plastic bottles
Newsletter
Credit: Jonathan Chng/Unsplash
Americans are cutting back on plastic use, survey finds
A third of U.S. adults report reducing their use of plastic products, highlighting growing concerns over plastic pollution and its environmental impact.
In short:
- The NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll reveals a trend of decreasing plastic use among Americans, with women, higher income households, and college graduates leading the charge.
- Political affiliations influence plastic usage patterns, with Democrats and independents more likely to reduce their use compared to Republicans.
- The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a temporary increase in single-use plastic consumption for some, due to health precautions.
Key quote:
"The ability to make plastics out of a renewable resource is going to be necessary at some point in the future."
— Kiersten Muenchinger, product design professor at the University of Oregon
Why this matters:
Plastic waste persistently pollutes oceans, rivers, and landscapes, harming wildlife and ecosystems. Animals can ingest or become entangled in plastic, leading to injuries, starvation, and death. Reducing plastic use can mitigate these harms and protect biodiversity. Consumers wield considerable power in the fight against plastic pollution, a pressing environmental issue that affects oceans, wildlife, and human health. By making conscious choices and adopting certain practices, individuals can significantly contribute to reducing plastic use.
Be sure to read EHN’s op-ed: “Plastic People” — A documentary that changed my view on plastics.
Keep reading...Show less
Coke is a sponsor of the COP27 climate talks. Some activists aren't happy
They cite recent report that says the company’s production of plastics is increasing.
These tiny homes are 3D printed from 100,000 recycled plastic bottles
The startup Azure Printed Homes uses a range of recycled plastic to build 180-square-foot spaces that start at just $40,000.
buck82/Flickr
Quitting single-use plastic in Japan
Japan is one of the world's biggest plastic waste producers, thanks to its love of packaging - but a week of going plastic-free in Tokyo reveals surprising solutions.
Emiliano Wip/Flickr
European food companies break their plastics promises
Two-thirds of pledges to go greener on plastic fail or are dropped, a DW investigation has found. Here's how European food and drink companies break their own commitments, and how legislation might hold them accountable.
You do know that, in most cases, bottled water is just tap water?
Even before the coronavirus blew into all our lives, bottled water was, and has been for years, the No. 1 beverage in the United States, surpassing soft drinks as the choice of increasingly health-conscious consumers.
www.nytimes.com
Facing droughts, California challenges Nestlé over water use
A draft cease-and-desist letter sent to BlueTriton — known until this month as Nestlé Waters North America — is the latest development in a yearslong battle over water resources in the San Bernardino area.
ORIGINAL REPORTING
MOST POPULAR
CLIMATE
