Tag: plastic debris

In this video , representatives and experts from the United Nations, the WWF, the World Bank Group and the Coca Cola Company and more comment on the concrete steps we can take towards a sustainable use of the ocean.

WWF released the report "Out of the plastic trap: saving the Mediterranean from plastic pollution." In the report WWF says that plastic represents 95% of the waste floating in the Mediterranean and lying on its beaches, and presents ways to reduce plastic. Excessive plastic use and poor waste management are affecting the Mediterranean.

Laboratory analysis of water and snow samples, gathered during a recent Greenpeace expedition to the Antarctic, from January to March 2018, has revealed the presence of microplastics and persistent chemicals in the majority of samples tested. 

The short film, released by WWF Australia, focuses on a specific aspect of how plastic pollution is having a detrimental affect on the world's marine species. For endangered green sea turtle hatchlings, ocean plastics now stand in their way from reaching the ocean, making them even more vulnerable to predators.

As part of its overall efforts to combat marine litter, IMO is participating in the Ad Hoc Open Ended Expert Group on Marine Litter and Microplastics underway at the UN Environment headquarters in Nairobi, from 29 to 31 May. This group was established by the UN Environment Assembly to examine barriers to combating marine plastic.

The video, produced by National Geographic, explores one of the biggest known threats to the ocean, which is no other than plastic pollution. It is estimated that about 8 million metric tons of plastic trash enters the sea from land every year, which is the equivalent of five plastic bags filled with trash for every foot of coastline in the world. 

An innovative EU project, called 'GoJelly', is seeking to solve the micro-plastic challenge in the world's oceans by using nature itself. Researchers aim at developing a a so-called biofilter of the mucus produced by the jellyfish, which is able to adsorb both micro and nanoplastics.

The short animation film, produced by TED-Ed, explores three possible scenarios regarding the life cycle of a plastic bottle, after it is thrown away. The first scenario is of the most common ones: The plastic garbage ends up in a landfill, where its interaction with rain creates a harmful stew, called 'leachate'.

Swedish shipping company Stena Line released its yearly overview for 2017, revealing a 15% decrease in its sulphur emissions, reduced plastic onboard and a decreased number of accidents among the seagoing staff, in line with its sustainability strategy initiated in 2016.

In a bid to reduce ocean plastics pollution, ABP facilities in Hull and Goole are trialing a recycling scheme which turns waste into shampoo bottles. Recycling company TerraCycle in collaboration with Proctor and Gamble will transform the compliant materials into shampoo bottles that will go on sale at a major UK retailer later this year.