Topics
plastic waste
September 4, 2026
Principality of Monaco restricts plastic containers for ready-to-eat foods effective September 1, 2026; part of larger strategy to reduce single-use plastic waste; applies to food sold for immediate consumption or with use-by date of three days or less; exemptions include lids and closure systems, containers for fresh, cut, and unprocessed fruit, containers with internal plastic coating serving as functional layer
Reading time: 2 minutes
August 19, 2026
European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) publishes report on economic viability of chemical recycling of plastics; concludes that chemical recycling does not achieve cost parity with virgin plastics; may still play a role in supplying markets with recycled plastics considering recycled content requirements of new EU regulations on packaging and single-use plastics
Reading time: 3 minutes
July 23, 2026
US study estimates at least 5.1 billion pounds (2.3 million metric tons) of post-consumer plastic recovered for recycling in 2024; overall increase compared with 2022; growth largely driven by plastic film; plastic bottle recovery declined
Reading time: 2 minutes
December 4, 2025
"Breaking the Plastic Wave 2025” report emphasizes urgency of addressing the plastic pollution crisis; acknowledges human health impacts of chemicals when using plastic; proposes reuse as key solution to reduce virgin plastic production
Reading time: 2 minutes
November 5, 2025
In 2023, the EU generated a total of 79.7 million tonnes of packaging waste; equates to 177.8 kg per person; of which 120.0 kg were recycled; California estimates 8.5 million tonnes of single-use packaging waste in landfills; most waste in EU and California made up of paper and plastic
Reading time: 2 minutes
May 26, 2025
NGOs conduct largest citizen survey on waste in Switzerland; 11,586 people report disposing of 215,463 pieces of plastic in one week; 83% is food or beverage packaging; consumers raise concern concerns about health impacts of plastic chemicals and want companies to take more responsibility; NGOs highlight demands for action in Switzerland
Reading time: 2 minutes
September 26, 2024
Report analyzes Indian salt and sugar brands; finds microplastics in all samples; another report addresses plastic waste challenges; suggests stronger regulations and recycling and reuse efforts
Reading time: 3 minutes
