The world produces and uses at least 500 million tonnes of plastic every year. Only a fraction is recycled; the rest pollutes land, sea and sky.
The final binding negotiations of the Global Plastic Treaty, promoted by the UN General Assembly, are imminent — taking place from 25 November to 1 December in South Korea.
Also just in: in an effort to reduce environmental pollution and the build-up of plastic in the oceans, an international team of researchers has developed a type of plastic capable of decomposing in seawater.
To go deeper on both the problem and the solutions, piùblu recommends reading these two articles:
Plastic worldwide: a supply chain out of control
Pollution: The world produces and uses at least 500 million tons of plastic every year. Only a portion is recycled; the rest pollutes land, sea, and air. Will a treaty save us?
Synthesis:
Plastic pollution is one of the world’s leading environmental challenges, with impacts on ecosystems, wildlife and human health. Plastic — ubiquitous in waste, in single-use items and in longer-lasting materials — is altering the planet’s natural processes. Despite recycling systems existing, only a small fraction of the plastic produced is actually recycled, while the rest ends up in landfill, is burned or dispersed into the environment, generating an enormous negative externality. The Global Plastic Treaty, an international binding agreement, seeks to address this crisis, with final negotiations scheduled from 25 November to 1 December 2024 in South Korea.
Globally, plastic production is rising, in a sector worth 712 billion dollars. Only Europe has seen a slight production decline, but plastic is moving towards more competitive markets. The plastics industry is the primary sector of the petrochemical industry, directing a significant share of fossil fuels towards its production. Plastic is involved in almost every economic sector, with 36% of global demand concentrated in packaging.
Plastic pollution has devastating effects on all “planetary boundaries” — the thresholds beyond which the Earth’s systems can no longer guarantee safe living conditions. The risks come from multiple factors, including biodiversity loss, ocean acidification, chemical pollution and the sheer overabundance of plastic. Plastic also undermines human health by contaminating water, the food chain and the air, contributing to malnutrition-related problems.
Although the plastics industry is virtually free of international regulation, the global treaty aims to establish binding rules — including measures to limit plastic production, eliminate harmful chemicals and promote designs oriented towards reuse. The challenge is immense, but strict regulation is seen as the only way to halt the current crisis, with organisations like WWF pushing for concrete global action.
By: Marinella Correggia
Date: 21 November 2024
The new plastic that decomposes in seawater
An international team of researchers has developed a type of plastic capable of decomposing in seawater, in an effort to reduce environmental pollution and the accumulation of plastic in the oceans, according to the US academic journal Science.
The material, called “supramolecular” plastic, has similar tensile strength to petroleum-based plastics and can be processed in the same way, according to the research team, which includes members of Japan’s national research institute Riken and the University of Tokyo.
The new plastic is composed of monomers used in food additives and those created in organic materials. Mixing the agents in water produces a separation into two distinct layers, one of which can be dehydrated to obtain the eco-friendly substance, according to Takuzo Aida, director of the Center for Emergent Matter Science at the institute.
Salt water causes the material to rapidly dissociate back into its constituent monomers, with further disintegration by bacteria present in the ocean or in soil.
The material — which is also recyclable and non-flammable — is intended for use in precision machinery components and architectural adhesives, with additional applications possible if made water-repellent, the research team said.
It is believed that much of the plastic used for packaging and other purposes is accumulating in the world’s oceans because it does not naturally break down after being discarded as rubbish.
Source: kyodonews.it
Date: 21 November 2024
