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Plastic Free July is a waste of time if the onus is only on consumers

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bhavna-middha-1061611">Bhavna Middha</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ralph-horne-160543">Ralph Horne</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a> Every year, the <a href="https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/">Plastic Free July</a> campaign asks us to refuse single-use plastic. The idea is that making a small change in our daily lives will collectively make a big difference. And hopefully, better behaviour will stick and become a habit. The intent is good, but consumers shouldn’t have to bear full responsibility for plastic pollution. Individual sacrifices – particularly temporary ones – <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301421509004728">won’t make a significant difference</a>. Governments, manufacturers and retailers need to get serious about tackling this problem. If Plastic Free July put pressure on the supply side of the equation, rather than demand, it could be more successful. Our research spans food packaging including plastics, waste, sustainable consumption and social practices. We know consumer demand is only one part of the picture. Eliminating plastic waste requires broader systemic changes. <h2>The cabbage dilemma</h2> Research shows consumers generally want to do the <a href="https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/news/news-articles/the-conversation-on-sustainability-has-changed">right thing by the environment</a> but find it <a href="https://theconversation.com/households-find-low-waste-living-challenging-heres-what-needs-to-change-197022">challenging</a>. Coming out of a supermarket with no packaging is difficult. There are few unpackaged food items and even when there is a choice, the unpackaged item may be more <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/want-your-fruit-and-veg-without-the-plastic-you-ll-have-to-pay-more-20231107-p5eib4.html">expensive</a>. Have you ever been stuck in the supermarket, choosing between the large head of cabbage you know you won’t finish before it goes bad, or the plastic-wrapped half-cabbage you really need? Consumers should not be forced to choose between food waste (another huge problem) or plastic waste. Maybe there’s another way. For example, why not sell cabbages of different sizes? Why do we need to grow such large heads of cabbage anyway? Both plastic consumption and food waste can be addressed by changing how we produce and distribute certain foods. <h2>Governments, manufacturers and retailers must drive change</h2> The onus for reducing plastic consumption and waste should be placed firmly on those who make plastic and profit from selling their products, as well as those who make and sell products wrapped in plastic packaging. Research has shown just <a href="https://www.csiro.au/en/news/All/News/2024/April/Global-study-finds-more-than-half-of-branded-plastic-pollution-linked-to-56-companies?utm_source=pocket_shared">56 companies</a> globally are responsible for more than half of the branded plastic pollution that ends up in the environment. Companies profit from using plastics because it is cheaper to use than changing to alternatives, such as cardboard or compostable materials, or using less packaging. This means companies choosing to avoid using plastics face unfair competition. It’s a tough habit to kick. Industry-led <a href="https://productstewardship.us/what-is-epr/#:%7E:text=Stewardship%20can%20be%20either%20voluntary,product%20stewardship%20required%20by%20law">voluntary schemes</a> are <a href="https://www.insidewaste.com.au/91038-2-product-stewardship-schemes/">limited in terms of both participation and outcomes</a>. Many companies are failing to meet their own <a href="https://www.asyousow.org/report-page/2024-plastic-promises-scorecard">plastic reduction goals</a>. Governments need to step in and force companies to take responsibility for the plastic and packaging they manufacture. In practice, this could involve similar schemes to the container deposit scheme for beverage containers, or returning plastics to stores. Replacing voluntary schemes with mandatory regulations and increased producer responsibility means companies will have to <a href="https://www.insidewaste.com.au/91038-2-product-stewardship-schemes/">invest in long-term changes designed with care</a>. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UnXVU-06ciI?wmode=transparent&start=1" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>What’s Plastic Free July?</figcaption></figure> <h2>Cities are built around plastic</h2> Our previous research has shown plastic performs an essential role in some, <a href="https://rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/geoj.12457">constrained circumstances</a>. We found vulnerable householders often rely on plastic to make life manageable, such as using plastics to cover belongings on the balcony, or using plastic cutlery and plates in student apartments with minimal kitchen space. This includes people with accessibility needs, people relying on public transport to shop for groceries, or people who are financially constrained or living in small high-rise <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-cant-keep-putting-apartment-residents-waste-in-the-too-hard-basket-200545">apartments</a>. Unsustainable lifestyles are not so much a choice as a product of poorly planned cities, housing and regulations. It is all very well if you are mobile and well-located, but if you live in a <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-08/food-deserts-have-serious-consequences-for-residents-experts/6605230">poorly serviced</a> distant suburb and <a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2023/01/are-you-living-in-a-food-desert--these-maps-suggest-it-can-reall">transport groceries or takeaway food</a> or buy things on the go, then plastic is perhaps the only current affordable way to make it work. So campaigns and solutions that do not consider how <a href="https://rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/geoj.12457">everyday lives and economy</a> are intertwined with plastics can <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s42949-024-00149-w">exclude people and spaces</a> who can’t access the alternatives. For example, there are ways to make <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1745-5871.12464">convenience eating more sustainable</a> in education settings. We have shown how <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1745-5871.12390">canteens and microwaves</a> in shared spaces can enable people to access affordable food with their friends, as in <a href="https://www.charlesabroad.cz/post/german-university-canteens-why-do-they-beat-the-czech-ones">University Mensa in Germany</a>. Our <a href="https://cur.org.au/project/tackling-food-related-single-use-plastics-in-diverse-consumption-contexts/">new research</a> will explore how single-use food-related plastics and packaging form an integral part of our daily lives, including shopping, work, cooking and storage. Sometimes new policies inadvertently disadvantage certain groups and communities, such as the aged, less mobile, people living in apartments, or low socio-economic groups. Before we roll out new policies and regulations, we need to understand the roles these materials play and the kinds of services and value they provide. We aim to develop a framework to inform policies and strategies that enable a just and inclusive transition to reduced plastic use. <h2>What about after July?</h2> Plastic Free July and similar campaigns are based on idea that making a temporary change will lead to more permanent lifestyle changes. But research shows temporary shifts are <a href="http://www.demand.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/DEMAND2016_Full_paper_42-Shove.pdf">very different</a> to <a href="https://pure.manchester.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/32468813/FULL_TEXT.PDF">structural, permanent shifts</a> in <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315816494-1/introduction-social-practices-intervention-sustainability-beyond-behaviour-change-yolande-strengers-cecily-maller?context=ubx&refId=d608abad-39f9-4bb2-8754-56e9e2000c5e">practices</a>. Supermarkets will still wrap items in plastic and sell single-use plastic, even if we try to buy less during Plastic Free July. Ultimately, the focus should be on designing effective infrastructure and policy solutions for lasting results, considering how demand for plastic is produced in the first place. Some of these changes will require a shift in community expectations and food culture. Rather than pointing the finger at consumers, let’s get to work on redesigning our cities. We need to rethink how everyday practices, manufacturing and distribution systems are structured to eliminate plastic waste.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/233436/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bhavna-middha-1061611">Bhavna Middha</a>, ARC DECRA and Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Urban Research, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ralph-horne-160543">Ralph Horne</a>, Associate Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research & Innovation, College of Design & Social Context, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/plastic-free-july-is-a-waste-of-time-if-the-onus-is-only-on-consumers-233436">original article</a>. </div>

Home & Garden

Flex your sustainability skills this Plastic Free July

It’s no secret that single-use plastics are often a huge part of our lives, with grocery items and household essentials often relying on plastic for their packaging. However, if you look a little further, you’ll find that there are sustainable options out there to help curb your plastic consumption. The annual global initiative of <a href="https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/">Plastic Free July</a> is once again taking place, with over 190 countries determined to be a part of the plastic pollution solution. Plastic Free July is a great opportunity to discover more sustainable options in day to life, while also helping to save valuable dollars during the ongoing cost of living crisis. In collaboration with this international movement, <a href="https://www.brita.com.au/">BRITA</a> have shared ten valuable tips to help reduce individual plastic waste contribution in everyday life. <ol> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Make the switch to a filtered water jug and reusable bottle instead of drinking single-use bottles of water at home or at the office. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Instead of plastic food wraps, choose alternatives such as beeswax wraps or reusable containers. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Try a bamboo toothbrush instead of a plastic one. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Skip the plastic straw or buy stainless steel straws to reduce dangerous plastic waste caused by used straws. Think of the turtles! </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Try out powdered laundry detergent that comes in a box instead of laundry liquid in plastic bottles. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Swap plastic bin liners for newspaper or certified compostable ones instead. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Avoiding pre-packaged foods by choosing bulk or loose food. Or, better yet, take in your own jars. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Use soap bars instead of liquid soap in plastic containers. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Use your own cutlery when ordering takeaway food, instead of relying on plastic ones. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Always consider the three R’s for a better planet – reduce, reuse, recycle! </li> </ol> Image credits: Getty Images

Home & Garden

3 little-known reasons why plastic recycling could actually make things worse

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/pascal-scherrer-230971">Pascal Scherrer</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/southern-cross-university-1160">Southern Cross University</a> This week in Paris, negotiators from around the world are <a href="https://www.unep.org/events/conference/second-session-intergovernmental-negotiating-committee-develop-international">convening</a> for a United Nations meeting. They will tackle a thorny problem: finding a globally binding solution for plastic pollution. Of the staggering <a href="https://stats.oecd.org/viewhtml.aspx?datasetcode=PLASTIC_USE_6&lang=en">460 million tonnes of plastic used globally in 2019 alone</a>, much is used only once and thrown away. About <a href="https://www.oecd.org/environment/plastic-pollution-is-growing-relentlessly-as-waste-management-and-recycling-fall-short.htm">40% of plastic waste</a> comes from packaging. Almost two-thirds of plastic waste comes from items with lifetimes of less than five years. The plastic waste that escapes into nature persists and breaks up into smaller and smaller pieces, <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.1700782">eventually becoming microplastics</a>. Plastics now contaminate virtually every environment, from <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/nov/20/microplastic-pollution-found-near-summit-of-mount-everest">mountain peaks to oceans</a>. Plastic has entered vital systems such as our food chain and even the human <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/24/microplastics-found-in-human-blood-for-first-time">blood stream</a>. Governments and industry <a href="https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/nations-agree-end-plastic-pollution">increasingly acknowledge</a> the urgent need to reduce plastic pollution. They are introducing <a href="https://apco.org.au/the-australian-packaging-covenant">rules and incentives</a> to help businesses stop using single-use plastics while also encouraging collection and recycling. As a sustainability researcher, I explore opportunities to <a href="https://www.scu.edu.au/research/zerowaste/">reduce plastic waste </a>in sectors such as tourism, hospitality and meat production. I know how quickly we could make big changes. But I’ve also seen how quick-fix solutions can create complex future problems. So we must proceed with caution. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> The best way to tackle plastic pollution is to prevent it in the first place. Governments, businesses, civil society, and academia can all be part of the solution to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BeatPlasticPollution?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BeatPlasticPollution</a>. Join in this <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldEnvironmentDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldEnvironmentDay</a>: <a href="https://t.co/ENu9UG82kz">https://t.co/ENu9UG82kz</a> <a href="https://t.co/1p5G0183uh">pic.twitter.com/1p5G0183uh</a> — UN Environment Programme (@UNEP) <a href="https://twitter.com/UNEP/status/1660873190577680384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <h2>Plastic avoidance is top priority</h2> We must urgently eliminate waste and build a so-called “<a href="https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/overview">circular economy</a>”. For plastics, that means reuse or recycling back into the same type of plastic, not lower grade plastic. The plastic can be used to make similar products that then can be recycled again and again. This means plastics should only be used where they can be captured at their end of life and recycled into a product of the same or higher value, with as little loss as possible. Probably the only example of this to date is the recycling of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) soft-drink bottles in Norway and Switzerland. They boast recovery rates of <a href="https://phys.org/news/2020-02-norway-bottles-plastic-fantastic.html">97%</a> and <a href="https://houseofswitzerland.org/swissstories/environment/switzerland-leads-way-pet-recycling">95%</a> respectively. The <a href="https://wastewise.be/2014/11/ad-lansink/">waste management pyramid</a> below shows how to prioritise actions to lessen the waste problem. It is particularly relevant to single-use plastics. Our top priority, demanding the biggest investment, is prevention and reduction through redesign of products. Where elimination is not yet achievable, reuse solutions or recycling to the same or higher-level products can be sought to make plastics circular. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/527407/original/file-20230522-21-y07zqy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/527407/original/file-20230522-21-y07zqy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=406&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527407/original/file-20230522-21-y07zqy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=406&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527407/original/file-20230522-21-y07zqy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=406&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527407/original/file-20230522-21-y07zqy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=510&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527407/original/file-20230522-21-y07zqy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=510&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527407/original/file-20230522-21-y07zqy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=510&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Inverted pyramid diagram showing waste management priorities" /><figcaption>In the inverted pyramid of waste management priorities, downcycling is almost the last resort. Pascal Scherrer</figcaption></figure> Unfortunately, a lack of high-quality reprocessing facilities means plastic waste keeps growing. In Australia, plastic is largely “downcycled”, which means it is recycled into lower quality plastics. This can seem like an attractive way to deal with waste-plastic stockpiles, particularly after the recent collapse of soft-plastics recycler <a href="https://theconversation.com/redcycles-collapse-is-more-proof-that-plastic-recycling-is-a-broken-system-194528">RedCycle</a>. But downcycling risks doing more harm than good. Here are three reasons why: <h2>1. Replacing wood with recycled plastics risks contaminating our wildest natural spaces</h2> An increasing number of benches, tables, bollards and boardwalks are being made from recycled plastic. This shift away from timber is touted as a sustainable step - but caution is warranted when introducing these products to pristine areas such as national parks. Wood is naturally present in those areas. It has a proven record of longevity and, when degrading, does not introduce foreign matter into the natural system. Swapping wood for plastic <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0269749122019510?via%3Dihub">may introduce microplastics</a> into the few remaining places relatively free of them. Replacing wood with downcycled plastics also risks plastic pollution through weathering or fire. <h2>2. Taking circular plastics from their closed loop to meet recycled-content targets creates more waste</h2> Clear PET bottles used for beverages are the most circular plastic stream in Australia, approaching a 70% recovery rate. When these bottles are recycled back into clear PET bottles, they are circular plastics. However, the used PET bottles are increasingly being turned into meat trays, berry punnets and <a href="https://www.praise.com.au/faqs-100-recycled-bottles">mayonnaise jars</a> to help producers meet the <a href="https://apco.org.au/national-packaging-targets">2025 National Packaging Target</a> of 50% recycled content (on average) in packaging. The problem is the current industry <a href="https://anzpacplasticspact.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Recovered-Polymer-Specifications_FINAL_June2021d.pdf">specifications for plastics recovery</a> allow only downcycling of these trays, punnets and jars. This means that circular PET is removed from a closed loop into a lower-grade recovery stream. This leads to non-circular downcycling and more plastic sent to landfill. <h2>3. Using “compostable” plastics in non-compostable conditions creates still more plastic pollution</h2> Increasingly, plastics are labelled as compostable and biodegradable. However, well-intended use of compostable plastics can cause long-term plastic pollution. At the right temperature with the right amount of moisture, compostable plastics breakdown into soil. But if the conditions are not “just right”, they won’t break down at all. For example, when a landscape architect or engineer uses a “compostable” synthetic fabric instead of a natural alternative (such as coir or jute mats) they can inadvertently introduce persistent plastics into the environment. This is because the temperature is not hot enough for the synthetic mat to break down. We must also <a href="https://documents.packagingcovenant.org.au/public-documents/Considerations%20for%20Compostable%20Packaging">differentiate</a> between “home compostable” and “commercially compostable”. Commercial facilities are more effective at composting because they operate under more closely controlled conditions. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Plastic pollution could reduce by 80% by 2040 if governments and companies make policy and market shifts using existing technologies. OUT NOW – UNEP’s new report provides a pathway for nations to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BeatPlasticPollution?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BeatPlasticPollution</a>: <a href="https://t.co/dcfBkZaOfN">https://t.co/dcfBkZaOfN</a> <a href="https://t.co/iSQ9QSpYC1">pic.twitter.com/iSQ9QSpYC1</a> — UN Environment Programme (@UNEP) <a href="https://twitter.com/UNEP/status/1658419925638152192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2023</a></blockquote> <h2>Learning from our mistakes</h2> Clearly, we need to reduce our reliance on plastics and shift away from linear systems – including recycling into lower-grade products. Such downcycling may have a temporary role in dealing with existing plastic in the system while circular recycling capacity is being built. But we must not develop downcycling “solutions” that need a long-term stream of plastic waste to remain viable. What’s more, downcycling requires constantly finding new markets for their lower-grade products. Circular systems are more robust. So, to the negotiators in Paris, yes the shift to a circular plastics economy is urgent. But beware of good intentions that could ultimately make things worse.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/206060/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/pascal-scherrer-230971">Pascal Scherrer</a>, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Business, Law and Art, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/southern-cross-university-1160">Southern Cross University</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/3-little-known-reasons-why-plastic-recycling-could-actually-make-things-worse-206060">original article</a>.

Home Hints & Tips

Forget plastic surgery! These 7 makeup tricks could completely transform your features

Nose contouring instead of a nose job If you find your nose too big, too wide, or too something else, get ready to transform it with contouring. For the uninitiated, contouring is the process of strategically placing bright concealer or highlighter on areas you want to catch light, making them more pronounced, and darker products on places where you want to create shadows, making them less noticeable. There are specific contouring techniques for each nose shape, but in every case, you’ll want to apply concealer that’s two shades lighter than your skin tone to the bridge of your nose, and a greyish-brown or dark taupe colour (a powder or liquid) to cover bumps, wide nostrils, or hook shapes. Always blend the light and dark colours into place using a beauty blender sponge or a rechargeable makeup brush, which evenly disperses granules of makeup in thin, even layers for an airbrush-like finish. The results are like an instant nose job – no surgery required! Strategic eyeliner instead of an eye lift Oh, the wonders of a good eyeliner. Whether your eyes are too small, too big, too down-turned or too something else, applying eyeliner in the proper style and colour is the perfect way to visibly alter their shape. To open up the eyes, adding white liner to the lower lash line creates an optical illusion as it acts as a continuation of your eyes, making them look bigger. For down-turned eyes, nothing works better than a reverse cat eye in black liner. For hooded lids, apply smokey eyeliner to enhance the outer corners for the illusion of lift. Shading cheekbones instead of fillers Women have been turning to pricey injectable fillers to fake supermodel cheekbones, but there’s a much easier – and cheaper – way. For this no-fuss three-step process, all you need is your trusty contour kit (foundation that is two shades lighter than your skin tone, plus a base that is two shades darker), which you will use to outline and highlight the apples of your cheeks. First apply the one-shade lighter cream foundation on your cheekbones to draw light; then apply the two-shades darker base below the cheekbones to help those areas recede. Finish with a pop of pink or peach on the apples of your cheeks, and dab a few drops of liquid highlighter at the top of cheekbones. Blend, et voila – Hollywood cheekbones. Smoothing foundation instead of botox Many foundations are prone to caking, cracking and flaking, which are likely to make any wrinkles and blemishes more noticeable instead of concealing them. If you want your face to look younger, one of the easiest ways is by smoothing skin. That means starting with a primer, which smooths the canvas of your face, like a painter would spackle and prime walls before applying colour. Follow with a satin foundation for a silky smooth, practically Photoshopped face. Overlining lips instead of injectable plumpers Less is definitely more here, but this tiny adjustment will make a huge difference in the appearance of your lips. The trick is to first apply a neutral-coloured, matte lip liner all over your lips; then trace slightly outside the lines. Don’t venture more than a few millimetres beyond your natural lip line, as that looks too obvious (and a little scary). You can also strategically choose the areas you want to overline, like the cupid’s bow or bottom lip instead of the entire rim. Once you’ve overlined, apply your favourite matte lipstick not only to your lips, but onto the overlined area as well. A matte finish will hide the line you’ve added, whereas shiny lipstick emphasises it. Chisel your chin with powder instead of surgery If your jawline isn’t quite as sharp as you’d like, shaping powder is an easy way to get more definition. Take a greyish-brown powder (nothing too orange) and apply it along your jaw line from behind your ear all the way down to the tip of your chin. Repeat this application on the other side of your jaw. Blend the powder down your neck so that there aren’t any noticeable lines or colour differences. You’ll absolutely love the look of your sharp new bone structure. Slim your silhouette Though some celebrities manage to rock a round face, the rest of us can feel insecure about so-called chipmunk cheeks. A great way to slim your face is to use a contour stick and bronzer to hollow out the cheeks, then apply blush and highlighter above the bronzer to make your cheekbones more pronounced. This will not only elongate your face shape, but will give you those model-like chiselled cheeks. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/healthsmart/beauty/forget-plastic-surgery-these-7-makeup-tricks-could-completely-transform-your-features" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Beauty & Style

Plastic surgeon called out for “toxic” video

A beautician has been slammed for a video she posted online outlining the cosmetic surgery she thought a star of Stranger Things would need. Miranda Wilson, who describes herself as a nurse practitioner injector, posted a video on TikTok outlining the alterations she believed would enhance the look of actress Natalia Dyer. “We’d start by treating those masseters … to help slim the face,” Ms Wilson said, referring to Dyer’s prominent bottom jawline. She then recommended adding “a bit of chin filler just to help fill out her chin and make her face more of a heart shape”. Moving onto Dyer’s lip and brow area, Wilson said she would “add just a little bit to the lips” than “do a little Botox (to) give her a nice brow lift to help open up her eyes”. “And to top if off we’d start with some Sculptra, she does seem to have more thin skin and we want to prevent that from getting thinner and create more collagen,” Wilson said. She ended the clip with a “before and after” image of Dyer, where she complimented the actress’ slimmer jaw, pointy chin, lifted brows and pouty lips. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/07/tiktok-beauty2.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> However, her assessment drew large amounts of ire from viewers, who described the clip as “toxic” and “highly insulting”, with one commenter arguing that videos like hers were “one of the reasons girls today are so insecure”. Though she has since deleted the video, download copies have been uploaded and shared on other social media platforms, including Twitter, where the uproar continued. “Still can’t believe a plastic surgeon (sic) spoke on what she’d change about someone’s face without a) their consent, b) any indication that the person disliked those features and c) putting a disclaimer that the person is already beautiful as they are,” one Twitter user said. “Like I cannot believe she ‘influencerfied’ her face completely unprovoked as if it was a free consultation.” After the backlash, Wilson posted a follow-up video saying she wanted to “clear the air”, adding that she “didn’t mean to offend anyone” in the controversial clip. “I was simply offering suggestions – not on what you have to do – just on what the possibilities are,” Wilson said. “As an advanced injector that is what we do – we look at faces and assess and look at the possibilities.” <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/07/tiktok-beauty-1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> She then took a photo of herself and suggested improvements, such as botox injectables, lip and cheek fillers, and a brow lift, sharing another “before and after” image and writing in the caption that “Natalia is absolutely stunning the way she is” but that her image was just an “example”. Though comments were disabled on her later video, upset viewers took to Twitter to call out her behaviour. “She posted a sorry, not sorry video where she completely missed the point of what the original complaint was,” one Twitter user said. Another questioned who Wilson’s target audience was and pondered the impact such views would have on young women. “If Natalia Dyer, a white and thin and conventional woman gets scrutinised on her appearance like this, what happens to all the young impressionable poc/mid-size/plus-size girls watching?”, they wrote. Images: TikTok

Beauty & Style

Self-cleaning bioplastic modelled on the lotus plant

Researchers have developed a new <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/sustainability/bioplastic-versus-plastic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-type="URL" data-id="https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/sustainability/bioplastic-versus-plastic/">bioplastic</a> that’s sturdy, compostable, and cleans itself, modelled on the miraculous qualities of the lotus leaf. <div class="copy">The innovative plastic repels liquid and dirt, and then breaks down rapidly when buried in soil, according to studies published in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969721077627?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science of the Total Environment</a> and <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsami.1c09959" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Applied Materials and Interfaces</a>.Mehran Ghasemlou, lead author of the studies and a PhD researcher at RMIT University, says the new bioplastic could be ideal for use in fresh food and takeaway packaging.“Plastic waste is one of our biggest environmental challenges but the alternatives we develop need to be both eco-friendly and cost-effective, to have a chance of widespread use,” says Ghasemlou. “We designed this new bioplastic with large-scale fabrication in mind, ensuring it was simple to make and could easily be integrated with industrial manufacturing processes.”The new research is a classic example of <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsfs.2015.0031" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bio-inspiration</a> – taking inspiration from the ingenuity of evolution to solve classic technological problems. “We’ve replicated the phenomenally water-repellent structure of lotus leaves to deliver a unique type of bioplastic that precisely combines both strength and degradability,” says Ghasemlou.Compostable plastics?The new plastic is naturally compostable, which sets it apart from most mainstream bioplastics which require industrial processes to break down.This bioplastic, on the other hand, breaks down quickly in soil.“There are big differences between plant-based materials – just because something is made from green ingredients doesn’t mean it will easily degrade,” says Ghasemlou.<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><div class="entry-content-asset"><div class="embed-wrapper"><div class="inner"></div></div></div></div><figcaption>A lotus inspired bioplastic that’s sustainable and compostable. Credit: RMIT University</figcaption></figure>“We carefully selected our raw materials for compostability and this is reflected in the results from our soil studies, where we can see our bioplastic rapidly breaks down simply with exposure to the bacteria and bugs in soil.“Our ultimate aim is to deliver packaging that could be added to your backyard compost or thrown into a green bin alongside other organic waste, so that food waste can be composted together with the container it came in, to help prevent food contamination of recycling.”Lotuses: a lean, mean, self-cleaning machineLotus leaves, among their many strange and mythic attributes, are almost impossible to get dirty. That’s thanks to their supremely water-repellent surface which, at the micro-level, is composed of tiny pillars topped with a waxy layer.Any water that lands on a lotus leaf will remain a droplet, and simply roll off as compelled by gravity or wind. Those droplets sweep up any dirt from the leaf’s surface as they go, keeping it remarkably clean.To make their self-cleaning plastic, the RMIT researchers synthetically engineered a plastic made of starch and cellulosic nanoparticles. The surface of the plastic was then imprinted with a pattern that mimicked the columns of a lotus leaf, before being coated with a protective layer of PDMS, a silicon-based organic polymer.Tests found that the bioplastic not only repels liquids and dirt effectively, but also retains its self-cleaning properties after being scratched with abrasives and exposed to heat, acid and ethanol. That makes it particularly useful for the food industry.Corresponding author Benu Adhikari says the design overcomes many of the challenges of starch-based plastics.“Starch is one of the most promising and versatile natural polymers, but it is relatively fragile and highly susceptible to moisture,” Adhikari says.“Through our bio-inspired engineering that mimics the ‘lotus effect’, we have delivered a highly effective starch-based biodegradable plastic.”<img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="height: 1px!important;width: 1px!important;border: 0!important" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=181548&title=Self-cleaning+bioplastic+modelled+on+the+lotus+plant" width="1" height="1" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" /></div><div id="contributors"><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/materials/self-cleaning-bioplastic-modelled-lotus-plant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/amalyah-hart" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amalyah Hart</a>. Amalyah Hart is a science journalist based in Melbourne. She has a BA (Hons) in Archaeology and Anthropology from the University of Oxford and an MA in Journalism from the University of Melbourne.Image: Getty Images</div>

Technology

Jane Fonda on more plastic surgery: “I’m not going to cut myself up anymore”

Jane Fonda, 82, has decided to fully embrace her age and has urged her fans she has sworn off cosmetic procedures. “I can’t pretend that I’m not vain, but there isn’t going to be any more plastic surgery - I’m not going to cut myself up anymore,” she admitted to <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ellecanada.com/culture/celebrity/jane-fonda-elle-canada" target="_blank">Elle Canada</a>. The star debuted a stunning new white hairdo at the 2020 Academy Awards, and later said she has had to “work everyday to be self-accepting; it doesn’t come easy to me. “I try to make it very clear that it has been a long and continuing struggle for me. I post pictures of me looking haggard - and once with my tooth out! The Grace & Frankie Netflix star went on to show one of her incisors to the magazine and told them: “This is a fake tooth. It came out in a restaurant in Portugal, and I posted it.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8mEt3iFnhp/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8mEt3iFnhp/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by EQUIPMENT (@equipmentfr)</a> on Feb 15, 2020 at 8:52am PST </div> </blockquote> Fonda took to the stage at the Oscars this year to present best picture, where she debuted her new silver icy blonde hue that blew away fans. Her hair colorist Jack Martin shared that “her goal color was a silver icy blonde to surprise everyone at the 2020 Oscars presenting the final award winner for the movie of the year." Choosing to embrace her skin and age is not new to the actress, who told <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/may/21/jane-fonda-youth-plastic-surgery-sex-cannes" target="_blank">The Guardian</a> in 2015 she believed she “brought myself a decade with plastic surgery,” but ultimately walked away from cosmetic procedures altogether. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8X9ldhAkos/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8X9ldhAkos/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Jane Fonda (@janefonda)</a> on Feb 9, 2020 at 9:20pm PST </div> </blockquote> In her new HBO documentary Jane Fonda In Five Acts, the title film star expressed some regret at having turned to plastic surgery for her face. “I love older faces. I love lived-in faces. I love Vanessa Redgrave's face. I wish I was braver,” she said.

Beauty & Style

Recycling plastic bottles is good but reusing them is better

Last week <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/woolworths-to-be-first-in-australia-with-zerowaste-food-delivery-system/news-story/8fb2f4018a2b0d25a63c58ba8b12a19b#.mo33b">Woolworths announced</a> a new food delivery system, in collaboration with US company TerraCycle, that delivers grocery essentials in reusable packaging. The system, called Loop, lets shoppers buy products from common supermarket brands in reusable packaging. As Australia works out how to meet the national packaging target for 100% of Australian packaging to be <a href="http://www.joshfrydenberg.com.au/guest/mediaReleasesDetails.aspx?id=562">recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2025</a>, programs like this offer an opportunity to overhaul how plastic packaging is produced, used and recycled. Recycling alone is not the silver bullet Plastic packaging, most of which is for <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/3f275bb3-218f-4a3d-ae1d-424ff4cc52cd/files/australian-plastics-recycling-survey-report-2017-18.pdf">food and beverages</a>, is the fastest growing category of plastic use. In Australia <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/3f275bb3-218f-4a3d-ae1d-424ff4cc52cd/files/australian-plastics-recycling-survey-report-2017-18.pdf">less than 10%</a> of this plastic packaging is recycled, compared with 70% for paper and cardboard packaging. Of the <a href="http://www.sita.com.au/media/publications/02342_Plastics_Identification_Code.pdf">seven categories of plastic</a>, recycling of water bottles (PET) and milk bottles (HDPA) is most effective, yet recycling rates remain relatively low, around 30%. Other hard plastics (PVC, PS) and soft or flexible plastics, such as clingfilm and plastic bags, present significant challenges for recyclers. In the case of soft plastics, although recycling options are available, the use of additives known as plasticisers – used to make the hard plastic soft and malleable – often make products <a href="https://www.packagingcovenant.org.au/documents/item/2179">recycled out of soft plastics</a> weak, non-durable, and unable to be recycled further. <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-cant-recycle-our-way-to-zero-waste-78598">Some researchers</a> argue recycling actually represents a <a href="http://www.greenlifestylemag.com.au/features/2936/disposable-drink-bottles-plastic-vs-glass-vs-aluminium">downgrading process</a>, as plastic packaging is not always recycled into new packaging, owing to contamination or diminished quality. Even where single-use plastic packaging can be effectively recycled, it often isn’t. The more single-use plastics that are produced, the higher the chance they will enter the ocean and other environments where their <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2017-02-27/plastic-and-plastic-waste-explained/8301316">plasticiser chemicals leach out</a>, harming wildlife populations and the humans who depend on them. Zero Waste Europe recently updated its <a href="https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/your-environment/recycling-and-reuse/warr-strategy/the-waste-hierarchy">Waste Hierarchy</a> to emphasise avoiding packaging in the first instance, and to encourage reuse over recycling. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/299986/original/file-20191103-88399-1hlgzdg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/299986/original/file-20191103-88399-1hlgzdg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> The zero waste hierarchy for a circular economy. <a href="https://zerowasteeurope.eu/2019/05/a-zero-waste-hierarchy-for-europe/" class="source">Zero Waste Europe</a> Getting reuse right For a reusable product to be more environmentally sustainable than a single-use product, it must promote the use of less energy and resources in our daily routines. Although the uptake of products such as reusable cups and shopping bags have increased, these types of reusable items have attracted criticism. If used correctly, these products represent a positive change. However, <a href="https://theconversation.com/heres-how-many-times-you-actually-need-to-reuse-your-shopping-bags-101097">some research suggests</a> these products can be less sustainable than the single-use items they are replacing if people treat them like disposable items and do not reuse them enough. For example, if you regularly buy new reusable bags at the supermarket, that potentially has a greater environmental impact than using “single-use” plastic bags. To really reduce plastic packaging, we need to find ways to alter the routines that involve plastic packaging, rather than directly substituting individual products (such as reusable bags for single-use ones). Developing new reusable packaging systems Redesigning ubiquitous plastic packaging means understanding why it is so useful. For food packaging, its functions might include: <ol> <li> allowing food to travel from producer to consumer while maintaining its freshness and form </li> <li> enabling the food to be kept on a shelf for an extended period of time without becoming inedible </li> <li> allowing the brand to display various nutritional information, branding and other product claims. </li> </ol> So how might these functions be met without disposable plastic packaging? <a href="https://loopstore.com/how-it-works">TerraCycle Loop</a>, the business model that Woolworths has announced it will partner with, is currently also trialling services in the United States and France. They have partnered with postal services and large food and personal care brands including Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Clorox, Nestlé, Mars, Coca-Cola, and PepsiCo. Customers order products online, from ice-cream to juice and shampoo, with a small container deposit. These items are delivered to their house, and collected again with the next delivery. The containers are washed and taken back to the manufacturers for refill. The major participating brands have all redesigned their packaging to participate in the program. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/299987/original/file-20191103-88403-1n63f5v.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/299987/original/file-20191103-88403-1n63f5v.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> TerraCycle Loop reusable packaging. <a href="https://loopstore.com/how-it-works" class="source">TerraCycle Loop</a> This model works because it is not replacing products one-for-one, but creating a new product system to allow people to easily integrate reuse into their daily routines. We can examine the function of single use plastic packaging in takeaway food in a similar way. The purpose of takeaway food packaging is to let us enjoy a meal at home or on the move without having to cook it ourselves or sit in a restaurant. So how might these functions be achieved without disposable packaging? Australian company <a href="https://returnr.org/">RETURNR</a> has addressed this with a system in which cafes partner with food delivery services. Customers buy food in a RETURNR container, pay a deposit with the cost of their meal, and then return the container to any cafe in the network. The Kickstarter campaign <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zeroco/zero-co-win-the-war-on-waste-at-your-place">Zero Co</a>, is offering a similar model for a resuse service that covers kitchen, laundry and bathroom products. Making reuse <a href="https://www.uts.edu.au/research-and-teaching/our-research/institute-sustainable-futures/news/developing-alternatives">easy and convenient</a> is crucial to the success of these systems. If Australia is to meet our national packaging targets, we need to prioritise the elimination of unnecessary packaging. Although recycling is likely to remain crucial to keeping plastic waste out of landfill in the near future, it should only be pursued when options higher up the waste hierarchy – such as reuse – have been ruled out.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/126339/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rachael-wakefield-rann-321286">Rachael Wakefield-Rann</a>, Research Consultant, Institute for Sustainable Futures, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936">University of Technology Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jenni-downes-12549">Jenni Downes</a>, Research Fellow, BehaviourWorks Australia (Monash Sustainable Development Institute), <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nick-florin-160370">Nick Florin</a>, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936">University of Technology Sydney</a> This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/recycling-plastic-bottles-is-good-but-reusing-them-is-better-126339">original article</a>.

Technology

Whales and dolphins found in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch for the first time

Scientific research doesn’t usually mean being strapped in a harness by the open paratroop doors of a Vietnam-war-era Hercules plane. But that’s the situation I found myself in several years ago, the result of which has just been <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12526-019-00952-0">published</a> in the journal Marine Biodiversity. As part of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlIXcq2ijZQ">Ocean Cleanup’s Aerial Expedition</a>, I was coordinating a visual survey team assessing the largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world: the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. When the aircraft’s doors opened in front of me over the Pacific Ocean for the first time, my heart jumped into my throat. Not because I was looking 400m straight down to the wild sea below as it passed at 260km per hour, but because of what I saw. This was one of the most remote regions of the Pacific Ocean, and the amount of floating plastic nets, ropes, containers and who-knows-what below was mind-boggling. However, it wasn’t just debris down there. For the first time, we found proof of <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12526-019-00952-0">whales and dolphins in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch</a>, which means it’s highly likely they are eating or getting tangled in the huge amount of plastic in the area. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is said to be the largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world. It is located between Hawaii and California, where huge ocean currents meet to form the North Pacific subtropical gyre. An estimated <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5864935/">80,000 tonnes of plastic</a> are floating in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Our overall project was overseen and led by The Ocean Cleanup’s founder Boyan Slat and then-chief scientist Julia Reisser. We conducted two visual survey flights, each taking an entire day to travel from San Francisco’s Moffett Airfield, survey for around two hours, and travel home. Along with our visual observations, the aircraft was fitted with a range of sensors, including a short-wave infrared imager, a Lidar system (which uses the pulse from lasers to map objects on land or at sea), and a high-resolution camera. Both visual and technical surveys found whales and dolphins, including sperm and beaked whales and their young calves. This is the first direct evidence of whales and dolphins in the heart of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/296602/original/file-20191011-188797-8wu2a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/296602/original/file-20191011-188797-8wu2a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> Mating green turtles in a sea of plastics. photo by Chandra P. Salgado Kent, Author provided Plastics in the ocean are a growing problem for marine life. Many species can mistake plastics for food, consume them accidentally along with their prey or simply eat fish that have themselves eaten plastic. Both beaked and sperm whales have been recently found with heavy plastic loads in their stomachs. In the Philippines, a <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47608949">dying beaked whale</a> was found with 40kg of plastic in its stomach, and in Indonesia, a dead <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/s/sperm-whale/">sperm whale</a> washed ashore with 115 drinking cups, 25 plastic bags, plastic bottles, two flip-flops, and more than 1,000 pieces of string in its stomach. The danger of ghost nets The most common debris we were able to identify by eye was discarded or lost fishing nets, often called “ghost nets”. Ghost nets can drift in the ocean for years, trapping animals and causing injuries, starvation and death. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/297849/original/file-20191021-56220-k3ttsu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/297849/original/file-20191021-56220-k3ttsu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> Crew sorts plastic debris collected from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch on a voyage in July 2019. EPA/THE OCEAN CLEANUP Whales and dolphins are often found snared in debris. Earlier this year, a young sperm whale almost died after spending three years <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/01/digit-sperm-whale-saved-from-rope-entanglement-ghost-net-fishing-gear-off-dominica/">tangled in a rope from a fishing net</a>. During our observation we saw young calves with their mothers. Calves are especially vulnerable to becoming trapped. With the wide range of ocean plastics in the garbage patch, it is highly likely animals in the area ingest and become tangled in it. It’s believed the amount of plastics in the ocean could <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-43477233">triple</a> over the next decade. It is clear the problem of plastic pollution has no political or geographic boundaries. While plastics enter the sea from populated areas, global currents transport them across oceans. Plastics can kill animals, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718346072?via%3Dihub%22%22">promote disease</a>, and <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322703874_Plastic_waste_associated_with_disease_on_coral_reefs">harm the environment, our food sources and people</a>. The most devastating effects fall on communities in poverty. New research shows the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-22939-w">rapidly growing</a>, posing a <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12526-019-00952-0">greater threat to wildlife</a>. It reinforces the global movement to reduce, recycle and remove plastics from the environment. But to really tackle this problem we need creative solutions at every level of society, from communities to industries to governments and international organisations. To take one possibility, what if we invested in fast-growing, sustainably cultivated bamboo to replace millions of single-use plastics? It could be produced by the very countries most affected by this crisis: poorer and developing nations. It is only one of many opportunities to dramatically reduce plastic waste, improve the health of our environments and people, and to help communities most susceptible to plastic pollution.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/122538/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/chandra-salgado-kent-679930">Chandra Salgado Kent</a>, Associate Professor, School of Science, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/edith-cowan-university-720">Edith Cowan University</a> This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/whales-and-dolphins-found-in-the-great-pacific-garbage-patch-for-the-first-time-122538">original article</a>.

Travel Trouble

Tea drinkers at risk of ingesting billions of plastic particles

A single tea bag may leave billions of microplastic particles in your cup, a new study has found. Research published by the American Chemical Society’s journal Environmental Science & Technology discovered that one plastic tea bag released about 11.6 billion microplastic and 3.1 billion nanoplastic particles into brewing water – thousands of times higher than those previously recorded in other foods. “We were very, very surprised,” Dr Nathalie Tufenkji, a professor of chemical engineering at McGill University and co-author of the study, told <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/5948570/plastic-teabags-microplastics-in-tea/">Global News</a>. “We thought [plastic teabags] maybe release a couple of hundred [plastic] particles, maybe a few thousand. So we were really shocked when we saw they’re releasing billions of particles into a cup of tea.” The study, which analysed four different commercial teas in plastic packaging, found that the teabags shed two different types of plastic particles that are invisible to the naked eye: polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and nylon. The McGill University researchers said it is not known whether the ingestion of micro- and nanoplastics could have adverse effects on human’s health. In its first report on the health risks of plastic in tap and bottled water released last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) said microplastics “don’t appear to pose a health risk at current levels”. However, the WHO said the findings were based on “limited information” and called for more research on the matter. Researcher Laura Hernandez told <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49845940">BBC</a> shoppers should avoid plastic packaging instead of specific brands. Some tea manufacturers are moving away from paper in favour of plastic mesh to create a pyramid shape, which was claimed as helping the tea leaves infuse better. Many teabags on the market also use polypropylene as a sealant, preventing the bag from breaking in the cup. “We encourage consumers to choose loose teas that is sold without packaging or other teas that come in paper teabags,” said Hernandez. “There is really no need to package tea in plastic, which at the end of the day becomes single-use plastic, which is contributing to you not just ingesting plastic but to the environmental burden of plastic.” Last year, a study of 250 water bottles from nine different countries revealed that microplastics were found in nearly all major brands. Sherri Mason, a professor of chemistry at the State University of New York at Fredonia and the research’s leader said the study is not about “pointing fingers” at certain brands. “It’s really showing that this is everywhere, that plastic has become such a pervasive material in our society, and it’s pervading water — all of these products that we consume at a very basic level,” she told <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-43388870">BBC</a>. <a href="https://wwf.panda.org/our_work/markets/?348375/Plastic-ingestion-by-humans-could-equate-to-eating-a-credit-card-a-week">A study released by the University of Newcastle</a> in June suggested that the average person consumes 5 grams of plastic every week, or about a credit card’s weight.

Food & Wine

San Francisco International Airport to ban plastic water bottles

Travellers flying out of San Francisco International airport will no longer be able to buy plastic-bottled water before their flight. Starting August 20, the airport (SFO) will only allow water to be sold in glass, recycled aluminium or certified compostable materials. The new rule will apply to the airport’s convenience stores, restaurants and vending machines. While travellers are still prohibited from bringing filled water bottles from outside, they can bring empty disposable plastic water bottles to refill at one of over 100 water hydration stations installed at the airport. The move, which follows the ban on single-use food utensils in March, is part of SFO’s goal of becoming the world’s first <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/02/business/plastic-water-bottle-ban-sfo-trnd/index.html">zero-waste airport</a> by 2021. “We waited until now because a few years back there was really no market in place to provide an alternative to water in a plastic bottle,” said Doug Yakel, SFO’s public information officer. “This is a big move for the airport … it just further supports our green initiative.” Yakel said he hopes the rule can encourage more manufacturers to use <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/02/san-francisco-international-airport-plastic-water-bottle-ban">plastic-free packaging</a>. “We’re hoping that as the demand from retailers increases, there’s an increasing supply of water that’s bottled in something recyclable,” Yakel said. “We’re hoping to drive that industry as well.”

International Travel

New research exposes big plastic bag myth

If you’re someone who uses biodegradable plastic bags for the greater good of the environment, then unfortunately, there’s some bad news. Plastic bags that claim to be biodegradable are anything but. A new research has revealed in some instances, bags can still carry a full load of shopping three years after they were disposed. Disposable bags are supposed to be the solution to the worrying problems our planet is currently facing, with the plastic expected to decompose when buried in landfill or washed into sea. Published in Environmental Science and Technology, the study researched biodegradable, oxo-biodegradable, compostable and standard plastic bag over three years. The bags were then exposed to three different environments: open air, buried in soil and submerged in seawater. They also studied the bag in laboratory conditions. Depending on the environment they were in, the bags reacted different. When left in the open-air for nine months, all bag materials dissolved into fragments. When exposed to water, the bag disintegrated within three months, and when buried in soil, the environmentally friendly bag was still around after 27 months but was unusable due to tearing. But two of the bags, which are termed as oxo-biodegradable, spent three years in the ground or underneath seawater, and could still carry a load of shopping. “It is therefore not clear that the oxo-biodegradable or biodegradable formulations provide sufficiently advanced rates of deterioration,” wrote researchers from the UK’s University of Plymouth. Professor Richard Thompson, of the International Marine Litter Research Unit claims that come bags may be responsible for polluting our oceans as people expect them to decompose. “This research raises a number of questions about what the public might expect when they see something labelled as biodegradable. We demonstrate here that the materials tested did not present any consistent, reliable and relevant advantage in the context of marine litter,” he said.

Home & Garden

The genius cleaning hack that will make your plastic containers look as good as new

An Instagram account dedicated to providing cleaning hacks has gained traction after their latest tip. Instagram account Blossom, which currently has 3.9 million followers, has addressed a problem that almost everyone can relate to – stained lunchbox containers. The video, which has amassed a whopping 650,000 views in just one day, takes you through a 5-step process to ensure your containers end up looking as good as new. In the short clip, a yellow-tinged lunchbox is shown. The expert then adds a generous scoop of sugar to the stained container. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BvZR_z-A-PF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BvZR_z-A-PF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Blossom (@blossom)</a> on Mar 24, 2019 at 7:53am PDT </div> </blockquote> Adding a squirt of dishwashing soap over the sugar, the cleaning aficionado lets the mixture sit in the lunchbox. Then, in a surprising turn of events, she adds six ice cubes and lets them dissolve. The last step involves a glass of water which is added to the mixture. It is then left to sit for 10 minutes. Once the concoction is emptied and the container is rinsed, the formerly stained item is now looking as good as new. Sugar helps break down old stains due to the enzymes it carries, while the ice cubes take apart the discoloured tinge. Users took to the comments section to praise the expert for helping them with something they’ve struggled with for a long time. “You just solved a problem so many households have!” wrote one user. “This is so great for busy parents, thanks for sharing!” said another. Scroll through the gallery above to see the step-by-step process for removing stains off plastic containers. Will you be trying out this nifty hack? Let us know in the comments below.

Home & Garden

Simple trick to remove food stains from your plastic tubs in minutes

Have you ever stored red pasta sauce or Bolognese in some Tupperware and then found it was stained orange even after you washed it? There’s no need to chuck it out - there is a very simple way to remove the stains for good. All you need is some baking soda and a little water. Mix it up into a thick paste and smear it all over the affected area. Use a scouring brush to give the stained container a good scrub. Rinse well in hot water and you should find the marks have vanished. Got a stubborn stain that the baking soda paste can’t handle? Try this – fill the container half way with hot water and then add half a capful of food safe bleach. Fill all the way up and leave in the sink overnight to soak. Did you know that baking soda can be used all over the house for cleaning? Whether it’s for <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/beauty-style/2017/05/10-ways-to-deodorise-smelly-shoes/" target="_blank">cleaning your oven</a>, making your <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/home-garden/2017/06/homemade-weed-killers-that-work/" target="_blank">own weed-killer</a>, or for <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/home-garden/2017/08/how-to-clean-your-oven-naturally/" target="_blank">deodorising smelly shoes</a> – this is a product you need to have on hand. Have you tried this tip? Did it work for you?

Home & Garden

Celebs who ditched plastic surgery and look better than ever

Last month, Courteney Cox announced that after years of using cosmetic fillers, she’s had them all dissolved. “[They] made me look fake,” she admitted to New Beauty Magazine. “I feel better because I look like myself.” As it turns out, the 53-year-old Friends star isn’t the only celebrity turning their back on plastic surgery in favour of a more natural look and choosing to age gracefully. Take a look at the stunning before-and-after photos of celebrities who chose to ditch the Botox and embrace their natural beauty in the gallery above.

Beauty & Style

Courteney Cox opens up about her regret of plastic surgery

Courteney Cox has opened up to New Beauty about Hollywood’s obsession with looking young and how it led her to make poor choices with her own body. “I grew up thinking that appearance was the most important thing. That’s kind of sad because it got me in trouble. I was trying so hard to keep up, and I actually made things worse,” she explained, highlighting how doctors would commonly pressure her to nip and tuck here and there. “Well, what would end up happening is that you go to a doctor who would say, ‘You look great, but what would help is a little injection here or filler there.’ So you walk out and you don’t look so bad and you think, no-one noticed — it’s good. Then somebody tells you about another doctor: ‘This person’s amazing. They do this person who looks so natural.’ You meet them and they say, ‘You should just do this.’” The 53-year-old star revealed that after receiving so many outside opinions, she no longer looked like herself. “The next thing you know, you’re layered and layered and layered. You have no idea because it’s gradual until you go, ‘Oh s**t, this doesn’t look right.’ And it’s worse in pictures than in real life,” Courteney said. “I have one friend who was like, ‘Whoa, no more!’ I thought, I haven’t done anything in six months. I didn’t realise.” Some of her friends assured her that she looked good but eventually she had enough. “I’ve had all my fillers dissolved. I’m as natural as I can be. I feel better because I look like myself. I think that I now look more like the person that I was,” Courteney added. “I hope I do. Things are going to change. Everything’s going to drop. I was trying to make it not drop, but that made me look fake. You need movement in your face, especially if you have thin skin like I do. Those aren’t wrinkles — they’re smile lines. I’ve had to learn to embrace movement and realise that fillers are not my friend.” Courteney also mentioned that she would “love” to have a child with her 40-year-old fiancé. “I would love to have a baby now,” she said. “I mean, I could carry someone else’s egg.” The TV star has a 13-year-old daughter named Coco with her ex-husband David Arquette who she was married to from 1999-2012. “I may be one of the older people doing it, but I would love to, with Johnny that is,” she said. “He’s younger than me, and with any other guy that would be the hardest thing in the world, but looks are not that important to him or his family. External beauty isn’t even on his radar.” “I used to worry about the age difference, but I don’t think it matters. He appreciates beauty, but it’s deeper than that,” she said.

Beauty & Style

5 reasons to start wrapping your luggage in plastic

Wrapping your luggage tightly in plastic film as though it was an oversized sandwich might seem a little odd, but there’s actually some method to this madness. Here are five reasons you might want to give it a try next time you’re headed to the airport. 1. Extra protection against theft While it’s generally recommended you avoid placing any objects of real value in your carry-on anyway, wrapping your checked luggage can be an extra layer of protection from sticky fingers. While it’s certainly not guarantee your items are going to remain safe, it’s an extra deterrent that might halt the less industrious thieves. 2. Alerts you to any tampering When your luggage has been tampered with, if you want to stand a chance of recouping your lost items time is of the essence. A layer of plastic film provides a pretty obvious notification that something might be awry with your luggage. 3. Helps keep your bags together If you’ve gone a little overboard with the souvenirs and your luggage is busting at the seams, wrapping it in plastic provides that extra layer of protection that will make you confident your new souvenir snow globes will make it to your destination. 4. An extra deterrent against stowaways While cases are few and far between, there are instances where passengers have become drug mules without even knowing it, and having your luggage protected with a thin plastic film provides an extra deterrent from this sort of thing happening. 5. Extra layer of protection against damage Hey, we’re not saying bag handlers are careless, but when you’re processing thousands of bags everyday you’re not going to treat everyone like the Crown Jewels. A thin layer of plastic helps provide that extra layer of protection from damage. Where do you sit on the luggage wrapping fence? Do you think it’s worthwhile? Or is it just a waste of time, money and materials? Share your thoughts in the comments. Video credit: YouTube / raju paudel Related links: <a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/09/a-solution-to-lost-luggage-for-good/">A solution to lost luggage for good</a> <a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/08/8-common-mistakes-when-packing-checked-in-luggage/">8 common mistakes when packing checked-in luggage</a> <a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/08/how-to-ensure-your-bag-is-never-misplaced/">How to ensure your bag is never misplaced</a>

Travel Tips

This country just banned all plastic cups, plates and utensils

Plastic cups, plates and utensils are quite useful when it comes to entertaining (particularly if you’re catering for a large group of people), but if you’re planning on throwing a party in France in the next few years you might have to find another option. France has officially become the first place in the world to place a ban on all plastic cups, plates and utensils. Plastic ware will be officially be phased out by 2020 and from that point on replacements will need to be made from biologically sourced materials. In 2015 alone over 4.73 billion plastic cups were discarded in France, and lawmakers hope the move will put an end to the country’s dependence on disposable plastic wares. The move has been welcomed by conservation groups, concerned about the problem of dealing with increased amounts of waste that are caused by a growing global population. Not everyone’s happy though. Industry group Pack2Go Europe actually thinks the measures will make the problems worse, with secretary general Eamonn Bates telling the Associated Press, “We are urging the European Commission to do the right thing and to take legal action against France for infringing European law. If they don't, we will.” What’s your take on the move by France to get rid of all plastic ware? Do you think Australia should take similar measures? Share your thoughts in the comments. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/09/common-laundry-machine-mistakes/">6 common laundry machine mistakes</a> <a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/09/things-you-didnt-know-your-rice-cooker-could-do/">7 things you didn’t know your rice cooker could do</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/08/why-there-is-a-hole-in-your-pasta-spoon/">The reason why there’s a hole in your pasta spoon</a>

News

10 creative ways to recycle plastic bottles

Doing our bit to save the environment can look as good as it feels with these 10 nifty tricks for recycling plastic bottles. Never throw out a plastic bottle again with these innovative home and garden solutions. What have you created with recyclable materials? Let us know in the comments below what you opted to do. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/08/ways-to-revive-a-nearly-dead-houseplant/">6 ways to revive a nearly dead houseplant</a> <a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/07/how-to-make-candles/">How to make candles</a> <a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/07/how-to-make-a-no-dig-garden/">How to make a no dig garden</a>

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Tea drinkers at risk of ingesting billions of plastic particles

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New research exposes big plastic bag myth

The genius cleaning hack that will make your plastic containers look as good as new

Simple trick to remove food stains from your plastic tubs in minutes

Celebs who ditched plastic surgery and look better than ever

Courteney Cox opens up about her regret of plastic surgery

5 reasons to start wrapping your luggage in plastic

This country just banned all plastic cups, plates and utensils

10 creative ways to recycle plastic bottles