Plastics

Sciences & Technology
Degradable bioplastics offer a smart solution to nitrogen pollution
Wrapping fertilisers in degradable plastics is showing promise for increasing food production while reducing pollution

Environment
Plant-based glitter outshines plastic alternatives
Glitter microplastics are commonly found in sewage sludge and wastewater, but a new sustainable glitter made from plant cellulose has been developed and has no impact on the environment

Environment
Opinion
Are cheap plastics the new tobacco?
Understanding ‘tobacco tactics’ can help fight the global plastic waste crisis, because the reality is plastic production is growing faster than we can recycle it

Environment
Under the Microscope
From diet to climate, our fertility is at risk
A childhood fascination with the family dairy farm led Associate Professor Mark Green to a career in reproductive biology

Sciences & Technology
Mimicking nature’s own plastic
Amino acid is the building block of life and researchers are aiming to use them as the basis to chemically produce compostable plastics to help address our worsening plastic waste problem

Environment
Why the plastic bag backflip is a bad idea
Supermarket Coles has backflipped on its vow to dump single-use plastic bags saying customers aren’t coping with the change to reusable bags. Six experts explain why it’s a bad idea

Sciences & Technology
Obesity link to packaging chemical
New research brings scientists a step closer to understanding how exposure of embryos to BPA, a common chemical found in plastics, could impact our health