Plastic Pollution

PET bottle nanoplastics may harm gut bacteria and human cells: New study

Lab-made PET bottle nanoplastics were found to weaken probiotic bacteria and trigger stress and inflammation markers in human and blood cells, raising fresh safety questions

The world's plastic glut is set to get much worse by 2040, shows study

Global plastic pollution will hit 280 million metric tonnes per year by 2040, or a dump truck's worth every second

Covid-19 masks release microplastics and toxins, researchers warn

New research reveals that single-use face masks can release harmful micro particles and chemicals into air and water, with potential effects on human health and ecosystems

Global plastic treaty talks collapse as hardline stances stall progress

During the most recent set of talks, the US aligned itself with this second group, saying it opposed any restrictions on business and commerce

Negotiators fail to reach agreement in Geneva on plastic pollution treaty

Negotiators working on a treaty to address the global crisis of plastic pollution failed to reach an agreement in Geneva on Friday. Nations were meeting for an 11th day at the United Nations office in Geneva to try to complete a landmark treaty to end the plastic pollution crisis. They remain deadlocked over whether the treaty should reduce exponential growth of plastic production and put global, legally binding controls on toxic chemicals used to make plastics. The negotiations at the UN hub were supposed to be the last round and produce the first legally binding treaty on plastic pollution, including in the oceans. But just like at the meeting in South Korea last year, they're leaving without a treaty.

Lancet launches project to track health impact ahead of plastics treaty

An international group of researchers and experts has launched an initiative aimed at tracking health impacts due to plastics, ahead of the final negotiations before the signing of the world's first treaty on regulating the chemical substances. Titled 'The Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics', the launch accompanies the release of a 'Health Policy', which is published in 'The Lancet' journal and a review of currently available evidence on how plastics -- including microplastics and plastic chemicals -- affect human health. The team of experts, including members of the United Nations (UN)-established Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, have authored the 'Health Policy' document. The 'UN Global Plastics Treaty' is a legally binding document aimed to regulate plastics through their life cycle from production to consumption to disposal. The second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee -- titled 'INC 5.2' -- is scheduled for August 5 to 14, 20

Could your daily office chai be harming your hormones, making you sick?

Doctors warn that chai in polythene or substandard plastic cups may leach hormone-disrupting chemicals, raising cancer risk over time

Why your office coffee cup and lunch box may raise heart disease risks

From coffee cups to food containers, experts explain how workplace plastic exposure raises risks of hormone disruption and cardiovascular damage

Glass bottles may have more microplastics than plastic, shows French study

A French study challenges the belief that glass bottles are safer to drink from. It found that they contain up to 50 times more microplastics than plastic or metal bottles

A timely wake-up call: India must urgently address plastic pollution

Beverage firms, big users of PET bottles, are exploring the possibility of seeking legal recourse for extending the deadline, principally because of the challenges involved in the transition

World Environment Day 2025: Date, theme, history, significance & host

The UN General Assembly announced June 5 as 'Environment Day' during the Stockholm Conference in 1972. The theme of World Environment Day 2025 is 'Putting an End to Plastic Pollution'

Is plastic killing us? India tops heart deaths from toxic plastic use

A global study links common household plastics to over 100,000 heart-related deaths in India, revealing an urgent public health crisis hiding in plain sight

Delhi starts 20-day cleanliness drive, bans plastic in markets, temples

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday launched a 20-day intensive cleanliness drive across Delhi, promising a visible transformation in public spaces under the "triple-engine" government model. She also announced a ban on the use of single-use plastics in religious places, schools, and markets. The cleanliness campaign, which begins Friday, will focus on large-scale waste segregation, removal of encroachments, and strict daily monitoring. "Civic officials will be held accountable for areas falling under their jurisdictions. No garbage, debris or encroachment will be tolerated in public places," Gupta said at a press conference. The announcement came after a high-level meeting chaired by Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena at Raj Niwas, attended by district magistrates, deputy commissioners, DCPs and senior officials from civic bodies. "All top officials, including DMs and DCPs, must visit their areas daily and submit compliance reports. Cameras will monitor every corner of the ...

Govt aims completion of infrastructure in nine plastic parks by 2025 end

The government is aiming completion of physical infrastructure at all nine plastic parks by end of 2025, according to Chemicals and Petrochemicals Secretary Nivedita Shukla Verma. The government has so far approved a total of 10 plastic parks under a central scheme that provides funding up to 50 per cent of the project cost, capped at Rs 40 crore per park. Currently, there is a stay order on one park in Tamil Nadu by National Green Tribunal. "The parks are in different stages of development. We are pushing for the completion of the physical infrastructure. By the end of this year, we want to complete the infrastructure in all nine parks," Verma told PTI. While physical infrastructure is advancing in many parks, operationalisation remains slow. Out of nine parks, 3-4 parks are partially operational that include Tamot (Madhya Pradesh), Paradeep (Odisha) and Tinsukia (Assam), she said. While the intention is try to complete the parks at the earliest, the secretary said it has taken a

Love chewing gum? You may actually be munching microplastics, finds study

Chewing gum releases thousands of tiny plastic pieces straight into people's mouths, finds a study

No agreement yet on plastic pollution treaty; talks to resume in 2025

Negotiators working on a treaty to address the global crisis of plastic pollution for a week in South Korea won't reach an agreement and plan to resume the talks next year. They are at an impasse over whether the treaty should reduce the total plastic on Earth and put global, legally binding controls on toxic chemicals used to make plastics. The negotiations in Busan, South Korea, were supposed to be the fifth and final round to produce the first legally binding treaty on plastics pollution, including in the oceans, by the end of 2024. But with time running out early Monday, negotiators agreed to resume the talks next year. They don't yet have firm plans. More than 100 countries want the treaty to limit production as well as tackle cleanup and recycling, and many have said that is essential to address chemicals of concern. But for some plastic-producing and oil and gas countries, that crosses a red line. For any proposal to make it into the treaty, every nation must agree to it. So

Indian govt opposes regulating production of primary plastic polymers

India on Sunday said it did not support any measures to regulate the production of primary plastic polymers as it could impact the development rights of nations. This statement came as a global meeting in South Korea's Busan to finalise a legally binding treaty to combat plastic pollution ended without an agreement. At the closing plenary of the fifth meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, tasked with drafting the treaty, India said some suggestions from countries, including its own, were not reflected in the draft text. It sought assurances from the chair that countries would have the opportunity to include their views in future discussions. India's lead negotiator, Naresh Pal Gangwar, said the treaty's scope should focus solely on addressing plastic pollution and avoid overlaps with other international agreements or bodies. He requested that this clarity be reinstated in the draft text. "India would like to state its inability to support any measures to regulat

Negotiators disagree on plastic pollution pact; talks to resume next yr

Negotiators working on a treaty to address the global crisis of plastic pollution for a week in South Korea won't reach an agreement and plan to resume the talks next year. They are at an impasse over whether the treaty should reduce the total plastic on Earth and put global, legally binding controls on toxic chemicals used to make plastics. The negotiations in Busan, South Korea, were supposed to be the fifth and final round, to produce the first legally binding treaty on plastics pollution, including in the oceans, by the end of 2024. But with time running out early Monday, negotiators plan to resume the talks next year. More than 100 countries want the treaty to limit production as well as tackle cleanup and recycling, and many have said that is essential to address chemicals of concern. But for some plastic-producing and oil and gas countries, that crosses a red line. For any proposal to make it into the treaty, every nation must agree to it. Some countries sought to change the

Battle over curbing plastic output jeopardises hopes of UN treaty

The fifth and final U.N. Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meeting to yield a legally binding global treaty was set to wrap up in Busan, South Korea, on Sunday

UN plastic treaty talks aim for breakthrough ahead of Dec 1 deadline

In an attempt to speed up the process, INC Chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso is holding informal meetings on Friday to try and tackle the most divisive issues