Sustainability

Among the many technologies and initiatives developed over the years to remove plastic from seas and rivers, it is now possible to take stock, that is, identify the most promising and effective solutions. To this end, we report here the analysis and results of this study published this year in the prestigious journal “Ocean and Coastal Management.” What are the main strategies for removing plastic from seas and rivers? Let’s first explore a selection of innovative strategies to eliminate the harmful presence of macro-plastics and micro-plastics from our precious water resources. Beach plastic collection Naturally, we begin with the commitment of heroic operators and volunteers who dedicate themselves to waste collection from beach to beach, including the dreaded plastic. This action frees the beaches from macro-plastics and can be done through manual methods, using bags, gloves, and rakes, or with the help of beach cleaners towed by powerful tractors. Rainwater filters These devices are used for the treatment of drainage water from impermeable surfaces, such as roads, parking lots, and roofs. These filters are designed to remove pollutants, sediments, and other substances from drainage water… Read More »Removal of Plastic from the Seas: The Best Strategies

We’ve heard it before: “This product is eco-friendly and sustainable.” But is it really? Today we’ll talk about a phenomenon that is unfortunately quite widespread, known as “greenwashing,” which can be translated into Italian as ecological washing. What is greenwashing? The term “greenwashing” refers to the practice of promoting an image of sustainability and environmental responsibility by a company or organization, even when actions and policies do not actually align with these principles. Greenwashing can be aimed simply at marketing or public relations, but in some cases, it may even attempt to mask or minimize the negative environmental impact of the activity or product. This technique is unfortunately very harmful and insidious as it particularly affects those developing sensitivity to environmental issues and may be making efforts to be more sustainable. Methods of greenwashing We are bombarded daily by media suggestions for purchases that leverage the so-called selling points or selling arguments, such as quality, price, accessibility, or even feelings and emotions like fear, revenge, joy, etc. In this mix, there are often references to environmental sustainability… who wouldn’t want to help the planet? Who… Read More »Greenwashing and how to fight it

The three Rs of sustainability refer to a popular waste management concept that stands for Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Without further ado, let’s explore them together! The concept of the three Rs was first introduced in the ’70s to promote waste reduction and resource conservation. The idea gained popularity during the wave of the environmental movement of those years and has since become a widely recognized approach. The three Rs of sustainability stand for In truth, the three Rs do not have the same priority in sustainability. It is well-known that the greatest impact is related to reducing consumption, following the logic that if plastic is not produced, it will never become a problem to deal with. Following that, there is reuse, which extends the useful life of plastic, maximizing the cost-benefit balance from a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) perspective. Finally, recycling is the last resort to revalue waste and prevent it from ending up in landfills. But what does it mean in practice for plastic? Since we are focusing on the realm of plastic in this space, let’s now delve into the meaning of… Read More »The “three Rs” to help the planet

The term bioplastic is currently one of those that generates a bit of confusion, and rightly so, since different concepts are encompassed by the same term. Let’s explore them together! According to European Bioplastics, the European association representing the industry, bioplastics are those: Attention! Biodegradable plastics are not necessarily bio-based, and bio-based plastics are not necessarily biodegradable! To clarify, we have created the following chart. Another point of view Assobioplastiche, the Italian association of the biodegradable and compostable materials sector, has a different school of thought and suggests not using the term bioplastics to refer to bio-based plastics, which will instead be called plant-based plastics. According to Assobioplastiche’s definition, bioplastics are only those that are biodegradable and compostable, whether of biological or fossil origin. To further complicate matters, as already seen in other articles from the Plastic Observatory, the biodegradability and compostability of plastic should not be confused because they refer to two related but not exactly the same properties. In short, for a material to be defined as biodegradable and compostable, it must meet different requirements than those for biodegradability alone. To be compostable… Read More »Bioplastics

It sounds like the title of a fantasy book, but unfortunately, it’s all too real: the plastic island (or Great Pacific Garbage Patch) is an area where plastic and other waste accumulate in the Pacific Ocean. Let’s be clear, the plastic island is not a real island with defined borders and solid, walkable ground. That’s why it was long thought to be a myth or fake news. To get closer to reality, we must think of it as a large soup of floating debris. Some larger, others microscopic, these remains stay on the surface or in the first meters of the water column, being tossed around by currents and wind. Having no natural borders, it’s not easy to determine how large the island is: depending on the pollution threshold chosen as a criterion, it ranges from 700,000 km2 to over 10 million km2, i.e., between 0.2% and almost 3% of the entire water-covered surface of our planet. Seems small? 700,000 km2 is over twice the size of our country. Locating it may not be easy because it changes position and shape due to the seasonal… Read More »Plastic Garbage Island

As we saw here, the 3Rs of sustainability are an approach to waste and resource conservation based on three principles, which in order of importance and priority are REDUCTION OF CONSUMPTION, REUSE WHERE POSSIBLE, and RECYCLING OF RESIDUE. Over the years, however, we have moved from discussing the 3Rs of sustainability to debating the 5Rs, and even up to the 9Rs… but what is happening? Why are they increasing? What are the 9Rs of sustainability? The success of the 3Rs of sustainability has led over time to wondering if the original guidelines could be extended to be more detailed and complete. And voilà, here are the 9Rs of sustainability. The approach has not changed in values compared to the 3Rs, but the new perspective more reflects the problem of waste as a consequence of individual behavior and indeed invites reflection on our consumption habits. Let’s see them together now! 1. Refuse environmentally harmful products The first R, “refuse,” encourages us to be more aware of our consumption habits. By refusing to purchase or use environmentally harmful items, we reduce the demand for such products and… Read More »The Many Rs of Sustainability