The plastics waste crisis isn’t getting better. Last spring, we reported that in 2025 fish in the ocean will outweigh plastic by only three to one, and by 2050 plastic will outweigh fish entirely if something doesn’t change. Since then, studies have found microplastics ingested by deep-sea animals at 6,000 feet below sea level, microbeads in seafood we’re eating, and over 700,000 microscopic plastic fibers released with a single load of clothes washed.
So what can engineers do about this? How about reducing plastic waste by changing the way they design plastic products?
The Plasticity Forum organization takes the view that plastics pollution may be a major problem and a major challenge, but it also represents an opportunity to come up with new solutions for product design that can be used across many different industries, as well as new, more eco-friendly materials.
For example, France recently banned the sale of disposable, single-use plastic cups and plates starting in 2020, unless they are made of 50% biologically sourced materials that can be composted in a home composting unit. That’s going to require a lot of new materials, and maybe a lot more composting units. The action followed a country-wide ban in July on single-use plastic bags, which the French government estimates at 17 billion per year.
A big part of the solution can be product designers.
The European Union (EU) has taken one of the boldest steps in the fight against plastic to date. On Wednesday, legislators voted to ban a wide range of single-use items, including plastic plates, cutlery, and Q-tips, with plans to implement the policy from 2021.
Maailman yleisin roska ei häviä luonnosta koskaan – suomalaiset heittävät 4 miljardia tupakantumppia maahan joka vuosi
Tupakantumppi on muovia ja sisältää vaarallisia myrkkyjä. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-10530147
On the heels of a new study on the presence of microplastics in the environment, plastic is getting a lot of attention in the media . . . again. The New York Times, the Smithsonian magazine, Science Daily, and others were all excited to report that it’s no longer raining cats and dogs — it’s raining plastic! Utah State University Assistant Professor and environmental scientist Janice Brahney and her team used high-resolution atmospheric deposition data to detect microplastics and other particulates collected over 14 months in 11 national parks and wilderness areas. The findings were reported in the June 12 issue of Science magazine in the article, “Plastic Rain in Protected Areas of the United States.”
Miljardeja maskeja ja lisää pakkausmuovia – Kuusi syytä, miksi korona käänsi muovin kulutuksen kasvuun
Koronapandemian myötä maailman meriin päättyy entistä enemmän muovijätettä. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11375234
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14 Comments
Tomi Engdahl says:
How Engineers and Product Designers Can Help Keep Plastic Out of the Ocean
The plastics waste crisis isn’t getting any better. Engineers can help by changing how they design plastic products.
http://www.designnews.com/materials-assembly/how-engineers-and-product-designers-can-help-keep-plastic-out-ocean/163088289545506?cid=nl.x.dn14.edt.aud.dn.20161117.tst004c
The plastics waste crisis isn’t getting better. Last spring, we reported that in 2025 fish in the ocean will outweigh plastic by only three to one, and by 2050 plastic will outweigh fish entirely if something doesn’t change. Since then, studies have found microplastics ingested by deep-sea animals at 6,000 feet below sea level, microbeads in seafood we’re eating, and over 700,000 microscopic plastic fibers released with a single load of clothes washed.
So what can engineers do about this? How about reducing plastic waste by changing the way they design plastic products?
The Plasticity Forum organization takes the view that plastics pollution may be a major problem and a major challenge, but it also represents an opportunity to come up with new solutions for product design that can be used across many different industries, as well as new, more eco-friendly materials.
For example, France recently banned the sale of disposable, single-use plastic cups and plates starting in 2020, unless they are made of 50% biologically sourced materials that can be composted in a home composting unit. That’s going to require a lot of new materials, and maybe a lot more composting units. The action followed a country-wide ban in July on single-use plastic bags, which the French government estimates at 17 billion per year.
A big part of the solution can be product designers.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Cigarette butts are the single biggest source of ocean trash, according to a new report
https://www.businessinsider.com/new-study-shows-cigarettes-are-single-largest-source-of-ocean-trash-2018-9?r=US&IR=T&IR=T
Tomi Engdahl says:
An Audit Of Bengaluru’s Waste Reveals The Brands That Are Profiting Most From Plastic Pollution
http://www.earthamag.org/stories/2018/7/12/an-audit-of-bengalurus-waste-reveals-the-brands-that-are-profiting-most-from-plastic-pollution
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Has EU Voted To Ban Single-Use Plastics
https://www.iflscience.com/policy/eu-votes-to-introduce-extensive-ban-on-singleuse-plastics/
The European Union (EU) has taken one of the boldest steps in the fight against plastic to date. On Wednesday, legislators voted to ban a wide range of single-use items, including plastic plates, cutlery, and Q-tips, with plans to implement the policy from 2021.
Tomi Engdahl says:
There Is Something Even Worse Than Plastic Straws When It Comes To Ocean Waste
https://www.iflscience.com/environment/there-is-something-even-worse-than-plastic-straws-when-it-comes-to-ocean-waste/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Maailman yleisin roska ei häviä luonnosta koskaan – suomalaiset heittävät 4 miljardia tupakantumppia maahan joka vuosi
Tupakantumppi on muovia ja sisältää vaarallisia myrkkyjä.
https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-10530147
Tomi Engdahl says:
97% Of Plastic Bottles Are Recycled Under Norway’s Radical Environmental Scheme
https://www.iflscience.com/environment/97-of-plastic-bottles-are-recycled-under-norways-radical-environmental-scheme/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Cigarette butts are the ocean’s single largest source of trash
https://www.businessinsider.com/new-study-shows-cigarettes-are-single-largest-source-of-ocean-trash-2018-9?IR=T
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/12-year-old-girl-built-robot-can-find-microplastics-ocean-180970607/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/trevornace/2017/07/26/million-plastic-bottles-minute-91-not-recycled/?utm_source=FACEBOOK&utm_medium=social&utm_term=Malorie/#7f133c63292c
Tomi Engdahl says:
We’re Now At A Million Plastic Bottles Per Minute – 91% Of Which Are Not Recycled
https://www.forbes.com/sites/trevornace/2017/07/26/million-plastic-bottles-minute-91-not-recycled/?utm_source=FACEBOOK&utm_medium=social&utm_term=Malorie/#a084645292cc
Tomi Engdahl says:
It’s No Longer Raining Cats and Dogs — It’s Raining Plastic
On the heels of a new study on the presence of microplastics in the environment, plastic is getting a lot of attention in the media . . . again.
https://www.designnews.com/materials-assembly/its-no-longer-raining-cats-and-dogs-its-raining-plastic?ADTRK=InformaMarkets&elq_mid=13629&elq_cid=876648
On the heels of a new study on the presence of microplastics in the environment, plastic is getting a lot of attention in the media . . . again. The New York Times, the Smithsonian magazine, Science Daily, and others were all excited to report that it’s no longer raining cats and dogs — it’s raining plastic! Utah State University Assistant Professor and environmental scientist Janice Brahney and her team used high-resolution atmospheric deposition data to detect microplastics and other particulates collected over 14 months in 11 national parks and wilderness areas. The findings were reported in the June 12 issue of Science magazine in the article, “Plastic Rain in Protected Areas of the United States.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Miljardeja maskeja ja lisää pakkausmuovia – Kuusi syytä, miksi korona käänsi muovin kulutuksen kasvuun
Koronapandemian myötä maailman meriin päättyy entistä enemmän muovijätettä.
https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11375234
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2021/11/16/microplastics-are-everywhere-land-sea-and-air/