Welcome to Higginson Strategy’s weekly round-up of international news relating to plastic pollution.
This week, a study published in Environmental International found widespread microplastics in children, drawing links between dietary patterns and the types of plastics detected. Canada has overturned a court ruling that invalidated the federal government’s classification of plastic manufactured items as toxic. The UK’s plastic recycling industry is at a critical juncture, with 23% of plastic packaging being recycled and vital infrastructure at risk. The University of Limerick combined drone-based aerial surveillance work with machine-learning algorithms to map where plastic was being littered. Meanwhile, scientists in South Australia have created a biodegradable packaging film made partly from milk protein.
Study finds widespread microplastics in children and suggests diet may shape exposure
A recent study published in the Environmental International journal analysing urine samples from more than 1,300 children found widespread microplastic exposure and intriguing links between dietary patterns and the types of plastics detected, raising new questions about how everyday food choices may shape environmental exposures early in life.
School-age children may face heightened exposure due to more varied diets and frequent contact with packaged foods. Fruits, vegetables, and milk have all been shown to contain microplastics, which may enter the gastrointestinal tract, cross biological barriers, and accumulate in tissues, raising concerns about long-term health effects.
Read more here.
Canada plastics ban survives legal challenge after appeal ruling
Canada’s Federal Court of Appeal has overturned a lower court ruling that had invalidated the federal government’s classification of plastic manufactured items as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA).
The decision keeps Canada aligned with a growing number of jurisdictions introducing single-use plastics bans or stricter plastic waste regulations. Businesses involved in plastics manufacturing, packaging, retail and recycling must continue to operate within the existing regulatory framework.
Read more here.
Action needed to safeguard UK’s plastic recycling industry, urges report
The UK’s plastic recycling industry is at a critical juncture, with 23% of plastic packaging being recycled and vital infrastructure at risk, according to a report by Ecosurety and Recoup. Key recommendations by the organisations include strengthening material verification, increasing recycled content demand, and enhancing policy support.
Without urgent intervention, UK plastic recyclers could face market collapse due to rising compliance costs and regulatory challenges.
Read more here.
Researchers have developed an app that uses drone footage to track plastic litter on beaches
The University of Limerick’s Centre for Robotics and Intelligent Systems has combined drone-based aerial surveillance work with machine-learning algorithms to map where plastic was being littered. They also created a free mobile app that provides volunteers with precise GPS coordinates for targeted clean-up.
Ireland’s 3,172 kilometres of coastline, the longest per capita in Europe, faces a deepening crisis. Their drone surveys revealed that some stretches of coast accumulate plastic at rates five to ten times higher than neighbouring areas, driven by ocean currents and river mouths. Without systematic monitoring, these hotspots go unaddressed.
Read more here.
This plastic is made from milk and it vanishes in 13 weeks
Scientists at Flinders University in South Australia have created a biodegradable packaging film made partly from milk protein. They blended calcium caseinate with starch and natural nanoclay to form a thin, durable material designed to mimic everyday plastic. In soil tests, the film fully broke down in about 13 weeks, pointing to a realistic alternative for single-use food packaging.
The goal was to produce a material that performs like conventional plastic while being far more environmentally friendly.
Read more here.