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plastic

Chemistry

Plastic wrap made from seaweed withstands heat and is compostable

A thin material made from seaweed can handle high temperatures but only takes a few weeks to break down in a composting bin

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Common sargasso weed

Health

Ingesting microplastics may increase fat absorption by 145 per cent

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Chemistry

Recyclable plastic made from super glue could replace polystyrene

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Scientists convert Super Glue monomers into recyclable plastics
Microplastic pollution of the sea

Chemistry

Trapping powder quickly removes all microplastics from water

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Compostable plastic that has not fully disintegrated in a compost bin

Environment

Most ‘home compostable’ plastic doesn’t break down in garden bins

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Wax worm saliva breaks down plastic and could be answer to plastic wasteWax worm saliva breaks down plastic and could be answer to plastic waste

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Could wax worm saliva be the answer to plastic waste?

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A giant pile of plastic waste

Technology

Bacteria and catalysts recycle waste plastic into useful chemicals

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Polystyrene boxes

Chemistry

Simple chemistry can recycle polystyrene into more valuable products

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Study lake in Norway

Environment

Chemicals from plastic bag pollution could unbalance ecology of lakes

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Environment

Plastic litter on Australian beaches cut by 29 per cent over six years

Australia has substantially reduced plastic pollution on its beaches through local initiatives like installing more bins and community clean-up events

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A plastic bottle littering a beach in Melbourne, Australia. Sunset and horizon line in the background.

Environment

Polystyrene-eating beetle larvae could help us recycle plastics

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Chemistry

Zapping scrap plastic from cars can turn it into recyclable graphene

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Environment

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is packed with floating life

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Chemistry

Endlessly recyclable materials could fix our plastic waste crisis

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