Stellenbosch University has developed a process involving enzymes that can break down bioplastics
Environmental groups warn of industry obstruction in global plastic treaty negotiations
A robust treaty addressing the lifecycle of plastics is crucial to averting disaster
South Africa is a primary plastic producing country with significant imports of primary plastic for local manufacturing
New research uncovers surprising stability in plastic ingestion among seabirds on Inaccessible Island
Most foreign drink bottles are dumped from ships, but loose lids drift from South East Asia
As world leaders meet at the fourth round of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on plastics, urgent, bold steps must be taken
Nearly nine in 10 local survey participants believe global rules require a ban on unnecessary single-use plastic products most likely to become pollution
The redesigned flag aims to focus attention on the microplastic crisis affecting the remote region
Nanoplastics are the ‘spawn of microplastics that have broken down even further’, researchers said
Ninety percent of plastic is not recycled, with most dumped in nature or improperly burned
While there is broad consensus a treaty is needed, there are very different opinions about what should be in it
Developing countries, including South Africa, will argue for a financial mechanism to help them curb plastic pollution
The first study on airborne microplastics discovered that the tiny plastic particles are affecting cloud formation
This can be done by 2040 if there are changes in the market, a United Nations report has found
In 2020, a large plastic sack in the ocean became entangled on her flipper causing part of it to rot away
The first round of plastic treaty negotiations saw positive outcomes but oil producing countries, at the behest of big oil and petrochemical companies, could dominate the treaty discussions
The rescued turtles are excreting plastic, an indication that the ocean itself is sick
World leaders unanimously agreed to develop a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution by the end of 2024
The focus on waste, which is the end of the plastic life cycle, means that the root causes of plastic pollution are not addressed
Last year, leaked documents showed that the country was rejecting the proposed treaty
A United Nations meeting in Kenya is a step towards developing a legally binding global treaty that will decisively tackle plastic pollution
An international team of researchers has found plastic chemicals in seabirds, including flame retardants and UV stabilisers, as well as banned pollutants
‘If plastic were a country, it would already be the fifth-largest emitter in the world’
But conservation group questions the applicability of the US study to South Africa and says people should rather drink tap water
The durable bricks are made from 30% recycled plastic, some of which they collect from a network of 50 waste pickers
The quantity of rubbish in the sea is driving a growing alarm among countries whose economies rely on tourism
Yet plans are underway to import more plastic waste into the country and it has not signed global plastics treaty
Discarded fishing gear is the main culprit
‘Leaked environment department document is a copy and paste of plastics industry arguments’
Critics say the environment department’s argument that the treaty would be a duplication of existing agreements is flawed
NGOs are calling on the department of environment to introduce stricter measures for companies manufacturing and using plastic products