Articles on: BIOPLASTICS, and National Geographic: A RUNNING LIST OF ACTION ON PLASTIC POLLUTION. Find out how you can help reduce plastic and Styrofoam- two of the biggest polluters/poisons on the Earth. Sign two petitions (at the bottom) to save the coral reefs and Ban Plastic & Styrofoam.

For those of us who want to help our planet by reducing the threat of plastic and foam- I am sharing parts of two reports/articles;

The first one is titled: BIOPLASTICS. MADE FROM PLANTS & NATURAL MATERIALS from The Food Revolution Network
to read all of it logon to: 
https://foodrevolution.org/blog/single-use-plastics-problems/

And the second, from National Geographic is titled:  
A running list of action on plastic pollution. The world is waking up to a crisis of ocean plastic—and we're tracking the developments and solutions as they happen.
 to read all of it logon to:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/07/ocean-plastic-pollution-solutions/

1. BIOPLASTICS. MADE FROM PLANTS & NATURAL MATERIALS from The Food Revolution Network
https://foodrevolution.org/blog/single-use-plastics-problems/

It seems like plastic is almost everywhere. But it turns out to be hazardous to your health and your planet. Get the facts, and find out how you can take action to solve the plastic problem and cut back on your use of single-use plastics.

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From bags to food containers to car parts, plastic is a significant part of our day-to-day lives. Global production of plastic has been nearly doubling every decade. But experts are becoming increasingly concerned about the impact of plastic on the environment — and on human health.
How harmful is plastic? And what about plastic bans? Do they work? Or are there better ways to tackle plastic pollution?
And what can you do as an individual to protect yourself from harm and to help solve the plastic problem?

Bioplastics are made from natural sources, including vegetable fats/oils, corn starch, straw, wood chips, and even food waste.

While bioplastics are typically considered more environmentally-friendly than traditional plastics, they aren’t a catch-all solution. Many still end up in landfills, and as more come on the market, there are issues with land use, proper disposal, and toxicity.

Researchers are currently working on bioplastics that are compostable, degradable in water (should they end up in the ocean), and non-toxic. Though promising solutions are in development (such as bioplastic straws made from avocado and bioplastic coffee cups made from potato starch, corn starch, and cellulose — the main component of plant cell walls), they aren’t yet widely available.

 

How Does Plastic Harm Human Health?

Research has found that many chemicals used in plastic production can cause health problems for humans.
Many plastics, for example, contain a chemical called bisphenol A, or BPA.When BPA is used in food or beverage containers, not all of the chemical gets sealed into the product. Some of it leaches out — especially when exposed to heat or sunlight. The primary source of human exposure to BPA is through packaged foods and drinks.
BPA is a known hormone disruptor and strongly linked to a number of diseases, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, cancer, infertility, low sperm count, liver problems, and ADHD.

 

What About BPA-Free Plastics?

As news started coming out about the dangers of BPA, many manufacturers began phasing this nasty chemical out of their products. At first, that seemed like a good thing.
But when the National Institutes of Health funded research on BPA-free plastics, researchers found that “almost all” commercially available plastics that were tested leached synthetic estrogens — even when the plastics weren’t exposed to conditions known to unlock potentially harmful chemicals, such as the heat of a microwave oven, the steam of a dishwasher, or the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
According to this NIH-funded study, some BPA-free plastic products released synthetic estrogens that were even more potent than BPA.
The bottom line: BPA plastics are dangerous to your health. And it seems likely that most BPA-free plastics offer little, if any, improvement.

 

And the second one- from National Geographic is titled:  
A running list of action on plastic pollution. The world is waking up to a crisis of ocean plastic—and we're tracking the developments and solutions as they happen.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/07/ocean-plastic-pollution-solutions/
(Note, in this site can enter your email and National Geographic will send you an app that will inspire/help you in reducing plastic waste)

National Geographic magazine devoted a special cover package to plastic in June 2018, and since then, the issue has received more attention from the media, public, and politicians the world over. Here, we track some of the developments around this important issue. We will update this article periodically as news develops.

250 groups launch massive global plastic partnership

October 29, 2018

Two hundred and fifty organizations responsible for 20 percent of the plastic packaging produced around the world have committed to reducing waste and pollution.
The initiative is called the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, and it includes a diverse group of members including the city of Austin, clothing company H&M, Unilever, PespsiCo, L'Oreal, Nestle, and Coca-Cola.
The Global Commitment touts a number of high-profile partnerships. It's a collaboration with the United Nations and is being led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Other partners include the World Wide Fund for Nature, the World Economic Forum, the Consumer Goods Forum, and 40 academic institutions.
Ultimately, it's working to promote a circular economy for plastic, a concept that entails reusing or repurposing plastic instead of letting it sit in a landfill. The shift would require building or improving collection and processing facilities, and five venture capital firms have pledged $200 million toward the initiative.

Recycling used items into new products is one of the three targets set by the commitment. Corporations joining the commitment must also phase out single-use plastic packaging and ensure it can either be reused, recycled, or composted by 2025.

“While elements of the EMF Global Commitment are moving in the right direction, the problem is that companies are given the flexibility to continue prioritizing recycling over reduction and reuse,” said Ahmad Ashov from Greenpeace Indonesia in a press release. “Corporations are not required to set actual targets to reduce the total amount of single-use plastics they are churning out.”

Every 18 months, the targets will be reviewed, and participating businesses must publish data on their progress each year.

Governments that join the commitment are pledging to create policies that help support a circular economy.



1. PETITION with ChangeOrg - By Ottavio Lo Piccolo
Gov’ts Must Declare Plastic & Styrofoam Hazardous when Released in the Environment, (to be sent to US House of Representatives, Pr. Trump, $ NY State)
https://www.change.org/p/u-s-house-of-representatives-gov-ts-must-declare-plastic-hazardous-to-the-environment?recruiter=325200390&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=share_petition&recruited_by_id=54a6e9f0-1830-11e5-884c-937dd35c0cf5&utm_content=fht-14429985-en-us%3Av6
(Note, if the link doesn’t work, just copy and paste the title of the petition into the search box at www.change.org)

2. Action Alert: Petition to Help Protect Coral Reefs- SIGN THE PETITION TO SAVE THEM!  At:
 https://www.earthday.org/2019/03/15/action-alert-petition-to-help-protect-coral-reefs/

Around the world, coral reefs are in danger. These fascinating organisms, which provide habitat for thousands of other species and help support global industries with a value totaling as much as $9.9 trillion, are under attack. With their existence threatened by rising ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, chemical pollution, and damage from human contact, coral reefs need your help!
 
Here’s what you can do to help protect coral reefs. Buy and use only oxybenzone and octinoxate-free sunscreens and sign our petition urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to remove these chemicals from sunscreens. The FDA has issued a proposed rule that would update regulatory requirements for most sunscreen products in the United States and is seeking public comment until May 28, 2019.

Extended exposure to the sun’s rays can be harmful, which is why wearing sunscreen is so important. Equally as important is making sure that the sunscreens we are wearing are not harming the outdoor environment we enjoy. That is why it is essential we demand access to sunscreen that is free of the coral-killing oxybenzone and octinoxate.

The Environmental Working Group has found that both ingredients are found in nearly 65% of non-mineral sunscreens. Consumers have the right to protect themselves and their children from the sun without causing harm to the outdoor environment.
For this reason, Earth Day Network is asking you to sign this petition urging the FDA to remove oxybenzone and octinoxate from sunscreens.