The hottest Plastics Substack posts right now

The technologies needed for a sustainable planet are already available, they just need to be deployed at scale.
Most of the crucial technologies like solar, wind, and batteries are already there, but some sectors still require more work.
We are just at the beginning of deploying sustainable technologies, and there is room for significant progress in bending the curve down further.

Big Oil companies lie about their plans to zero out greenhouse gas emissions and their efforts to address plastic waste challenges.
Despite making colossal profits, Big Oil companies like Shell, ExxonMobil, and Aramco continue to spread misinformation about their environmental impact.
Developing a circular economy, reducing plastic and private vehicle usage, and holding corporations accountable for lies about recycling and pollution can lead to significant positive changes in addressing climate crises.

PFAS chemicals are being found everywhere and pose a threat to humans and the environment.
Nanoplastics are present in bottled water and could have potential health impacts.
The decline in North America's bird population is mainly due to human-made causes like habitat loss and climate change.

Toxic forever chemicals in plastics are linked to human diseases costing $250 billion annually.
Plastics contain harmful chemicals like bisphenols and phthalates that disrupt the endocrine system.
Research shows strong evidence of the detrimental health effects of EDCs on conditions like cancer, diabetes, obesity, and reproductive disorders.

East Palestine, Ohio's environmental disaster is linked to fossil fuels and plastic production
The demand for fossil fuel-based plastics is hindering climate progress
Communities near production facilities suffer from pollution and health issues due to the plastics industry

Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Masks are made of toxic nanoplastics and were mandated by Dr. Fauci, potentially causing harm to individuals.
Plastics are synthetic and not naturally balanced like David Latimer's terrarium, leading to environmental and health hazards.
Fauci and other health leaders are accused of distorting reality and normalizing untruths, emphasizing the need for independent thinking and scrutiny.

Only 10% of plastic put in recycling bins is actually recycled.
Recycling can have high contamination rates and often leads to materials being shipped overseas or dumped in landfills.
To improve recycling, focus on reducing and reusing materials, design products for better recycling, and address the psychological aspect of recycling habits.

Transition from crude oil in the chemical industry is a complex challenge.
Plastics waste poses a significant problem that requires innovative solutions.
Start-ups in the industry face hurdles in product commercialization and regulation.

Creating biobased plastics that are both affordable and perform well is a major challenge.
Price, performance, and convincing consumers are the three main hurdles to overcome in promoting biobased plastics.
The success of biobased plastics hinges on their ability to compete with traditional plastics in terms of cost and performance, while also gaining consumer acceptance.

First study to find micro/nano plastics in atheroma plaque with significant link to poorer health outcomes
Plastics are pervasive and harmful, found in various body tissues and linked to health issues like cancer and premature births
Urgent need to address plastic pollution - focus on reducing single-use plastics and transitioning away from fossil fuels

Plastics in packaging contribute to plastic waste crisis.
Plastic packaging is hard to recycle due to different plastic types.
Alternatives like biodegradable materials and bio-plastics can help create a net zero world.