Biodegradable plastics are sold as a simple fix for a world drowning in packaging, but the reality is far messier than the marketing suggests. Labels that promise bags, cups, and utensils will ...

Senior Lecturer in Sustainability and the Built Environment, University of Portsmouth Plastic pollution has emerged as one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. Over 100 million ...

In an effort to mitigate consumer confusion and help maintain the integrity of recyclable materials streams, three laws proposed in North Carolina and Alabama would require containers made from ...

Technically, it exists. But here’s what to think about when shopping. Credit...Naomi Anderson-Subryan Supported by By Hiroko Tabuchi On the face of it, biodegradable plastic is a miracle. It looks ...

Some teabags manufactured using plastic alternatives do not degrade in soil and have the potential to harm terrestrial species, a new study has shown. The research looked at commonly available teabags ...

Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily. Most plastics marketed as “home compostable” don’t actually work, with as much as 60% ...

Sustainable packaging has become a buzzword in recent years, championed by brands and consumers alike as a way to reduce environmental harm. From paper-based materials to biodegradable alternatives, ...

China’s “toughest ever” drive to reduce single-use plastics has been underway for two years. In January 2020, the country announced bans or restrictions on the production or sale of products including ...

As single-use plastics fall further out of favor among environmentally-conscious consumers and governments, many companies are turning to newer materials that they say will break down in people’s ...

A pinch of polymer-munching enzymes could make biodegradable plastic packaging and forks truly compostable. With moderate heat, enzyme-laced films of the plastic disintegrated in standard compost or ...