A Running List of Action on Plastic Pollution

The world has a plastic pollution problem and it’s snowballing—but so is public awareness and action.

Each year, an estimated 18 billion pounds of plastic waste enters the world’s ocean from coastal regions. That’s about equivalent to five grocery bags of plastic trash piled up on every foot of coastline on the planet. All that plastic is causing harm to the creatures that live in the ocean,

 from coral reefs smothered in bags, to turtles gagging on straws, to whales and seabirds that starve because their bellies are so jammed with bits of plastic that there’s no room for real food.

New research is emerging apace about the possible long-term impacts of tiny pieces of plastic on the marine food chain—raising fresh questions about how it might ultimately impact human health and food security.

National geographic has also teamed up with wattpad to raise awareness of the global plastic issue through a creative storytelling challenge. We're asking people to share a story—real or fiction—inspired by this global issue. Learn more and share your story here:www.wattpad.com/user/nationalgeographic

About 40 percent of all plastic produced is used in packaging, and much of that is used only once and then discarded. Less than a fifth of all plastic is recycled, though many countries and businesses are trying innovative solutions to increase that number.

Eu parliament approves single-use plastic ban

October 26, 2018

The european parliament voted 571-53 this week to approve a measure to slash single-use plastic across the continent. The bill still needs to pass additional procedural measures before it can go into effect, but observers say its chances look good and could begin enforcement as early as 2021.

Citing a need to protect the ocean from a deluge of plastic pollution, the bill calls for a european ban on plastic cutlery and plates, cotton buds, straws, drink-stirrers, and balloon sticks, as well as reductions in other types of single-use plastics like food and beverage containers.

The bill was first proposed in may (see below). Great britain has a similar effort underway (also see below).

The list of plastic items targeted was carefully selected to include items that already have ready alternatives, supporters say. Items with less available alternatives, such as cigarette filters, are being targeted for a more gradual reduction.

Belgian mep frédérique ries, who proposed the bill, called it "a victory for our oceans, for the environment and for future generations," according to the bbc.

Consumer companies invest in waste collection

October 25, 2018

To keep plastic pollution from entering waterways, manufacturers either have to stop making it or make sure it's collected at the end of its life. But in some developing nations, that waste collection infrastructure is insufficient or nonexistent.

Circulate capital, a new york city-based investment firm started in 2018, says they have raised $90 million to invest in this issue in southeast asia, a move endorsed by conservation group the ocean conservancy. Ceo of circulate capital rob kaplan says this investment will go toward improving plastic waste collection on the ground and creating markets for collected material.

Pepsico, coca-cola, procter and gamble, danone, unilever, and dow are committed to funding the $90 million investment, and circulate capital says a deal will be inked by early 2019. The firm says they are also working on ways for medium and small companies to invest.

“while we are working hard to ensure our packaging is designed to be circular, the reality is that it cannot be reused, recycled or composted without effective waste management systems in place,” said danone's katharina stenholm in a press release. She was referring to the concept of a circular economy, in which any waste materials in an industry, such as packaging, are reincorporated into new products.

The majority of the world's ocean plastic comes from 10 rivers, eight of which are in asia, and circulate capital is working with scientific advisors, including national geographic explorer jenna jambeck, to pinpoint where their investments can be the most effective.

Plastic bottles, for example, can be collected by small local companies and sold to manufacturers to make new products. Though discarded plastic is often of lower quality, some projects already underway have proved the model can function, and circulate capital hopes its investment can lead to new innovations. (read about an effort to recycle stranded fishing nets into carpet.)

“there's no silver bullet to stop plastic pollution,” says kaplan. “we're not going to be able to recycle our way out of the problem, and we're not going to be able to reduce our way out of the problem.”

But, he hopes circulate capital's investments can serve as one piece of the puzzle. He estimates more than a billion dollars would be needed to really build out more efficient waste infrastructure in southeast asia. Circulate capital hopes to bump their commitments to at least $100 million over the next few year as a move in that direction.

Redirecting plastic streams away from the sea

October 22, 2018

Major companies have been taking steps to eliminate the amount of plastic waste they produce, but what about plastic already in rivers or on beaches that could easily enter the ocean?

That's where nextwave, a coalition founded by companies including dell and an environmental group called the lonely whale, comes in. By employing people living in coastal regions, the group collects discarded plastic within 30 miles of waterways to prevent it from making its way to the sea. So far, nextwave has focused on two types of plastic commonly found in marine environments: nylon 6 and polypropylene.

This reclaimed plastic is then shipped to manufacturers who reuse it in lieu of producing new plastic. Plastic collection sites are chosen based on where cleanup could have the biggest impact and where the plastic could more easily be taken to an existing recycling facility. These location decisions are informed by science from chemists jason lochlin and jenna jambeck, a national geographic explorer.

Today, computer company hp announced it would be joining the nextwave coalition. Since 2016, hp has been working with locals in haiti to collect a total of 550,000 pounds of plastic that the company has since used to create ink cartridges. According to a press release, hp partnered with a non-profit called the first mile coalition, aimed at improving haitian labor conditions, to create up to 600 jobs collecting plastic bottles.

Along with hp, ikea has announced that it, too, will partner with nextwave. In addition, the furniture company has committed to phasing out single-use plastics from its stores by 2020, and to designing more sustainably sourced products, including more items made with recycled plastics, by 2030.

Ten companies are now members of nextwave, and they plan to source reclaimed plastics from indonesia, chile, the philippines, cameroon, and denmark. Nextwave does not yet have numbers for how much plastic they could potentially keep out of the oceans in total, but their website highlights that their partnership with dell alone kept a total of 3 million pounds of plastic from entering the ocean over the past five years.

Correction: this story has been updated to note that hp worked with the first mile coalition in haiti and to clarify the types of plastic nextwave works with.

American airlines cuts plastic from lounges

October 19, 2018

After announcing this summer that they would ban plastic straws and stirrers on their flights (see below), american airlines now says they will phase out single-use plastic in their lounges.

The airline has lounges in the u.s. And around the world. A representative from the company says the lounges won't serve drinks with straws, and plastic won't be used for flatware. Plastic water bottles will no longer be served, and reusable bags will be given to customers taking food to-go.

Changes to the airlines' lounges are currently going into effect, and onboard straws will be eliminated by november 1. Straws will be available for those who request one, and drink stirrers will be replaced by bamboo sticks.

Cumulatively, the company says their changes will eliminate 71,000 pounds of plastic waste annually.

Foodservice companies phase out single-use plastic

October 18, 2018

Some 13,000 schools, workplaces, and venues will be plastic bag and stirrer free by 2019, thanks to a new sustainability push by foodservice company sodexo.

The company provides cafeteria-style meals and concessions to many such clients. Among them is national geographic's washington, d.c. Headquarters, where compostable utensils and plant-based menus are offered.

Sodexo follows in the footsteps of other foodservice giants, aramark and bon appétit management, which announced similar sustainability measures this past summer (see below).

In addition to bags and stirrers, sodexo plans to phase out polystyrene foam (colloquially called styrofoam) containers by 2025. Plastic straws, a controversial item, will now only be available by request, which the company hopes will cut down on customer usage.

The move, says a representative from the company, will eliminate 245 million single use items that would have otherwise been used at its locations.

The decision is being applauded by environmental groups like greenpeace and the world wildlife fund, who say that reducing consumption is a key step toward preventing plastic from entering landfills and marine environments. These non-profit groups are increasingly imploring food servers to cut back on the single-use plastic items they buy and sell to customers.

“as a company serving consumers in universities, workplaces, hospitals, schools, stadiums, and so many other venues, we understand both the potential impact we can make through a commitment to reduction and the real benefit that some of these products bring to people every day,” sodexo's vice president for corporate responsibility, ted monk, said in a press release.

President trump signs bill to clean up ocean plastics

October 12, 2018

President trump called out other nations, including china and japan, for “making our oceans into their landfills” when he signed legislation last week to improve efforts to clean up plastic trash from the world’s oceans.

“as president, i will continue to do everything i can to stop other nations from making our oceans into their landfills,” trump said at a white house signing ceremony. “that’s why i’m please—very pleased, i must say—to put my signature on this important legislation.”

The law, passed with bipartisan support, amends the national oceanic and atmospheric administration’s marine debris act and funds the program through 2022. The law fosters efforts to clean up plastic trash from the world’s oceans and encourages federal trade negotiators to prod “leaders of nations responsible for the majority of marine debris” to improve management of waste that ends up in the oceans.

Trump agreed with democratic senator sheldon whitehouse, one of the bill’s co-sponsors, that trade talks with the philippines should include plastic waste. “we’re okay with that,” he said. “i understand. A lot comes from there.”

Trump also blamed other unnamed countries that “abuse the oceans” and whose trash floats to the west coast of the united states,” creating, he said, “a very unfair situation.”

“it’s incredible. It’s incredible when you look at it,” trump said. “people don’t realize it, but all the time we’re being inundated by debris from other countries.”

Comparatively, the beaches of the united states are among the world’s cleanest. Kamilo beach in hawaii, which faces the pacific gyre, where ocean trash collects, is the exception. But most of the world’s plastic trash collects in coastal regions and on beaches in developing nations that lack adequate municipal waste collection systems.

Japan has had for years one of the world’s highest recycling rates and earlier this year, china stopped buying the world’s trash. The united states was one of the top sellers of recycled plastic to china.

The president’s full remarks are here, and the text of the save our seas act is here.

Red lobster phasing out plastic straws

October 1, 2018

The world's largest seafood restaurant company, red lobster, announced monday that it will begin only offering plastic straws upon customer request starting this november in its 700 restaurants. By 2020, the company plans to only offer a more eco-friendly alternative to plastic straws.

The company says the shift should eliminate more than 150 million plastic straws per year, with the goal of reducing the marine plastic pollution problem.

“we are proud to be the first large casual dining restaurant company to make a commitment to eliminate plastic straws from our restaurants,” kim lopdrup, ceo of red lobster, said in a statement. “this is a meaningful step in our long-standing commitment to protect and preserve the world’s oceans and marine life. We hope our work helps raise awareness around the issue of plastic straws and encourages other businesses to make similar changes.”

Red lobster says it is looking into alternatives to plastic straws that will still meet the needs of customers with disabilities. (learn more about plastic straw bans and how the travel industry is cutting back on plastic straws.)

California approves bill to limit straw use in restaurants

September 20, 2018

California has become the first state to implement a partial ban on plastic straws. Dine-in restaurants will no longer be allowed to automatically provide customers with straws. Instead, customers who need plastic straws will have to request them.

Restaurants that violate the ban will receive warnings first, and repeat offenders will be fined at a maximum of $300.

“plastic has helped advance innovation in our society, but our infatuation with single-use convenience has led to disastrous consequences. Plastics, in all forms—straws, bottles, packaging, bags, etc.—are choking the planet,” california's governor jerry brown said in a statement.

The new ban comes on the heels of previous plastic straw bans from companies and cities. Earlier this year, seattle become the first large municipality to ban plastic straws in restaurants. Large corporations like united airlines and disney have also announced this year that they intend to phase plastic straws out of their offerings to customers. Many of these businesses and cities have said they will retain a stock of plastic straws available to customers upon request.

While some environmentalists applaud the move to reduce single-use plastic—plastic that's used once and then thrown away—bans on plastic straws have been met with some controversy.

Republican lawmakers in california opposed the ban, saying it would burden small business and do little to fight the larger plastic pollution crisis. Plastic straws make up less than one percent of the plastic found at sea.

Disability advocates also say straw bans place an unfair burden on people who have conditions that don't allow them to easily drink without straws. Some alternatives like paper fall apart and metal harm the inside of a person's mouth, they say.

Although california isn't the only region moving to limit single use plastic, the state has often tried to lead the nation in environmental legislation, particularly after what gov. Brown says is a vacuum left by the trump administration's decision to leave the u.n. Paris climate agreement.

Read the brief history of how plastic straws took over the world.

Giant trash collector heads to pacific garbage patch

September 7, 2018

The campaign to rid the world’s oceans of plastic trash marks a turning point on saturday as a giant, floating trash collector steams out of san francisco on a mission to clean up the great pacific garbage patch.

Over the course of the next year, the device will undergo the ultimate tests and face some tough questions: can technology prevail over nature? Did the engineers at the ocean cleanup in the netherlands invent the first feasible method for extracting large amounts of plastic debris from the sea? Or will the wilds of the open pacific tear it to shreds, turning the cleaner itself into plastic trash? Alternately, even if a pacific storm does not devour the device, will it attract marine animals such as dolphins and turtles and fatally entangle them?

“i don’t think it’s going to work, but i hope it does,” says george leonard, the ocean conservancy’s chief scientist. “the ocean needs all the help it can get.” Read more

United airlines bans plastic straws from flights

September 7, 2018

United airlines today joined others in the travel industry by banning plastic straws and cocktail picks on their flights.

The airline will instead use a biodegradable bamboo alternative, starting in november.

Alaska and american airlines moved to ban plastic straws earlier this year, and some cities, like seattle, have outlawed their use entirely.

As one of the reasons for switching to a more sustainable form of straw, united cited this alarming fact: “because straws don’t biodegrade and are nearly impossible to recycle, it’s likely that every straw ever used still exists on our planet.”

“it's a small, but meaningful step to help minimize the impact plastic products have on our environment,” the company said in a press release.

Carsberg beer dumps plastic can rings

September 7, 2018

Danish brewer carlsberg will become the first beer producer to ditch those evil plastic multipack rings that hold beer and other cans together for holders made of recyclable glue, according to a company press release.

Carlsberg also says it will cut the amount of plastic used in its traditional can holders by 76 percent.

Here’s how the glue-packs work: a drop of super-strong, temperature-tolerant glue is stuck on the side of a can, connecting it to the can next to it. If you want a beer, snap off a can. The glue will be recycled along with the can when it’s recycled.

Carlsberg described the move as a "world first for the beer industry."