There are a number of schemes out there intended to tackle the huge problem of ocean waste, and while none claim to be a complete solution, they do promise to help in their own ways. Among them is the Seabin, a rubbish-sucking device that is now being installed commercially for the very first time.
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Objects created by 3D printers tend not to be as strong as their traditionally-constructed counterparts. Thanks to new research, however, 3D-printed items can now be made that are reportedly 275 percent stronger than would otherwise be possible.
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Having now reached the deepest parts of the ocean, the plastic pollution problem is calling for some creative solutions. An organic chemist and a sailor are trying to make plastic waste worth collecting, by turning it into a usable diesel fuel through a semi-portable reactor.
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The plastic film usually used in food packaging is difficult to recycle, and it stays in landfills for many years after disposal. Scientists from Lithuania's Kaunas University of Technology have developed a new food wrap that's not only biodegradable, but it should also keep food fresh for longer.
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Getting rid of plastic waste remains a Sisyphean task despite our best efforts to tackle the problem. But what if we could create a super-durable plastic alloy out of two of the biggest sources of packaging waste and use less oil at the same time?
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Fly ash is generated during the manufacture of paper and cardboard, along with sludge. Most of it just ends up being dumped in landfills. That could be about to change, however, as scientists have discovered that it can also be used as a raw material in plastic goods.
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When pine trees are harvested, the needles are simply discarded. Before too long, however, that may change. Scientists have recently developed a renewable plastic, made with a chemical derived from pine needles.
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A team of bioengineers from the University of Nottingham and Nile University in Egypt are developing a new substitute for conventional plastic carry bags using a material made out of shrimp shells that is not only greener, but can also extend the shelf life of foodstuffs.
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If you want longer-lasting plastic foams, the answer may lie in your skin, hair and eyes. All of those body parts get their color from a pigment known as melanin, also found in other animals. Now, scientists have determined that even a small amount of added melanin makes polyurethane much stronger.
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Wrapping food in plastic can reduce spoilage, but the packaging itself creates waste that can clog up landfills for years. Natural alternatives have been studied, and now scientists have used casein to create packaging which is degradable, edible and much better at preventing spoilage than plastic.
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