The materials used by humans now weigh more than all life on Earth – here’s four graphs that reveal our staggering impact on the planet
Four graphs that show us how humanity’s impact on the planet is growing.
Primary Results
Plastic pollution: European farmland could be largest global reservoir of microplastics
Up to 42,000 tonnes a year of microplastics are removed from sewage, spread on fields as fertiliser and eventually wash back into watercourses.
Hermit crabs find new homes in plastic waste: shell shortage or clever choice?
Hermit crabs have been using plastic waste such as bottle tops as homes instead of empty snail shells.
Microscopic animals are busy distributing microplastics throughout the world’s soil
Our research on a remote Antarctic island found microplastics in the intestines of tiny animals.
Plastic crisis: divert foreign aid to dumpsites in developing countries
Cleaning up the oceans will require much better waste management in poorer countries.
Plastic pollution is a problem we still know too little about
The recent storms have transformed many of the nation’s coasts – blasting away the sand from beaches, eroding cliffs, and damaging properties. More surprising is the sudden and often dramatic appearance…
Why plastic bottles now have their caps attached
And why wildlife may be the biggest beneficiary.
Twelve ways to go plastic‑free this Christmas
The world is waking up to the plastic pollution crisis. Here’s how you can wake up on Christmas morning to a more sustainable holiday.
Plastic pollution: how chemical recycling technology could help fix it
We expect chemical recycling to complement its mechanical counterpart, especially for difficult to recycle materials.
Healthcare is still hooked on single‑use plastic PPE, but there are more sustainable options
The UK alone may use 10 million disposable items each day, though more sustainable alternatives are available.
Secondary Results
