“Water pollution by plastics and microplastics: A review of technical solutions from source to sea,” composed of a toolkit and catalogue, has been jointly developed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

In this catalogue there are brief descriptions of technologies that can be implemented to address the contamination of water bodies by plastics and microplastics. For each technology the information provided includes a description and examples of applications, opportunities, barriers and typical costs of implementation.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation and UN Environment Programme (UNEP) have today published their second annual New Plastics Economy Global Commitment Progress report, together with detailed data on the progress of individual business and government signatories.

New WWF Plastics Facts & Futures Report highlights the need for a systemic approach to tackle plastic pollution in South Africa.

A recent study estimates that the world has produced about 8.3 billion metric tonnes of plastics between 1950 and 2015 — 80 per cent of this is plastic waste. A meagre 9 per cent of this waste has been recycled.

Prepared by the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), this report documents how corporate lobbyists have been able to influence and effectively water down the ambition of a long-expected restriction on intentionally added microplastics already at its drafting stage.

The U.S. and world are at a turning point, as COVID-19 cases continue to increase and some governments have offered nonsensical and dangerous responses to the pandemic (e.g., reopening businesses too soon, politicizing public health measures like wearing a mask).

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Food Industry Asia (FIA) released a regional survey of consumers and food and beverage businesses across South-East Asia that shows a significant disconnect between expectation and action on reducing plastic waste.