Our round-up of the month’s most important stories.
Reuse schemes could help eliminate plastic pollution in 15 years, says new report
97% of packaging pollution could be stopped by 2040 with investments in reuse infrastructure and replacement of plastic with safer alternative materials, according to the Pew Foundation, whose Breaking the Plastic Wave 2025 report also predicts that if nothing is done, plastic pollution will double in the same timespan.
Nike, Lacoste and Superdry ads banned for greenwashing
The UK Advertising Standards Agency finds the brands were making exaggerated and unsubstantiated claims about the environmental benefits of their clothing in Google Ads published earlier this year.
“Upcycled” clothing worsens microplastics problem
Recycled polyester, promoted as a sustainable material by big brands like Patagonia, Zara and H&M, has been found to shed 55% more microplastic fibres than regular polyester, in lab testing carried out by Changing Markets Foundation. Its increasing use is worsening the pollution it set out to solve.
Veteran activist takes on another petrochemical chemical giant
The formidable Goldman Prize winner, Diane Wilson, has filed an intent to sue Dow for “untold quantities of plastic nurdles and other pollutants” her organisation has found leaking from its Seadrift, Texas plant into the surrounding waters and lands.
Villages around Hanoi recycle the world’s waste, but pay with their health
Excessive dumping and minimal regulations have left all residents exposed to dangerous toxins, leading to a life expectancy a full decade less than the national average in Vietnam.
Why global environment negotiations keep failing – and what we can do about it
We need to modernise a system that was built for a different era and different problems than the complex, interconnected ones we face today, says a UCL scientist in this interesting thought piece.
Lisbon to expand reusable cup scheme
The CopoMais deposit and return service piloted this year will be rolled out across the city centre in the first quarter of 2026, making Lisbon one of the first European cities to enable reuse at scale and saving millions of single-use takeaway cups.
Every month we round up the top stories from the world of plastic pollution – and the work being done to stop it. From aquatic pollution to zero waste, you’ll always be up to date with the latest research, trends and greenwashing tactics.
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