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The Ultimate Guide to Plastic Pollution Books: A Deep Dive into Awareness and Solutions
Are you passionate about environmental conservation and eager to learn more about the devastating effects of plastic pollution? This comprehensive guide explores the best books on plastic pollution, offering insightful reviews and recommendations to help you deepen your understanding of this critical global issue. We'll delve into various perspectives, from scientific studies to personal accounts and actionable solutions, equipping you with the knowledge to contribute to a cleaner planet. Prepare to dive into a world of impactful literature dedicated to combating plastic pollution.
Understanding the Scope of the Plastic Pollution Problem
Before we dive into specific book recommendations, it's crucial to grasp the enormity of the plastic pollution crisis. We're not just talking about visible litter on beaches; it's a complex issue impacting every ecosystem, from the deepest oceans to the highest mountains. Microplastics are infiltrating our food chain, threatening wildlife, and impacting human health. Understanding this scope is the first step towards finding effective solutions. Many books effectively highlight these consequences, prompting readers to take action.
The impact of plastic on marine life
Several books meticulously detail the devastating effects of plastic on marine life. From entanglement in larger plastic debris to ingestion of microplastics, the consequences are severe and far-reaching, impacting entire food webs and causing significant population declines.
Plastic pollution in landfills and its environmental impact
The sheer volume of plastic ending up in landfills is staggering. Books dedicated to this aspect explore the long-term environmental consequences, including soil and water contamination, the release of harmful chemicals, and the contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. Understanding these long-term effects is critical for developing sustainable waste management strategies.
Recommended Plastic Pollution Books: A Curated Selection
Choosing the right book can be overwhelming. Here's a curated list of highly-rated and impactful titles categorized by their focus:
Scientific Analyses & Data-Driven Approaches:
"The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History" by Elizabeth Kolbert: While not solely focused on plastic, Kolbert's Pulitzer Prize-winning book provides essential context on the current mass extinction event, placing plastic pollution within a broader framework of human impact on the planet. It offers a stark reminder of the urgency of addressing environmental issues.
"Losing Eden: Why Our Planet is in Crisis—and What We Can Do About It" by Lucy Siegle: This book offers a comprehensive overview of environmental crises, including plastic pollution, with a strong focus on practical solutions and individual actions.
Personal Accounts and Investigative Journalism:
"Albatross: A Novel of the Galapagos" by Charles Hood: While a fictional work, this novel powerfully depicts the effects of plastic pollution on wildlife, making the problem visceral and relatable for readers.
"The Plastic Tide: How We Can Clean Up the Oceans and Save Ourselves" by Sarah Davies: This book offers a gripping narrative alongside practical insights, making it an engaging and informative read.
Solutions-Oriented Books and Activism:
"Waste Free" by Bea Johnson: While primarily focused on minimizing waste in general, this book provides valuable strategies for reducing plastic consumption in our daily lives, offering a blueprint for a more sustainable lifestyle.
"No More Plastic: The Zero Waste Movement" by Lauren Singer: Similar to "Waste Free," this book explores the zero-waste lifestyle and offers numerous practical tips for minimizing plastic use and contributing to a cleaner environment.
Choosing the Right Book for You
Selecting the perfect plastic pollution book depends on your individual interests and learning style. If you prefer data-driven analyses, the scientific literature might be your best bet. If you are seeking a more narrative approach, the personal accounts and investigative journalism are ideal. And if you are seeking practical solutions, focusing on books oriented towards action and reducing personal consumption will be most helpful.
Beyond Reading: Taking Action Against Plastic Pollution
Reading about plastic pollution is only the first step. The next crucial step is to take action. This includes reducing your personal plastic consumption, supporting organizations fighting plastic pollution, advocating for policy changes, and spreading awareness amongst your community. The books discussed here will empower you with knowledge and inspire you to act.
Conclusion
The fight against plastic pollution requires a multifaceted approach, encompassing scientific understanding, individual responsibility, and collective action. The books highlighted in this guide offer a wealth of knowledge and inspiration, helping you navigate this complex issue and contribute to a cleaner, healthier planet. By reading these books, you are not just gaining knowledge; you are equipping yourself to become an active part of the solution.
FAQs
1. Are there any children's books about plastic pollution? Yes, several children's books tackle the topic in age-appropriate ways, introducing younger generations to the issue and promoting environmental stewardship. Search for titles focusing on ocean conservation or waste reduction for age-appropriate options.
2. Where can I find these books? You can find these books at your local library, online bookstores like Amazon, and independent bookstores. Check your local library's online catalog for availability.
3. Are there any academic journals focusing specifically on plastic pollution? Yes, numerous academic journals dedicated to environmental science and marine biology publish research on plastic pollution. Searching databases like ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Google Scholar will yield relevant results.
4. What are some other ways to learn more about plastic pollution? Besides books, you can explore documentaries, podcasts, and websites dedicated to environmental issues. Many organizations actively working to combat plastic pollution also offer educational resources.
5. How can I get involved in combating plastic pollution in my community? Contact local environmental organizations, participate in beach cleanups, support businesses with sustainable practices, and advocate for policies that promote recycling and reduce plastic waste.
| plastic pollution book: Plastic Pollution Justin Healey, 2019 Plastic products and packaging are integral to modern daily life. Plastic is durable, cheap, light and can be flexible or rigid, with multiple uses, however plastic is also making the planet a victim of its own success. Plastic pollution has become an epidemic, afflicting land, waterways, coastlines and oceans. More than 8 million tonnes of plastic enter the world's oceans each year, killing marine life as it breaks down into billions of microplastic pieces, without decomposing. Consumption of plastic has increased exponentially, but while recycling is well established, only a small proportion of plastic is recovered for recycling or energy recovery. How can we reduce the amount of plastic waste, increase recycling and minimise impacts on the environment? What are governments, industry, retailers and consumers doing to eliminate the use of plastic packaging to reduce landfill waste and ocean pollution? This book offers confronting facts on the impacts of plastic,but also features strategies aimed at tackling plastic pollution. Now is the time to save our planet from the growing perils of plastic. |
| plastic pollution book: Plastic Pollution Geof Knight, 2012-05-15 How do plastics harm the environment and our health? Is there really a Great Pacific Garbage Patch? If so, can it be cleaned up? This book answers these questions and also asks readers to consider whether or not they would be willing to use less plastic. |
| plastic pollution book: Plastics and the Environment R M Harrison, R E Hester, 2018-11-19 Plastic has become a ubiquitous part of modern life. A cheap, lightweight material, it is used in everything from food packaging to consumer electronics and microbeads in cosmetic products. However, we are becoming increasingly aware of the problems our reliance on plastic is causing in the environment. For example, recent campaigns have highlighted the build-up of microbeads in the marine environment and the damage this is doing to wildlife, and the problem of marine litter, often in very remote locations. There are also concerns over exposure to plasticisers and their possible consequences for health. The plastics industry is under increasing pressure, not only from the government and environmental groups, but also from consumers, to improve the environmental impact of their products. This book presents an introduction to the uses of plastics and an overview of how they interact with the environment. It is a valuable resource for students studying environmental science as well as researchers working in the plastics industry, and policy makers and regulators concerned with waste disposal and environmental planning and conservation. |
| plastic pollution book: Transforming Plastic: From Pollution to Evolution Albert Bates, 2019-05-07 The scourge of plastic has poisoned our environment and damaged our health. In this timely book, Albert Bates takes a critical look at the magnitude of this ubiquitous problem, and explains that what is needed is mandatory economic and industrial changes so that recycled, bio-sourced, and biodegradable plastic become more cost-effective than plastic made from fossil fuels. He also explores current worldwide efforts for stronger regulations and better waste management, along with exciting new biological and man-made technologies for improved plastics disposal and viable alternatives . Packed with anecdotes and tips for living with less plastic, it is clearly defined that if we take real action now there is the potential of hope. |
| plastic pollution book: Ending Plastic Waste Kathryn Willis, Britta Denise Hardesty, Chris Wilcox, Justine Barrett, 2023-07-03 Many informal organisations around the world are making a positive impact on the environment and their communities by turning waste into a resource, increasing the social capacity of their community and reducing the amount of pollution in their environment. Ending Plastic Waste: Community Actions Around the World presents a collection of stories, advice and information from experts in the fields of waste management, plastic pollution and environmental finance to give a broad outlook on how 19 programs from 15 different countries are protecting our planet. By sharing these journeys, the authors hope to encourage others to take a community approach to ending plastic waste. Perfect for decision-makers working in environmental and marine fields, industry stakeholders and citizen scientist groups, this book provides guidance on how to successfully implement a new program, what resources are needed and the lessons learned by the people behind these programs in overcoming barriers. |
| plastic pollution book: The Plastic Pollution Adventure Monty J. McClaine, 2017-08-29 Winner of 7th Annual Beverly Hills Book Awards in the “Environment” category. This beautifully illustrated story was listened to avidly by my two grandsons and was the perfect way to explain to them that the environment is everyone’s responsibility, the dangers caused to wildlife by rubbish, and how important it is to take care of our world. From high above the clouds to the depths of the sea, the rescue elves, or Relves for short, are ready for anything! All year they practice to make sure they’re sharp. They travel the world swiftly and quickly to ensure that Santa makes it safely to your home each year.When the Relves take on their latest mission to the deep, dark depths of the sea, they find a lot more than colorful fish. For it appears that Santa’s sleigh isn’t the only thing stuck out on the high seas, as the Relves discover a man-made island full of plastic and trash! So what else can highly trained Relves do when they find that the ocean and many of its animals are in danger? They get to work! Follow along with the brave little Relves as they make it their mission to save the animals, the ocean, and get to the bottom of this plastic island. Learn about the dangers of plastic waste and the sad state of the world’s oceans as the Relves explore the effects of humans on our gentle, beautiful world. |
| plastic pollution book: Plastic Soup Michiel Roscam Abbing, 2019-04-04 Plastics have transformed every aspect of our lives. Yet the very properties that make them attractive—they are cheap to make, light, and durable—spell disaster when trash makes its way into the environment. Plastic Soup: An Atlas of Ocean Pollution is a beautifully-illustrated survey of the plastics clogging our seas, their impacts on wildlife and people around the world, and inspirational initiatives designed to tackle the problem. In Plastic Soup, Michiel Roscam Abbing of the Plastic Soup Foundation reveals the scope of the issue: plastic trash now lurks on every corner of the planet. With striking photography and graphics, Plastic Soup brings this challenge to brilliant life for readers. Yet it also sends a message of hope; although the scale of the problem is massive, so is the dedication of activists working to check it. Plastic Soup highlights a diverse array of projects to curb plastic waste and raise awareness, from plastic-free grocery stores to innovative laws and art installations. According to some estimates, if we continue on our current path, the oceans will contain more plastic than fish by the year 2050. Created to inform and inspire readers, Plastic Soup is a critical tool in the fight to reverse this trend. |
| plastic pollution book: Somebody Swallowed Stanley Sarah Roberts (Children's story writer), Bite Project, Surfers against Sewage, 2014 |
| plastic pollution book: Plastic Waste and Recycling Trevor Letcher, 2020-03-10 Plastic Waste and Recycling: Environmental Impact, Societal Issues, Prevention, and Solutions begins with an introduction to the different types of plastic materials, their uses, and the concepts of reduce, reuse and recycle before examining plastic types, chemistry and degradation patterns that are organized by non-degradable plastic, degradable and biodegradable plastics, biopolymers and bioplastics. Other sections cover current challenges relating to plastic waste, explain the sources of waste and their routes into the environment, and provide systematic coverage of plastic waste treatment methods, including mechanical processing, monomerization, blast furnace feedstocks, gasification, thermal recycling, and conversion to fuel. This is an essential guide for anyone involved in plastic waste or recycling, including researchers and advanced students across plastics engineering, polymer science, polymer chemistry, environmental science, and sustainable materials. - Presents actionable solutions for reducing plastic waste, with a focus on the concepts of collection, re-use, recycling and replacement - Considers major societal and environmental issues, providing the reader with a broader understanding and supporting effective implementation - Includes detailed case studies from across the globe, offering unique insights into different solutions and approaches |
| plastic pollution book: Investigating Plastic Pollution Laura Perdew, 2022-08 Introduces readers to what plastic pollution is, the consequences of this type of pollution, and what people are doing to help. Additional features include a table of contents, a Fast Facts page, a STEM project, a phonetic glossary, ways for readers to help, an index, an introduction to the author, and sources for further research. |
| plastic pollution book: Taking on the Plastics Crisis Hannah Testa, 2020-10-13 Taking on the Plastics Crisis delivers straightforward advise for getting involved in the global movement to eliminate single-use plastics. -- Booklist, Starred Review Brief yet inspirational, this story will galvanize youth to use their voices for change.--Kirkus Reviews Taking on the Plastics Crisis is a sobering and inspiring read by a brilliant young change maker. Now is the time for all of us to come together to solve the plastic pollution crisis.--Ed Begley Jr. (actor and environmental activist) In this personal, moving essay, youth activist Hannah Testa shares with readers how she led a grassroots political campaign to successfully pass state legislation limiting single-use plastics and how she influenced global businesses to adopt more sustainable practices. Through her personal journey, readers can learn how they, too, can follow in Hannah's footsteps and lower their carbon footprint by simply refusing single-use plastics. Pocket Change Collective is a series of small books with big ideas from today's leading activists and artists. In this installment, youth activist Hannah Testa, the founder of Hannah4Change, chronicles both her personal and political mission to save the Earth's oceans by limiting single-use plastic products. |
| plastic pollution book: Plastic Pollution and Our Earth Gene Brooks, 2021-07-15 Plastic is a valuable resource. It's also problematic. Since chemist Leo Baekeland invented the first synthetic plastic in 1907, and through the rapid increase of plastic production during the 1950s, we have created billions of tons of plastic. We have polluted the world's oceans and upset the balance of natural ecosystems. With this fact-packed book, readers will gain a crucial understanding about the global significance of plastic pollution. They'll study how it evolved over time and what steps governments and activists have taken to resolve it. |
| plastic pollution book: Trash Vortex Danielle Smith-Llera, 2018-01-01 Millions of tons of plastic slip into oceans every year. Some floats and travels slowly with the currents, endangering the health of marine animals. The rest is hardly visible but is far more dangerous. Tiny bits of plastic sprinkle the ocean's surface or mix into the sandy seafloor and beaches. It ends up inside birds, fish, and other animals, harming them-and ultimately humans. Experts struggle with fear and hope as they work to stop the flood of plastic threatening living organisms across the globe. |
| plastic pollution book: Plastic Legacies Trisia Farrelly , Sy Taffel , Ian Shaw , 2021-07-12 There is virtually nowhere on earth that remains untouched by plastics and the situation presents a serious threat to our natural world. Despite the magnitude of the problem, the interventions most often put in place are consumer-led and market-based and only nominally capable of addressing the issue. As the problem worsens and neoliberal ideologies limit the world’s responses to this crisis, there is a growing need for legislative frameworks that attend to the complex social and ecological issues associated with plastics. The contributors to this volume bring expertise from across academic disciplines to illustrate how plastics are produced, consumed, and discarded and to find holistic and integrated approaches that demonstrate an understanding of the wide-ranging problem. From the plasticization of earth’s oceans to the endocrine disrupting chemicals that have the potential to seriously harm life as we know it, these essays beg the question that we all must answer: what is our plastic legacy? With contributions by: Imogen E. Napper, Sabine Pahl, Richard C. Thompson, Sasha Adkins, Stephanie B. Borrelle, Jennifer Provencher, Tina Ngata, Sven Bergmann, Christina Gerhardt, Elyse Stanes, Tridibesh Dey, Mike Michael, Laura McLauchlan, Johanne Tarpgaard, Deirdre McKay, Padmapani Perez, Lei Xiaoyu, and John Holland. |
| plastic pollution book: Plastic Pollution Malti Goel, Neha G. Tripathi, 2024-10-16 This book provides a comprehensive understanding of the challenges being faced in managing plastic waste and showcases innovative solutions that can mitigate the adverse effects of plastic pollution on the environment. This timely book brings together a multi-disciplinary group of experts to outline the scale and complexity of the plastics pollution issue while advancing innovative and inclusive solutions. Spanning perspectives from policy, industry, advocacy, technology, and academia, the book provides a comprehensive understanding of plastic waste sources, impacts, and management approaches. Policymakers, municipal authorities, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers, students, advocates and informed citizens seeking to drive progress on sustainable plastic waste management will find crucial insights and inspirational models in this book. |
| plastic pollution book: Plastic Unlimited Alice Mah, 2022-04-21 Despite the global movement to tackle plastic pollution, demand for plastics continues to rise. As the world transitions away from fossil fuels, plastics are set to be the biggest driver of oil demand. Single-use plastics – deemed essential in the fight against COVID-19 – have been given a new lease of life. In a world beset with crisis fatigue, what can we do to curb the escalating plastics crisis? In this book, Alice Mah reveals how petrochemical and plastics corporations have fought relentlessly to protect and expand plastics markets in the face of existential threats to business. From denying the toxic health effects of plastics to co-opting circular economy solutions to plastic waste and exploiting the opportunities offered up by the global pandemic, industry has deflected attention from the key problem: plastics production. The consequences of unfettered plastics growth are pernicious and highly unequal. We all have a part to play in reducing plastics consumption but we must tackle the problem at its root: the capitalist imperative for limitless growth. |
| plastic pollution book: An Earth-Bot's Solution to Plastic Pollution Russell Ayto, 2021-09-07 A refreshing take on an all-too-important topic. Neo spends all his time playing his favorite video game, joining forces with other Earth-bots to defend the planet against invading aliens. But when his sea creature neighbors won’t stop pleading with him to help them clean up the plastic that’s ruining the ocean, Neo reluctantly agrees to check it out, and he’s shocked by what he discovers. There’s an actual invasion taking place right outside his door — a plastic invasion! And it’s too big to handle on his own! Sure to inspire real Earth-bots — er, children — everywhere to heed Neo’s call to protect the oceans from plastic! |
| plastic pollution book: Let's Investigate Plastic Pollution Ruth Owen, 2018-09-01 Plastic pollution is one of the most damaging environmental issues we face today. And no one is more passionate about solving this problem and protecting our world than kids! This new title in the Get Started With STEM series gives young science enthusiasts all the information they need to investigate and do their part to help solve this problem now and for the future. Packed with facts, discussion topics, imaginative ideas for activities, experiments, and investigations, this book will have students eager to use their science skills and knowledge to tackle plastic pollution head on. |
| plastic pollution book: Thicker Than Water Erica Cirino, 2021-10-07 Much of what you’ve heard about plastic pollution may be wrong. Instead of a great island of trash, the infamous Great Pacific Garbage Patch is made up of manmade debris spread over hundreds of miles of sea—more like a soup than a floating garbage dump. Recycling is more complicated than we were taught: less than nine percent of the plastic we create is reused, and the majority ends up in the ocean. And plastic pollution isn’t confined to the open ocean: it’s in much of the air we breathe and the food we eat. In Thicker Than Water: The Quest for Solutions to the Plastic Crisis, journalist Erica Cirino brings readers on a globe-hopping journey to meet the scientists and activists telling the real story of the plastic crisis. From the deck of a plastic-hunting sailboat with a disabled engine, to the labs doing cutting-edge research on microplastics and the chemicals we ingest, Cirino paints a full picture of how plastic pollution is threatening wildlife and human health. Thicker Than Water reveals that the plastic crisis is also a tale of environmental injustice, as poorer nations take in a larger share of the world’s trash, and manufacturing chemicals threaten predominantly Black and low-income communities. There is some hope on the horizon, with new laws banning single-use items and technological innovations to replace plastic in our lives. But Cirino shows that we can only fix the problem if we face its full scope and begin to repair our throwaway culture. Thicker Than Water is an eloquent call to reexamine the systems churning out waves of plastic waste. |
| plastic pollution book: Beyond Straw Men Phaedra C. Pezzullo, 2023-08-22 Addressing plastics can feel overwhelming. Guilt, shame, anger, hurt, fear, dismissiveness, and despair abound. Beyond Straw Men moves beyond “hot take” or straw man fallacies by illustrating how affective counterpublics mobilized around plastics reveal broader stories about environmental justice and social change. Inspired by on- and offline organizing in the Global South and the Global South of the North, Phaedra C. Pezzullo engages public controversies and policies through analysis of hashtag activism, campaign materials, and podcast interviews with headline-making advocates in Bangladesh, Kenya, the United States, and Vietnam. She argues that plastics have become an articulator of crisis and an entry point into the contested environmental politics of carbon-heavy masculinity, carceral policies, planetary fatalism, eco-ableism, greenwashing, marine life endangerment, pollution colonialism, and waste imperialism. Attuned to plastic attachments, Beyond Straw Men illustrates how everyday people resist unsustainable patterns of the plastics-industrial complex through imperfect but impactful networked cultures of care. |
| plastic pollution book: Plastic Planet Georgia Amson-Bradshaw, 2020-11-26 Plastic Planet offers young readers the perfect, non-alarmist introduction to Earth's plastic crisis Plastic pollution is now found in every environment on Earth, from the deepest oceans to the driest deserts and the most remote ice sheets. Plastic Planet offers readers aged 8 and up a look at plastic through the ages, exploring what it is, how it's made and how we have become so dependent on it in a single-use, disposable world. It highlights the social inequality of plastic pollution and explores how plastic has become a widespread and dangerous pollutant that is inextricably linked to climate change. The book looks ahead to possible solutions to our plastic crisis, from global changes such as changing people's mindsets, to innovations such as compostable plastics, to practical solutions such as recycling and bottle return schemes. |
| plastic pollution book: A Planet Full of Plastic Neal Layton, 2019-06-27 Everything is made of stuff. Some things are made of paper, like this book. And some things are made of PLASTIC. If you look around you, plastic is everywhere. Even in places where it's not meant to be. If it drops to the ground, it doesn't rot away - it sticks around for ever. Our world is drowning in plastic, and it's a big problem. Award-winning author-illustrator Neal Layton is here to explain where plastic comes from, why it doesn't biodegrade, and why that's dangerous for animals and humans alike. But he's also FULL of ideas for how you can help! From giving up straws in juice cartons to recycling all we can and taking part in a beach clean, A Planet Full of Plastic will get young readers excited about how they can make a difference to keep Planet Earth happy. This brilliant non-fiction picture book, illustrated in Neal's trademark collage style, is perfect for readers aged 5-7 who love nature and want to help the environment. |
| plastic pollution book: Let’s Investigate Plastic Pollution Ruth Owen, 2018-08-01 Plastic pollution is one of the most damaging environmental issues we face today. And no one is more passionate about solving this problem and protecting our world than kids! This new title in the Get Started With STEM series gives young science enthusiasts all the information they need to investigate and do their part to help solve this problem now and for the future. Packed with facts, discussion topics, imaginative ideas for activities, experiments, and investigations, this book will have students eager to use their science skills and knowledge to tackle plastic pollution head on. |
| plastic pollution book: Our Plastic Problem and How to Solve It Sarah J. Morath, 2022-03-24 Our Plastic Problem and How to Solve It considers plastic's harms and offers a spectrum of public and private solutions. |
| plastic pollution book: Microplastic in the Environment: Pattern and Process Michael S. Bank, 2021-10-09 This open access book examines global plastic pollution, an issue that has become a critical societal challenge with implications for environmental and public health. This volume provides a comprehensive, holistic analysis on the plastic cycle and its subsequent effects on biota, food security, and human exposure. Importantly, global environmental change and its associated, systems-level processes, including atmospheric deposition, ecosystem complexity, UV exposure, wind patterns, water stratification, ocean circulation, etc., are all important direct and indirect factors governing the fate, transport and biotic and abiotic processing of plastic particles across ecosystem types. Furthermore, the distribution of plastic in the ocean is not independent of terrestrial ecosystem dynamics, since much of the plastic in marine ecosystems originates from land and should therefore be evaluated in the context of the larger plastic cycle. Changes in species size, distribution, habitat, and food web complexity, due to global environmental change, will likely alter trophic transfer dynamics and the ecological effects of nano- and microplastics. The fate and transport dynamics of plastic particles are influenced by their size, form, shape, polymer type, additives, and overall ecosystem conditions. In addition to the risks that plastics pose to the total environment, the potential impacts on human health and exposure routes, including seafood consumption, and air and drinking water need to be assessed in a comprehensive and quantitative manner. Here I present a holistic and interdisciplinary book volume designed to advance the understanding of plastic cycling in the environment with an emphasis on sources, fate and transport, ecotoxicology, climate change effects, food security, microbiology, sustainability, human exposure and public policy. |
| plastic pollution book: Say Goodbye to Plastic Sandra Ann Harris, 2020-08-28 A simple and powerful book educating people about the epidemic of plastic use and solutions for a plastic-free future. If you've heard of the plastic-free lifestyle, but think you don't have time for it in your busy life, prepare to be delightfully wrong. Goodbye Plastic shows you how, whether you're seeking to knock plastic out of your life or just try out a few novel eco-hacks in your kitchen, bathroom, office or dining room. Plastic pollution activist and entrepreneur Sandra Ann Harris invites us to say goodbye to plastic, room by room. Opportunities abound to simplify our lives by re-thinking our wasteful habits--we just need to learn to recognize them. |
| plastic pollution book: Thicker Than Water Erica Cirino, 2021-10-07 Much of what you've heard about plastic pollution may be wrong. Instead of a great island of trash, the infamous Great Pacific Garbage Patch is made up of manmade debris spread over hundreds of miles of sea--more like a soup than a floating garbage dump. Less than nine percent of the plastic we create is reused, and microplastic fragments are found almost everywhere, even in our bodies. In Thicker Than Water: The Quest for Solutions to the Plastic Crisis, journalist Erica Cirino brings readers on a globe-hopping journey to meet the scientists and activists telling the real story of the plastic crisis. New technologies and awareness bring some hope, but Cirino shows that we can only fix the problem if we begin to repair our throwaway culture. Thicker Than Water is an eloquent call to reexamine the systems churning out waves of plastic waste. |
| plastic pollution book: You Are Eating Plastic Every Day Danielle Smith-Llera, 2019 Scientists have recently made startling discoveries about plastic pollution and our food supply. Could we really be eating microscopic pieces of plastic every day? What does this mean for our health? And what can we do about it? In this book, readers will get practical tips on how they can get involved to solve the problem and become part of the solution. |
| plastic pollution book: Management of Marine Plastic Debris Michael Niaounakis, 2017-07-04 Management of Marine Plastic Debris gives a thorough and detailed presentation of the global problem of marine plastics debris, covering every aspect of its management from tracking, collecting, treating and commercial exploitation for handing this anthropogenic waste. The book is a unique, essential source of information on current and future technologies aimed at reducing the impact of plastics waste in the oceans. This is a practical book designed to enable engineers to tackle this problem—both in stopping plastics from getting into the ocean in the first place, as well as providing viable options for the reuse and recycling of plastics debris once it has been recovered. The book is essential reading not only for materials scientists and engineers, but also other scientists involved in this area seeking to know more about the impact of marine plastics debris on the environment, the mechanisms by which plastics degrade in water and potential solutions. While much research has been undertaken into the different approaches to the increasing problem of plastics marine debris, this is the first book to present, evaluate and compare all of the available techniques and practices, and then make suggestions for future developments. The book also includes a detailed discussion of the regulatory environment, including international conventions and standards and national policies. - Reviews all available processes and techniques for recovering, cleaning and recycling marine plastic debris - Presents and evaluates viable options for engineers to tackle this growing problem, including the use of alternative polymers - Investigates a wide range of possible applications of marine plastics debris and opportunities for businesses to make a positive environmental impact - Includes a detailed discussion of the regulatory environment, including international conventions and standards and national policies |
| plastic pollution book: Handbook of Research on Environmental and Human Health Impacts of Plastic Pollution Khursheed Ahmad Wani, S. M. Zuber, Lutfah Ariana, 2020 This book examines the negative impacts of plastic and explores different biotechnological interventions to plastic pollution. It also generates an awareness of the use of plastics and its impact on the environment, human health, and ecosystems and explores biotechnological approaches to solve plastic pollution. |
| plastic pollution book: How to Save the World For Free Natalie Fee, 2019-10-21 “Just what we need to get the job done” - Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall Are you worried about the effects of climate change on our environment? Want to help but don’t know where to start? Natalie Fee’s new handbook to green living will help you to make small lifestyle changes which will make a big difference to our planet. We know that a better world is possible. One where we all get to breathe clean air, marvel at the abundance of wildlife and enjoy life without worrying if it’s about to self-destruct. But how do we get there? And can it really be ... easy? And fun? And free? How to Save the World for Free by environmental campaigner Natalie Fee will galvanise you to think and live differently, covering all key areas of our lives, from food and travel to politics and sex, author and environmental campaigner Natalie Fee will galvanise you to think and live differently. You will feel better, live better and ultimately breathe better in the knowledge that every small change contributes towards saving our world. Examples of Natalie’s tips include voting with climate change policies in mind, carrying a reusable coffee cup, buying bamboo toothbrushes, packaging-free toiletries and ditching plastic based pads and tampons in favour of a menstrual cup, all of which will reduce your environmental impact while also saving you money. Unlike other guides to green living, How to Save the World For Free also addresses the big barriers to change, including broken political systems, capitalism and consumerism – and gives us practical and engaging ways to disrupt them. Perfect for fans of Lucy Siegle's Turning the Tide on Plastic and Greta Thunberg’s No One is Too Small to Make a Difference. Whether you are a signed-up member of Extinction Rebellion or if you’re just starting out on your environmental journey, How to Save the World for Free includes helpful and approachable advice for everyone. Let’s save the world together! #HowToSaveTheWorldForFree 10% of all profits from the book will go to City to Sea, a non-profit organisation running campaigns to stop plastic pollution at source. Watch Natalie’s TEDx talk on the devastating effect of plastic in our oceans here: https://bit.ly/2N1mzlr This book has been printed on FSC-certified paper and uses nontoxic vegetable-based inks. Laurence King Publishing is committed to ethical and sustainable production, and are proud participants in The Book Chain Project ® bookchainproject.com |
| plastic pollution book: Microplastic Pollution Subramanian Senthilkannan Muthu, 2021-03-14 This book addresses the emergent need to act on reducing or getting rid of micro plastic pollution, to achieve a sustainable environment. Microplastics are small plastic pieces, which are less than five millimeters long which can be harmful to our oceans and aquatic life. These predominantly include microfibers from clothing, microbeads, and plastic pellets. Microplastics impact aquatic creatures, turtles and birds. According to the first study on estimation of human ingestion of microplastic, on average a person consumes at least 50,000 particles of microplastic a year and breathes a similar quantity. Ingested microplastic particles can physically damage organs and also compromise immune function and stymie growth and reproduction. This book presents six informative chapters in order to alleviate the above mentioned issues. |
| plastic pollution book: Handbook of Research on Environmental and Human Health Impacts of Plastic Pollution Khursheed Ahmad Wani, Lutfah Ariana, S. M. Zuber, 2019-06-17 This book examines the negative impacts of plastic and explores different biotechnological interventions to plastic pollution. It also generates an awareness of the use of plastics and its impact on the environment, human health, and other ecosystems-- |
| plastic pollution book: Plastic Free Rebecca Prince-Ruiz, Joanna Atherfold Finn, 2020-07-01 ‘I’m going plastic free next month, who wants to join me?’ When Rebecca Prince-Ruiz asked her colleagues this question in 2011, she had no idea that less than a decade later it would inspire a global movement of 250 million people in 177 countries to reduce their plastic use. Plastic Free tells the incredible story of how a simple community initiative grew into one of the world’s most successful environmental movements. It also shares tips from people around the world who have taken on the Plastic Free July challenge and significantly reduced their waste. Plastic Free is a book about positive change and reminds us that small actions can make a huge impact, one step – and piece of plastic – at a time. 'Not just an inspiring story and a practical resource, this is evidence that grassroots actions by ordinary individuals and communities can make a material difference to the most wicked of environmental and social problems. Hats off.' — Tim Winton ‘Some people feel overwhelmed by the environmental state of affairs and wait for politicians or manufacturers to change; others, like Rebecca Prince-Ruiz, take matters into their own hands, starting with their own lives …Use this book to be inspired, or better, use it as a template to change the world in your own way!’ — Bea Johnson, author of Zero Waste Home 'The more time I spend at sea, the more I realise the solutions start on land. This book will guide you on that journey to making global change for the ocean from your doorstep.' — Emily Penn, ocean advocate, skipper and co-founder of eXXpedition 'Plastic Free July inspires me to step up my commitment to reducing single-use plastic in my daily life and on tour.' — Jack Johnson, musician and Plastic Free Foundation ambassador 'Plastic Free shows us how to organise around our innate desire for a beautiful, clean environment, and eventually change, in a fundamental way, the system that unnecessarily creates the ugly mess.' — Captain Charles Moore, veteran seafarer and author of Plastic Ocean 'Few people have spent as much time as Rebecca Prince-Ruiz trying to work out how to minimise the plastic in our lives.' — Craig Reucassel, comedian and presenter of War on Waste 'Plastic Free shows how one person can ripple out and cause good around the globe. Never has there been a more important time to share hope and action, and combine them for our Mother Earth.' — Melissa Joan Hart, actor |
| plastic pollution book: Mare Plasticum - The Plastic Sea Marilena Streit-Bianchi, Margarita Cimadevila, Wolfgang Trettnak, 2020-07-23 This book, written by a multidisciplinary team of authors comprising scientists, artists and communicators, explores one of the most pressing issues of our time – the menace plastics pose to marine environments and organisms. It takes readers on a journey that begins on the beaches of Galicia, where the beach litter formed the starting point for an exhibition that combines art and science to alert the audience to the urgent need for action. The journey culminates with a short “plastic story”, which reveals a disturbing vision of the future significance of plastics for humans, and an example of how comics can deliver information to a younger audience. Along the way there is plenty of fascinating science, such as insights into the impacts of plastics and microplastics; the new marine ecosystem, known as the “plastisphere”; and the current status of the oceans, from the Arctic to the Mediterranean. The book also explores the historical developments; sustainable solutions, including the use of circular economy methodologies; and protective measures, like those being tried in China and the Far East. Lastly, it describes the role played by rivers as transport vectors for plastic, with special reference to the Danube, and to complete the picture, since most of the plastic is of terrestrial origin, it investigates problems related to microplastics in soils. |
| plastic pollution book: Plastic Waste and Recycling Trevor Letcher, 2020-03-12 Plastic Waste and Recycling: Environmental Impact, Societal Issues, Prevention, and Solutions begins with an introduction to the different types of plastic materials, their uses, and the concepts of reduce, reuse and recycle before examining plastic types, chemistry and degradation patterns that are organized by non-degradable plastic, degradable and biodegradable plastics, biopolymers and bioplastics. Other sections cover current challenges relating to plastic waste, explain the sources of waste and their routes into the environment, and provide systematic coverage of plastic waste treatment methods, including mechanical processing, monomerization, blast furnace feedstocks, gasification, thermal recycling, and conversion to fuel. This is an essential guide for anyone involved in plastic waste or recycling, including researchers and advanced students across plastics engineering, polymer science, polymer chemistry, environmental science, and sustainable materials. |
| plastic pollution book: Plastic Pollution Gail Krantzberg, Savitri Jetoo, Velma I Grover, Sandhya Babel, 2023-09-01 Plastics show up in every area of our lives. They are durable, cheap and light, properties that make them attractive but also problematic for the environment. The focus of this book is not just to highlight the problem of plastics, its definition, and how plastic pollution is impacting human health and environment but also to look at some best practices in both nature based solutions and in the field of law and policies. The first section of the book focuses on plastic pollution – it’s origin, relationship to climate change, linear/circular economy, followed by sustainable plastics, scientific solutions, and how policies can address plastic pollution. This includes looking at better designs, more sustainable feedstocks, and partnerships between various stakeholders worldwide including USA, China, Canada, South Korea, Thailand. This book will interest those who are associated with the production industry, packaging industry, and waste management industry as well as, academicians, students and policymakers. |
| plastic pollution book: Your Plastic Footprint Rachel Salt, 2020-11 Though plastic has numerous benefits, our reliance on this sturdy, light and flexible material, paired with its longevity and our changing consumer habits means we've created a real plastic problem. More than 8 million tons of plastic waste escapes into our oceans every year, and plastic litter can be found on virtually every coastline. Scientists have even found microplastics embedded in Arctic ice. Your Plastic Footprint educates readers about the origins and scope of the plastic problem, helps them measure the scale of the problem on an individual level and then offers solutions on how to rethink and reduce plastic use. Bursting with informative infographics and photos, this book illuminates each individual's impact on this global issue. Here are just a couple of facts you'll find in this book: Plastic's effect on the environment begins at its very origins, as fossil fuels in the ground. Over 3 million barrels of oil are used each day in the production of plastic, and plastic will account for over 56 gigatons (billion tons) of emissions between now and 2050. An average American will generate 786 kilograms (1,732.8 pounds) of plastic waste just from clothing in their lifetime. That's equivalent to 5,249 polyester T-shirts or 19,650 2-liter soda bottles. An average American shopper uses at least one plastic shopping bag per day. Over a lifetime, that shopper will generate 128 kilograms (282.2 pounds) of plastic waste from bags alone. This problem, like plastic, is not going away, and it is up to governments, corporations and individuals to make changes. Your Plastic Footprint is a must-read for every conscious consumer who is worried about the future of our planet and looking to reduce their plastic footprint. |
| plastic pollution book: Plastics in the Aquatic Environment - Part I Friederike Stock, Georg Reifferscheid, Nicole Brennholt, Evgeniia Kostianaia, 2021-10-29 This book offers a comprehensive review of how plastic pollution is affecting fresh and marine waters, and what the current challenges in plastic waste assessment and management in the aquatic environment are. Plastic waste comprises particles with heterogeneous physicochemical properties such as large size-range, different shapes and polymer types with various additives determining their environmental fate and risk. This complexity raises several open research questions which are explored in this book. Examples are the plastic uptake by aquatic organisms, degradation processes as well as sources and sinks in the environment. Readers will discover real case studies of plastic pollution detection and management in different parts of the world, including Asia, America and Europe, which provide an integrated overview of the global scope of this issue. This book and the companion volume Plastics in the Aquatic Environment - Part II: Stakeholders' Role Against Pollution are valuable resources to students, researchers, policymakers and environmental managers interested in plastic pollution and working towards its reduction. |
| plastic pollution book: How to Give Up Plastic Will McCallum, 2018-05-24 'We have a responsibility, every one of us' David Attenborough Around 12.7 million tonnes of plastic are entering the ocean every year, killing over 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals. By 2050 there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish by weight. But how can YOU make a difference? This accessible guide will help you make the small changes that make a big difference, including: · Using a wash bag to catch plastic microfibers · Replacing your regular shampoo with bar shampoo · How to throw a plastic-free birthday party Plastic is not going away without a fight. This is a call to arms - to join forces across the world and end our dependence on plastic. #BreakFreeFromPlastic |
Plastic Pollution Primer and Action Toolkit - Earth Day
Mar 7, 2018 · Plastic pollution is now recognized as a hazard to public health and the human body. Chemicals leached from some plastics used in food/beverage storage are harmful to …
THE STORY OF PLASTIC POLLUTION - Massachusetts …
Though the story of plastic pollution, big and small, began decades ago in remote central ocean gyres, we now know that plastic debris is ubiq-uitous across all ocean basins, ecosystems, …
PLASTICS POLCYI PLAYBOOK - Ocean Conservancy
The leakage-prone non-recyclable plastic products and packaging manufactured for single-use, primarily falling in the following categories: disposable plastic cutlery, plastic straws, plastic …
Plastic Pollution in the Global Ocean (409 Pages)
This book provides a clear overview of the current scientific understanding, future implications and key considerations for the management and mitigation of plastic waste within the world’s oceans.
Plastic Legacies: Pollution, Persistence, and Politics
Part I Pollution 1 Marine Litter: Are There Solutions to This Global Environmental Problem? 25 Imogen E. Napper, Sabine Pahl, and Richard C. Thompson 2 Slow Violence: The Erosion of …
Introduction to Plastic Pollution - The Energy and Resources …
How Can We Help To Manage The Plastic Pollution? To save the environment from plastic waste, it is now very important to be aware and practice responsible use of plastic.
IMPACTS OF PLASTIC POLLUTION IN THE OCEANS ON …
account to date of the extent to which plastic pollution is affecting the global ocean, the impacts it’s having on marine species and ecosystems, and how these trends are likely to develop in …
PLASTIC - Ocean Conservancy
10 FIRST PRINCIPLES FOR INCORPORATING PLASTICS INTO CLIMATE COMMITMENTS. Reduce overall plastics production and use. Phase out use of incineration, open-burning, and …
AMANDA KEETLEY - Less Plastic
“If you’ve been wondering what you can do about the plastic pollution crisis, Plastic Game Changer is the book to dive into. It provides a really simple format for reducing plastic where …
Book Review: Mare Plasticum The Plastic Sea: Combatting …
The book Mare Plasticum – The Plastic Sea (Streit-Bianchi et al. 2020) is a contribu-tion to the increasing body of literature on marine plastic pollution. The editors assem-bled a …
Review of evidence of plastic pollution - GOV.UK
Plastic pollution can be harmful to wildlife, human well-being and to the economy in the UK, its Overseas Territories (OTs) and internationally. There is extensive evidence that...
Plastic Pollution and the Climate Crisis - U.S. Environmental ...
Strengthen the ambition of domestic policies to address plastic pollution. Support the decarbonization of the plastics lifecycle. Foster innovation in plastics production and waste …
A Plastic Ocean Education & Discussion Guide Title
mation presented in the documentary to learn about and create potential solutions to our plastic pollution problem. This guide is organized to follow along with the topics in the film A Plastic …
Plastic Pollution in the Deep Ocean - DOSI
The source of all plastic pollution in the deep ocean is from land via rivers and the sea surface, so managing land- and ship -based activities on and near the sea will reduce the amount of …
Plastic Pollution (book)
consumers doing to eliminate the use of plastic packaging to reduce landfill waste and ocean pollution This book offers confronting facts on the impacts of plastic but also features …
PLASTIC POLLUTION: CAUSES, EFFECTS AND …
Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic particles and objects in the Earth’s environment that adversely affect humans, wildlife and wildlife habitat [1]. Pollutants are substances that …
TACKLING MARINE PLASTIC POLLUTION
Tackling Marine Plastic Pollution pollution: rivers filled with plastic garbage, beaches littered with plastic bottles, seals entangled in pieces of plastic, and dead birds and whales whose …
The Terminology of Marine Pollution by Plastics and …
This book examines the terminology of marine pollution by plastics and microplastics based on a corpus made up of different textual genres. The language of marine ecology, it will be shown, …
A workbook for students who want to change the world.
reduce plastic pollution by removing the problem . at the start. Every single use piece of plastic you . refuse, reuse, reduce or recycle means one less pollutant harming marine life and our …
Addressing Marine Plastic Pollution - JSTOR
Plastic pollution has become a pressing environmental problem. An increasing mass of plas-tic products ends up in oceans and landfills. One international grassroots organization—the …
Plastic Pollution Primer and Action Toolkit - Earth Day
Mar 7, 2018 · Plastic pollution is now recognized as a hazard to public health and the human body. Chemicals leached from some plastics used in food/beverage storage are harmful to human health.
THE STORY OF PLASTIC POLLUTION - Massachusetts …
Though the story of plastic pollution, big and small, began decades ago in remote central ocean gyres, we now know that plastic debris is ubiq-uitous across all ocean basins, ecosystems, habitats, and food webs—including in sea-food and sea salt.
PLASTICS POLCYI PLAYBOOK - Ocean Conservancy
The leakage-prone non-recyclable plastic products and packaging manufactured for single-use, primarily falling in the following categories: disposable plastic cutlery, plastic straws, plastic bags, cotton buds and plastic stems, plastic stirrers, expanded polystyrene packaging, PVC packaging, oxo-biodegradables and primary microplastics
Plastic Pollution in the Global Ocean (409 Pages)
This book provides a clear overview of the current scientific understanding, future implications and key considerations for the management and mitigation of plastic waste within the world’s oceans.
Plastic Legacies: Pollution, Persistence, and Politics
Part I Pollution 1 Marine Litter: Are There Solutions to This Global Environmental Problem? 25 Imogen E. Napper, Sabine Pahl, and Richard C. Thompson 2 Slow Violence: The Erosion of Marine Plastic Debris and of Human Health 41 Sasha Adkins 3 How Seabirds and Indigenous Science Illustrate the Legacies of Plastics Pollution 59
Introduction to Plastic Pollution - The Energy and Resources …
How Can We Help To Manage The Plastic Pollution? To save the environment from plastic waste, it is now very important to be aware and practice responsible use of plastic.
IMPACTS OF PLASTIC POLLUTION IN THE OCEANS ON …
account to date of the extent to which plastic pollution is affecting the global ocean, the impacts it’s having on marine species and ecosystems, and how these trends are likely to develop in future.
PLASTIC - Ocean Conservancy
10 FIRST PRINCIPLES FOR INCORPORATING PLASTICS INTO CLIMATE COMMITMENTS. Reduce overall plastics production and use. Phase out use of incineration, open-burning, and conversion chemical recycling of plastic waste. Develop scalable alternative delivery models to eliminate single use plastics.
AMANDA KEETLEY - Less Plastic
“If you’ve been wondering what you can do about the plastic pollution crisis, Plastic Game Changer is the book to dive into. It provides a really simple format for reducing plastic where you work, plus lots of invaluable advice for overcoming any challenges, so you have all the tools you need to start a positive wave of change in your company.
Book Review: Mare Plasticum The Plastic Sea: Combatting …
The book Mare Plasticum – The Plastic Sea (Streit-Bianchi et al. 2020) is a contribu-tion to the increasing body of literature on marine plastic pollution. The editors assem-bled a multidisciplinary team of authors comprising scientists, artists, and communicators.
Review of evidence of plastic pollution - GOV.UK
Plastic pollution can be harmful to wildlife, human well-being and to the economy in the UK, its Overseas Territories (OTs) and internationally. There is extensive evidence that...
Plastic Pollution and the Climate Crisis - U.S. Environmental ...
Strengthen the ambition of domestic policies to address plastic pollution. Support the decarbonization of the plastics lifecycle. Foster innovation in plastics production and waste management. Strengthen the secondary plastic market. Tapping into the complementarity of plastics and climate policies.
A Plastic Ocean Education & Discussion Guide Title
mation presented in the documentary to learn about and create potential solutions to our plastic pollution problem. This guide is organized to follow along with the topics in the film A Plastic Ocean .
Plastic Pollution in the Deep Ocean - DOSI
The source of all plastic pollution in the deep ocean is from land via rivers and the sea surface, so managing land- and ship -based activities on and near the sea will reduce the amount of plastic reaching the deep ocean.
Plastic Pollution (book)
consumers doing to eliminate the use of plastic packaging to reduce landfill waste and ocean pollution This book offers confronting facts on the impacts of plastic but also features strategies aimed at tackling plastic pollution Now is the time to save our planet from the
PLASTIC POLLUTION: CAUSES, EFFECTS AND PREVENTIONS
Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic particles and objects in the Earth’s environment that adversely affect humans, wildlife and wildlife habitat [1]. Pollutants are substances that adversely affect the health, activities or survival of a population [2]. Every day, thousands of tons of
TACKLING MARINE PLASTIC POLLUTION
Tackling Marine Plastic Pollution pollution: rivers filled with plastic garbage, beaches littered with plastic bottles, seals entangled in pieces of plastic, and dead birds and whales whose stomachs are filled with plastic waste. According to the LITTERBASE project, marine litter—of which the vast majority is plastics—affects
The Terminology of Marine Pollution by Plastics and …
This book examines the terminology of marine pollution by plastics and microplastics based on a corpus made up of different textual genres. The language of marine ecology, it will be shown, is endowed with the features of a specialized language, although the popularity of some of its contents brings it beyond the simple expert-to-expert usage
A workbook for students who want to change the world.
reduce plastic pollution by removing the problem . at the start. Every single use piece of plastic you . refuse, reuse, reduce or recycle means one less pollutant harming marine life and our own health!
Addressing Marine Plastic Pollution - JSTOR
Plastic pollution has become a pressing environmental problem. An increasing mass of plas-tic products ends up in oceans and landfills. One international grassroots organization—the Plastic Soup Foundation (PSF)—tries to influence politics and policies of governments and businesses that can be held responsible for this pollution. In Michiel ...
