Exploring the pollution crisis threatening marine life as well as new technologies to clean up the oceans and reduce the use of plastics. https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/plastic-pollution/rss en Blue Economy Plastic Pollution Solutions Fri, 17 Aug 2018 06:00:00 +0000 Mark J. Spalding https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/community/2018/08/17/reducing-plastic-pollution-isnt-enough-to-save-the-ocean https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/community/2018/08/17/reducing-plastic-pollution-isnt-enough-to-save-the-ocean Plastic production is expected to quadruple by 2050. Mark J. Spalding, president of The Ocean Foundation, explains how fully understanding the scope of the pollution problem convinced him that current efforts are not sufficient. Plastic Pollution Mon, 06 Aug 2018 04:00:00 +0000 Erica Cirino https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/08/06/why-a-small-irish-town-is-fighting-to-stop-a-plastics-factory https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/08/06/why-a-small-irish-town-is-fighting-to-stop-a-plastics-factory Residents of Skibbereen fear the industrial facility would foul their air and water while adding to ocean plastic pollution. The plant is part of a global plastic factory-building boom driven by cheap natural gas. Blue Economy Plastic Pollution Tue, 31 Jul 2018 07:30:00 +0000 Lindsay Abrams https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/community/2018/07/31/deeply-talks-big-business-joins-fight-against-ocean-plastic-pollution https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/community/2018/07/31/deeply-talks-big-business-joins-fight-against-ocean-plastic-pollution A growing wave of multinational corporations is pledging to stop handing out single-use plastic straws. Listen to Lonely Whale’s Dune Ives discuss the global momentum against disposable plastic and efforts to create a new ocean-friendly plastic supply chain. Blue Economy Plastic Pollution Fri, 27 Jul 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Timothy Haab https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/07/27/whats-a-clean-beach-worth-to-you https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/07/27/whats-a-clean-beach-worth-to-you Timothy Haab, a professor at Ohio State University, explains how and why putting a price tag on a beach’s value encourages policymakers to value natural capital. Plastic Pollution Wed, 18 Jul 2018 08:30:00 +0000 Max Liboiron https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/07/18/the-dangers-of-using-a-broad-brush-to-discuss-marine-plastic-pollution https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/07/18/the-dangers-of-using-a-broad-brush-to-discuss-marine-plastic-pollution When glossing over who marine plastic pollution really will affect by averaging risk, we may ignore harms to vulnerable populations, says Max Liboiron, a researcher who runs the Civic Laboratory for Environmental Action Research in Canada. Governance Plastic Pollution Solutions Fri, 06 Jul 2018 08:30:00 +0000 Paul Harvey https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/community/2018/07/06/sometimes-we-really-need-single-use-plastics https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/community/2018/07/06/sometimes-we-really-need-single-use-plastics As governments around the world rightly consider bans of various kinds of disposable plastics, nuance is needed to protect crucial applications, such as in research, food aid and medicine, argues environmental science researcher Paul Harvey of Macquarie University. Blue Economy Plastic Pollution Solutions Tue, 05 Jun 2018 03:00:00 +0000 Monica Pelliccia https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/06/05/the-island-paradise-where-the-roads-are-made-of-plastic https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/06/05/the-island-paradise-where-the-roads-are-made-of-plastic Utila, a Honduran island in the Caribbean Sea, is transforming the plastic trash that washes up on its beaches into material used to build roads, an increasingly popular use for marine pollution. Governance Plastic Pollution Mon, 04 Jun 2018 03:00:00 +0000 Erica Cirino https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/06/04/ocean-advocates-take-to-the-streets-to-rally-for-marine-protection https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/06/04/ocean-advocates-take-to-the-streets-to-rally-for-marine-protection Thousands of people are expected to attend the March for the Ocean in Washington, D.C., this Saturday to draw attention to offshore drilling, plastic pollution and other issues in advance of the November election. Plastic Pollution Solutions Wed, 30 May 2018 03:00:00 +0000 Matthew O. Berger https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/05/30/banning-ocean-plastic-pollution-at-30000-feet https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/05/30/banning-ocean-plastic-pollution-at-30000-feet Put your tray tables and seat backs in an upright position and prepare to go plastic-free. Alaska Airlines becomes the first U.S. carrier to replace plastic stir straws on its flights with sustainable alternatives, as the campaign against single-use plastic grows. Blue Economy Plastic Pollution Solutions Thu, 05 Apr 2018 03:00:00 +0000 Sophie Mbugua https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/04/05/acting-local-how-a-kenyan-resort-town-in-grapples-with-marine-pollution https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/04/05/acting-local-how-a-kenyan-resort-town-in-grapples-with-marine-pollution Watamu is a popular tourist town that has had to organize a collective effort to keep its beaches and ocean clean. However, there are limits to what it can do about a global problem. Plastic Pollution Tue, 03 Apr 2018 03:00:00 +0000 Danielle Beurteaux https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/04/03/heavy-metal-the-new-toxic-danger-posed-by-ocean-plastic-trash https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/04/03/heavy-metal-the-new-toxic-danger-posed-by-ocean-plastic-trash Plastics entering coastal waters both absorb and release cadmium, lead and other toxic metals. Scientists are now trying to determine the impact of metal-contaminated plastic on marine life and ocean ecosystems. Plastic Pollution Solutions Technology Mon, 02 Apr 2018 03:00:00 +0000 Matthew O. Berger https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/04/02/tracking-ocean-plastic-pollution-from-space https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/04/02/tracking-ocean-plastic-pollution-from-space The European Space Agency is developing technology to allow satellites to identify the concentration, movement and origin of plastic debris across the world’s oceans. Governance Plastic Pollution Solutions Thu, 01 Mar 2018 08:40:00 +0000 Erica Cirino https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/03/01/hawaii-moves-toward-ban-on-ocean-polluting-takeout-food-containers https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/03/01/hawaii-moves-toward-ban-on-ocean-polluting-takeout-food-containers Last year, Maui and the Big Island banned polystyrene food containers that contribute to the islands’ coastal pollution problem. Now, Hawaii’s legislature is taking action toward the U.S.’ first statewide prohibition on foam packaging, which is toxic to marine life. Plastic Pollution Tue, 27 Feb 2018 07:20:00 +0000 Erica Cirino https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/02/27/seals-large-percentage-of-deep-sea-fish-contaminated-by-microplastics https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/02/27/seals-large-percentage-of-deep-sea-fish-contaminated-by-microplastics Scientists testing North Atlantic mesopelagic fish eaten by the ocean’s top predators found that nearly 75 percent were contaminated with microplastic fibers. Researchers have also discovered microplastics in the scat of gray seals and in the Atlantic mackerel they eat. Plastic Pollution Solutions Technology Fri, 23 Feb 2018 03:00:00 +0000 Lara Setrakian, Todd Woody https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/community/2018/02/23/message-in-a-bottle-procter-s-push-to-recycle-ocean-plastic https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/community/2018/02/23/message-in-a-bottle-procter-s-push-to-recycle-ocean-plastic Consumer products giant P&G is tackling marine pollution by creating bottles made from beach plastic and developing new technologies to reduce waste. P&G’s Virginie Helias talks about the importance of collaboration to solve the ocean plastic crisis. Plastic Pollution Tue, 13 Feb 2018 13:10:00 +0000 Erica Cirino https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/02/13/fifteen-year-study-indicates-pacific-ocean-microplastics-are-getting-worse https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/02/13/fifteen-year-study-indicates-pacific-ocean-microplastics-are-getting-worse Charles Moore, who first sailed the so-called Great Pacific Garbage Patch in 1997, has returned five times over 15 years to document the concentrations of plastic in the ocean. His results show microplastics are accumulating at a rapid rate. Arctic Plastic Pollution Mon, 12 Feb 2018 03:00:00 +0000 Yereth Rosen https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/02/12/how-microplastics-are-contaminating-seabirds-in-remote-regions-of-alaska https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/02/12/how-microplastics-are-contaminating-seabirds-in-remote-regions-of-alaska A decade of research has found that the muscles and eggs of birds in the far-flung Aleutian Islands contain endocrine-disrupting phthalates from plastics the animals have ingested, prompting Alaskan tribes to begin testing native foods for contamination. Plastic Pollution Solutions Tue, 06 Feb 2018 07:00:00 +0000 Erica Cirino https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/02/06/scientists-watch-ocean-plastic-hotspots-form-in-real-time https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/02/06/scientists-watch-ocean-plastic-hotspots-form-in-real-time Researchers tracked hundreds of buoys deployed in the Gulf of Mexico. Not only did the buoys not spread out – many concentrated into an area the size of a football stadium. The findings may help scientists pinpoint areas for plastic or oil-spill cleanup. Coral Reefs Plastic Pollution Thu, 25 Jan 2018 14:00:00 +0000 Todd Woody https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/01/25/study-ocean-plastic-trash-is-smothering-coral-reefs-spreading-disease https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2018/01/25/study-ocean-plastic-trash-is-smothering-coral-reefs-spreading-disease Scientists surveyed nearly 125,000 coral reefs in the Asia-Pacific region, finding that 11.1 billion pieces of plastic debris are entangled in corals and are drastically increasing the likelihood that they will contract deadly diseases. Governance Plastic Pollution Mon, 01 Jan 2018 03:00:00 +0000 Malcolm David Hudson https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/community/2018/01/01/will-the-world-come-together-to-end-ocean-plastic-pollution-it-depends https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/community/2018/01/01/will-the-world-come-together-to-end-ocean-plastic-pollution-it-depends The global community has solved significant environment problems, such as the ozone hole, but has fallen far short on others. When it come to plastic pollution, environmental researcher Malcolm David Hudson asks, which way will the world go? Biodiversity Blue Economy Fisheries Governance Marine Protected Areas Plastic Pollution Wed, 27 Dec 2017 03:00:00 +0000 Jessica Leber https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2017/12/27/a-deep-dive-into-the-year-in-oceans-2017 https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2017/12/27/a-deep-dive-into-the-year-in-oceans-2017 The ocean may cover more than 70 percent of the planet, but it doesn’t get covered nearly enough in the news. Oceans Deeply launched in June to help fill that gap. Catch up on our coverage during a busy year for ocean health. Plastic Pollution Solutions Wed, 20 Dec 2017 07:55:43 +0000 Todd Woody https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2017/12/20/holiday-savings-these-plastic-gifts-are-good-for-the-ocean https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2017/12/20/holiday-savings-these-plastic-gifts-are-good-for-the-ocean A growing number of companies are intercepting plastic before it enters the ocean and harms marine life, turning trash into everything from sunglasses and surfboard fins to swimwear and skateboards. Plastic Pollution Solutions Technology Tue, 19 Dec 2017 03:00:14 +0000 Rachel Cernansky https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2017/12/19/e-u-looks-to-stop-plastic-trash-before-it-pollutes-the-mediterranean https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2017/12/19/e-u-looks-to-stop-plastic-trash-before-it-pollutes-the-mediterranean The Mediterranean and Baltic Seas harbor some of the highest levels of plastic pollution in the world. A new EU-financed collaboration between universities and companies will develop technologies for wastewater treatment plants and waterways that can stop the flow. Plastic Pollution Solutions Technology Tue, 12 Dec 2017 08:37:16 +0000 Todd Woody https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2017/12/12/dell-gm-to-create-ocean-plastic-supply-chain-to-fight-marine-pollution https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2017/12/12/dell-gm-to-create-ocean-plastic-supply-chain-to-fight-marine-pollution The NextWave consortium, which includes Dell, General Motors and other corporations, aims to industrialize the use of ocean-bound plastic in manufacturing by collecting it before it reaches the sea. Governance Plastic Pollution Wed, 29 Nov 2017 03:00:38 +0000 Erica Cirino https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2017/11/29/rare-outbreak-of-bipartisanship-on-need-to-fight-ocean-pollution https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2017/11/29/rare-outbreak-of-bipartisanship-on-need-to-fight-ocean-pollution The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Save Our Seas Act to reauthorize a marine debris program and work with other nations to reduce ocean pollution. Backers hope the House will approve the legislation in 2018. Plastic Pollution Solutions Technology Tue, 21 Nov 2017 06:26:38 +0000 Todd Woody https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2017/11/21/deeply-talks-why-plastic-straws-are-key-to-fighting-ocean-pollution https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2017/11/21/deeply-talks-why-plastic-straws-are-key-to-fighting-ocean-pollution Oceans Deeply talks with experts about how the city of Seattle pioneered a ban on plastic straws, a campaign to make other cities ‘strawless’ and how straws are a gateway to changing people’s use of disposable plastics, responsible for a marine pollution crisis. Plastic Pollution Solutions Technology Wed, 01 Nov 2017 09:42:10 +0000 Todd Woody https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2017/11/01/strawless-in-seattle-how-one-city-is-tackling-ocean-plastic-pollution https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2017/11/01/strawless-in-seattle-how-one-city-is-tackling-ocean-plastic-pollution The Emerald City is eliminating millions of plastic straws thanks to a collaboration between activists, business and the maker of a marine-safe alternative to a ubiquitous product. Now the campaign is moving to other major cities. Plastic Pollution Solutions Technology Wed, 18 Oct 2017 08:17:26 +0000 Paul Tullis https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2017/10/18/designers-take-plastic-packaging-off-the-streets-and-out-of-the-ocean https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2017/10/18/designers-take-plastic-packaging-off-the-streets-and-out-of-the-ocean The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy design challenge has awarded $1 million to six innovators who are taking the plastic out of packaging and redesigning the ways people consume common products. Biodiversity Plastic Pollution Mon, 09 Oct 2017 08:54:22 +0000 Erica Cirino https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2017/10/09/report-microplastic-can-penetrate-fishs-brains-altering-behavior https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2017/10/09/report-microplastic-can-penetrate-fishs-brains-altering-behavior For the first time scientists have shown that the smallest bits of marine plastic pollution – called nanoplastic – can move up the aquatic food chain and be absorbed by predators’ brains, affecting their ability to hunt. Plastic Pollution Solutions Tue, 03 Oct 2017 02:00:59 +0000 Erica Cirino https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2017/10/03/teaching-the-next-generation-to-fight-ocean-plastic-pollution https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2017/10/03/teaching-the-next-generation-to-fight-ocean-plastic-pollution The 5 Gyres Institute’s pilot program takes high school students on ocean expeditions to show them how to collect and analyze plastic trash – with the goal of inspiring careers as scientists, policymakers and advocates.