Environment

The UK’s plastic waste export system is fundamentally failing and, without immediate political intervention, the environmental, social and economic consequences will only deepen.

Petrochemicals — fossil fuel-derived substances used in plastics, fertilizers, and synthetic materials — are a major, yet overlooked driver of Europe’s environmental, health, and climate crises. The report reveals how petrochemicals undermine EU commitments across sectors and highlights how powerful industry lobbies are pushing for deregulation and subsidies under the guise of “clean tech,” while expanding infrastructures.

The 2025 National Microplastics Poll is the first nationwide poll designed to understand U.S. Americans' knowledge and attitudes about various types of microplastics. The results provide valuable insights into how U.S. Americans perceive microplastic pollution and their willingness to support solutions that address this growing threat.

Advanced recycling, also known as chemical recycling, refers to a variety of processes used to break plastics into their constituent molecules. The industry has increasingly promoted these technologies, as public concern about the environmental and health effects of plastic pollution has grown. Yet the rollout of these technologies has been plagued by problems, according to this new analysis from the fossil-fuel accountability advocacy group CCI. 

Every Breath You Take: Air Pollution Risks from Petrochemical Production for the Plastics Supply Chain

Each year, approximately 83 mio tonnes of textile waste are produced globally – 65% of which are made from fossil-fuel derived synthetic fibres. This resource provides an accessible overview of how textile waste affects people and the environment in Africa. It also explores the global systems driving the crisis and outlines practical steps toward lasting, equitable solutions.

Plastic pollution is a serious issue of global concern which requires an urgent and international response involving all relevant actors at different levels. This page aims at listing relevant information, research, data and/or press releases issued by our partners in Geneva and other institutions around the world.

Plastic pollution threatens not only the environment, but also human health and that of future generations. This page is part of the Plastics and the Environment series, a set of online resources on the plastics crisis, its impact on people and the environment, and international cooperation to address this global problem.