A new Nature Food study highlights that while diverting food waste from landfills cuts climate impacts by up to 99%, it risks increasing agricultural soil contamination from microplastics due to imperfect packaging separation.
High levels of microplastics and plastic contamination were discovered in a Turkish waterway near an Adana recycling hub supplied with British waste, raising agricultural and food safety concerns.
RMIT University scientists developed a reusable magnetic material that removes over 95% of micro- and nanoplastics, heavy metals, and drug residues from water within an hour. The cost-effective technology, showing early promise against PFAS, is being tested for commercial deployment in Australia, the US, and Europe.
16-year-old Canadian student Evan Budz created an AI-powered robot turtle with 94% accuracy in detecting microplastics underwater. Inspired by snapping turtles, his invention earned him the Gordon E. Moore Award and a US$50,000 scholarship at the 2026 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Fudan University developed a hydrogenolysis method for polyolefins, which constitute over 60% of plastic waste, to convert them into C8-C16 hydrocarbons for aviation fuel under mild conditions, addressing environmental concerns.
Virginia Tech research reveals nanoplastics, tiny plastic fragments, can strengthen bacterial biofilms and activate viruses in drinking water systems. This makes harmful microbes more resistant to disinfection, posing a challenge for water treatment and public health by fostering "superbugs" and increasing maintenance complexity.
Scientists have detected nanoplastics in Antarctic soil for the first time, specifically in the McMurdo Dry Valleys. The study, published in Scientific Reports, identified fragments from tyre wear and common plastics, suggesting both local human activity and long-range atmospheric transport as sources. This discovery highlights the pervasive nature of plastic pollution, reaching even remote, pristine environments.
China's Ministry of Commerce will allow Daicel HPP Malaysia and KOLON INDUSTRIES to inherit anti-dumping duty rates for copolymer POM. The decision follows restructuring and mergers of previous entities.
Japan's food sector is experiencing severe shortages of plastic bags, trays, and gloves due to dwindling naphtha supplies from the Middle East. This has led to price hikes, customer incentives for reusable items, and government pressure.
A potential crack in a tank holding highly toxic and flammable methyl methacrylate in Garden Grove, California, may be relieving pressure and preventing an explosion. Evacuation orders remain in place for tens of thousands of residents.
A potential crack in a tank holding hazardous methyl methacrylate in Garden Grove, California, may be reducing pressure and averting an explosion, according to fire officials. Evacuation orders remain in place for tens of thousands of residents.
Physicists at the University of Liège have developed a method using 3D-printed structures to sculpt water surfaces, creating "landscapes" that can guide floating objects like microplastics for water purification or precise industrial assembly.
Authorities in Orange County, California, ordered the evacuation of 40,000 residents due to a chemical leak at a GKN Aerospace facility. A storage tank containing flammable methyl methacrylate began off-gassing, threatening a spill or explosion. Evacuation orders expanded to six cities as the situation worsened.
Scientists from China and the Netherlands have developed a corn protein-based biopolymer, dubbed 'plantymer,' using a process inspired by spider silk. This material offers a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel-based plastics, exhibiting rigidity comparable to silk and good moisture/oxygen barrier properties.
A study by Beyond Plastics tracked 53 Starbucks plastic cups labeled as 'widely recyclable' and found none reached a recycling facility, instead ending up in landfills, incinerators, or transfer stations.
Firms raising prices at fastest rate in three years, driven by soaring energy and wage bills but also extra cost of metals and plasticsBusiness live – latest updatesOil prices fall as Trump hails ‘progress’ on Iran dealAirlines and other companies are increasingly using fuel surcharges to cover soaring costs, a survey has found, in a further sign of Iran war-linked inflation hitting the economy.A poll of companies in the services sector, which includes airlines, found rising fuel prices had contributed to businesses raising prices at the fastest pace in more than three years in April. Continue reading...
Author Beth Gardiner talks about her new book, 'Plastic Inc.' and about what she learned about the relationship between oil and gas companies and the plastics industry.
A study by the University of Vienna's Department of Meteorology and Geophysics, published in Nature, has refuted the long-held belief that oceans are the primary source of airborne microplastics. Analyzing 2,782 atmospheric samples from around the world, researchers found land-based sources—particularly tyre abrasion and synthetic textile fibres—contribute approximately 20 times more microplastics to the atmosphere than ocean-based sources. The study also revealed prior models overestimated microplastic prevalence by several orders of magnitude.
China is poised to import a record 800,000 tonnes of US ethane in April, up 60% from normal levels, as petrochemical firms pivot to alternative feedstocks following Middle East conflict disruptions that have curtailed naphtha and LPG supplies. The surge comes as ethane margins outperform naphtha by roughly tenfold, with new domestic processing capacity further driving demand. The timing coincides with a planned mid-May visit by Donald Trump to Beijing where energy trade is expected to feature in discussions.
