

Single-use plastics are still available; no data on how much of it a company generates

United Nations Environment Assembly 5.2: Five aspects of plastic pollution that needs focus

The 5th meeting of UNEA will be held February 28, 2022 in Nairobi, Kenya. 

Prevention, not mitigation needed to solve South Africa’s plastic problem: WWF

Interventions needed across plastic value chain rather than just waste management

Plastic recycling: What it means

What do we really mean by recycling? What happens to the waste we can’t recycle?

Nigeria’s street food adds to the plastic problem – green leaves offer a solution

Food packaging requires investment in technology and innovation. This investment is missing in Nigeria

Microplastics, an invisible danger to human health

Indians consume 11 kg of plastic products in various forms every year, according to industry estimates

Single-use plastics: A make or break ban

Plastic items difficult to collect or recycle should be eliminated from use. This is where the current ban, however limited, fits in

UNEA 5.2: Australia dumping plastic in ASEAN countries despite ending exports in 2020, shows report

Australia promoting policies driving “massive investment” in plastic waste fuel, says report

Can bioplastics save us from drowning in our own waste?

Alternatives like paper, cloth, biodegradable plastics, glass, etc have relative merits and no single alternative can be the solution to what is …

Talking trash: COP27 major sponsor Coca-Cola top plastic polluter for 5 years straight, shows report

Coca-Cola-branded waste accounted for 7.32% of all plastic waste collected globally in 2022, up from 3.6% in 2018

A month into the ban on single-use plastic, Bengaluru shops still have it

Changes like the switchover from plastic to other materials cannot be implemented in a short period of time

40% plastic waste littered on India’s streets: Javadekar in Lok Sabha

Minister also told the House that the government had no new scheme or fund allocation for recycling of plastic

10 methods companies bet on to cut single-use plastic use

Several firms claim to have either started or plan to use eco-friendly cutlery, recycled plastic, biodegradable lids and other ways firms are …

Land-based pathogens may hitch a ride on microplastics to oceans: Study

Microplastics can either float over long distances, spreading pathogens; or they can sink to oceanic depths, where filter-feeding animals reside …

UNEA 5.2: Support technological transfer for enhancing circular economy, says EU

United States, Argentina sought clarity on implementation of producer’s responsibilities

No place for toxins in circular economy

Plastic materials containing toxic chemicals should not be recycled; they should be phased out

Here are some ways to arrest cigarette butt pollution

Initiatives like product redesign, extended producer responsibility, fines, penalties and promoting non-profits for awareness programmes and …

Plastic is now in humanity’s blood

Besides research, policies and technologies, it is now a global environmental concern that demands an individual or personal effort in …

How plastic pollution affects camels in the Thar

Improved waste management and alternative systems to package and deliver goods in the region could help in managing our terrestrial solid waste …

Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (October 16, 2019)

Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal

Plastic-free planet: Negotiations on Global Plastics Treaty underway, the story so far

This meeting is the international community’s chance set the stage for negotiations on a global deal to end plastic pollution