Our round-up of the month’s most important stories.
Major win as Canada allows plastic to be legally listed as toxic
In 2021, the Canadian government included a statement in the Environmental Protection Act to recognise all manufactured plastic items as toxic. In 2023, after vociferous protests from the plastics industry, the wording was ordered to be removed by a Federal Court judge.
But now, a unanimous ruling from the Federal Court of Appeal has overturned that decision, paving the way for single-use plastics bans in Ottawa and beyond.
Science-backed way to clear microplastics from your body
Early research on rats in Japan suggests a common foodstuff – dietary fibre – could help to prevent ingested microplastics from entering the bloodstream, as well as helping to remove them entirely from the gut.
Scientists are now working to identify the exact type of fibre that has these effects. Until more is known, the best policy remains avoidance.
Breakthrough in UN plastics treaty talks as new Chair is voted in
On 7 February in Geneva, countries elected Julio Cordano, Chile’s climate COP chief negotiator, to revive the talks that have been stalled since August 2025. Although discussions at that meeting were limited to procedural matters, the outcome shows that progress is possible if parties move beyond consensus and use all available decision-making tools.
Endocrine disrupting chemicals found in all headphones tested
The Tox Free Life For All project found all 81 models (both in-ear and over-ear), including those from major brands like Bose, Samsung and Panasonic, contained toxic additives; and the migration from plastic to skin was found to increase with heat, sweat and daily use.
The cocktail of chemicals in plastic have been linked to the global rise in rates of cancer, obesity and infertility.
What if 1 in 10 people changed how they eat, drive, heat and shop?
A new AP report focusing on American consumers, says the result would be more than 90 million metric tons less greenhouse emissions in the USA, a remarkable reduction for small lifestyle changes in just 10% of the population.
Now, let’s hear about the impact of 1 in 10 polluting companies changing their ways! That would likely have an even greater impact.
It’s time to target the political power of polluters
A thought provoking essay suggests that to effectively address climate breakdown and environmental pollution we should spend less time worrying about emissions mitigation and more on fixing the power asymmetry between green and fossil asset owners. Read the full analysis here.
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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