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WHO: More than 90% of the world’s population breathes polluted air

The World Health Organization (WHO) stated today (February 2nd) that over 90% of the global population is breathing in high concentrations of pollutants, and poor air quality causes approximately 7 million deaths annually. New data released by the WHO shows that while air pollution is more severe in poorer countries, the problem is being addressed globally. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, "Air pollution threatens us all, but the poorest and most marginalized are hit hardest." This WHO study examining the health hazards of outdoor and indoor air pollution found that approximately 7 million people die each year due to exposure to particulate matter in polluted air. The study indicates that over 90% of deaths in low- and middle-income countries are related to air pollution, primarily in Asia and Africa. Maria Neira, Director of the WHO's Department of Public Health and Environment, stated, "This is a very serious problem we face." The data focuses on the dangers of hazardous particulate matter with a diameter between 2.5 and 10 micrometers (PM10, particulate matter) and particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5). PM2.5 contains toxins such as sulfates and carbon black, which pose the greatest health risk because they can penetrate deep into the lungs and cardiovascular system. According to the WHO, this can lead to respiratory illnesses such as stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and pneumonia. Source: C

2018-06-20

Portugal achieved 100% renewable energy power supply in March.

A new report indicates that Portugal's renewable energy generation exceeded total demand in March, setting a benchmark for other EU countries. According to data from Portugal's national grid company (Redes Energéticas Nacionais, REN), renewable energy generation reached 4,812 gigawatt-hours (GWh, equivalent to one million kilowatt-hours) that month, exceeding the peak national electricity demand of 4,647 GWh. Hydropower—which surged due to average rainfall in March being four times higher than usual—contributed 55%, while wind power accounted for 42%. This new record coincides with the Portuguese government's decision in early April to suspend its annual subsidy of €20 million (approximately NT$720 million or HK$190 million), most of which was obtained by thermal power plants that were put on standby. It has been almost a year since Portugal last supplied electricity from 100% renewable energy, a period that lasted 107 hours, while the average renewable energy generation in March last year was 62%. Is the outlook for green energy even more optimistic? "Last month's results are a prime example of how close we are to achieving fully green energy generation. This is not only a milestone for Portugal's power system, but also demonstrates that renewable energy can meet the electricity needs of an entire country," said two Portuguese non-profit organizations, APREN and ZERO, in a jointly published report. They anticipate that by 2040, Portugal's annual electricity demand will be stably supplied by economically viable renewable energy sources. While thermal power plants will still need to operate for some time, the rest of the time...

2018-06-15

While the import of "foreign waste" is banned, the circular economy cannot be achieved overnight.

Starting January 1, 2018, China's ban on the import of foreign waste officially took effect. This ban covers 24 types of solid waste in four categories, including waste plastics from household waste, unsorted waste paper, and waste textile materials. The document explicitly states the reason for the ban: "The illegal entry of foreign waste has been a persistent problem, seriously endangering the health of the people and the safety of China's ecological environment." This is just the beginning; by the end of 2019, China will gradually stop importing all solid waste that can be replaced by domestic resources. Clearly, the Chinese government's fundamental attitude towards foreign waste has changed. Recycled metals and plastics are cheaper than virgin materials. Fundamentally, China's status as a global manufacturing center, and the resulting massive demand for cheap raw materials, has determined that China has continuously imported large quantities of solid waste from abroad for decades. According to data from the United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database (Comtrade), in 2015, more than 70% of the world's waste plastics and 37% of waste paper were exported to China. European countries and the United States are the main sources of these wastes. This supply chain has continued naturally because every link in it is profitable. For developed countries, domestic processing costs are approximately $400 to $1000 per ton, while shipping to China, even with freight, costs only $10 to $40 per ton. Chinese recipients, however, buy these goods at extremely low prices, then resell them through multiple sorting and classification processes, creating a chain of transactions at the bottom of the global value chain.

2018-04-19

C2CPII publishes the fourth draft of the C2C Certification™ standard, including a list of restricted substances.

C2C Product Certification (Cradle to Cradle Product Certification™) is one of the world's most recognized and valuable environmental sustainability certifications, and 2017 was a year of rapid progress for C2C certification. Of particular note is the significant increase in the number of C2C-certified products. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated C2C certification as the highest product sustainability standard in its new federal green procurement guidelines. Home Depot and Walmart also recognize C2C certification as one of the very few trustworthy third-party verification programs for green chemistry and safe materials. As C2C certification gains increasing recognition and value in the global market, C2CPII believes it has a greater responsibility to ensure that this certification standard maintains its leading position in the global product sustainability field. This commitment drives C2CPII to continuously revise and optimize the C2C certification standard. Currently, C2CPII is revising the standard and plans to release the fourth version of the C2C certified product standard by the end of 2018. During the revision of the fourth edition, the C2CPII's Certification Standards Committee recognized that "we can seize this opportunity to update the list of prohibited chemicals to better align ourselves with the latest international chemical regulations." Therefore, the C2CPII proposed several significant changes to the fourth edition of the prohibited chemicals list, and also introduced a new name: the "Basic Level Restricted Substances List (RSL)."

2018-04-19

Studies have found that flame retardants in furniture can increase the toxicity of smoke.

A UK study on the use of chemical flame retardants in furniture has found that these retardants can increase the toxicity of smoke, potentially posing a greater risk to human health than their ability to slow the spread of fire. In this study, experts used furniture fabrics with different added flame retardants and compared the effects of fire spread and smoke toxicity on human health in a fire. Of the four sofa beds in the study, three met the UK Furniture Flammability Regulations (FFR), while the other met the EU's requirements for flame retardant-free fabrics. Of the three FFR-compliant sofa beds, two used different types of chemical flame retardants that were FFR compliant, while the third was made entirely of natural materials and employed a special weaving technique to meet FFR flammability requirements. In actual combustion tests, it was found that compared to an EU sofa bed without added flame retardants, the British sofa bed with added chemical flame retardants took longer to ignite. However, during the period before the sofa bed ignited, the sofa bed with added chemical flame retardants produced large amounts of toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide when heated. Tests assessing the risk of disability and death from the combustion gases revealed that the gases produced by the two chemical flame retardants caused the greatest harm to humans, with the EU sofa bed without added chemical flame retardants ranking second. However, sofa beds made entirely of natural materials and using special weaving techniques that meet the UK's FFR flammability requirements also had a shorter ignition speed.

2018-03-14

Information reveals progressive corporate sustainability reports: 74% show positive growth.

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)'s latest "Reporting Matters" report shows considerable progress in sustainability reporting by the world's leading companies. This sustainability report, covering 157 member companies from 20 industries and 35 countries, indicates significant advancements in corporate reporting in terms of financial statements and information disclosure, and a gradual shift towards digital reporting. This year, 74% of the corporate reports reviewed by Reporting Matters received a higher overall score than the 2013 baseline year, and 79% of the reports acknowledged the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in some way. On September 25, 2015, governments worldwide established 17 Sustainable Development Goals to eradicate poverty, protect the planet, and ensure equitable distribution of wealth. The deadline for achieving these 17 goals is 2030. The new report shows that 44% of companies are now publishing not only traditional PDF reports but also online reports, a better performance than the 23% when the World Commission on Sustainability first began tracking company reports in 2014; 34% of company reports combine financial and non-financial information, up from 23% in 2013, with 22% of those using the International Integrated Reporting Framework. 27

2018-01-22

Denmark asks the EU to help close the microplastics knowledge gap

The Danish government has strongly urged the European Commission to help bridge the knowledge gap regarding microplastics when formulating future EU plastics policies. The Danish government stated that for microplastic reduction targets to be successfully achieved, the European Commission must strengthen knowledge dissemination regarding microplastics. Only with a strong knowledge base can plastics strategies be effectively implemented. The negative environmental impacts of microplastics and the process by which plastics break down into microplastics in natural and artificial water systems need to be revealed and disseminated to the general public. Currently, the general public's understanding of the sources of microplastics is limited to microbeads added to personal care products. However, in reality, microplastics originate from plastic products and gradually break down into plastics during use and after disposal, entering the environment and water bodies. Therefore, knowledge about microplastics must not only include their sources but also clearly explain their impacts to raise public awareness of the potential environmental damage caused by microplastics. In addition to disseminating knowledge about microplastics to the public, the Danish government also points out that in order to build a new plastics value chain, industry needs a deeper understanding of microplastics, and the European Commission needs to develop a regulatory framework to require companies to comply with the EU's planned plastics policy. The Danish government recommends the following measures be incorporated into EU plastics policy: • Banning microbeads in personal care products; • Gradually limiting the addition of harmful additives and ingredients to plastics; • Enabling the general public to work together to reduce plastic pollution; • Reducing general solid waste...

2018-01-22

China has the capability to exceed its current emissions reduction targets by 2023.

A recent study published in the environmental science journal *Resources, Conservation & Recycling* shows that China has an opportunity to control its total primary energy consumption to a more reasonable level and achieve its carbon emission reduction targets around 2023. Whether China, which accounts for a quarter of global carbon dioxide emissions, can achieve its carbon reduction targets as soon as possible is crucial. Yang Fuqiang, senior advisor at the Natural Resources Defense Council, believes that the closer China's carbon reduction targets are to 2020, the higher the likelihood of achieving the global carbon emission targets declared in 2020. 2020 is widely considered a critical year for global climate action; if carbon emissions cannot be reduced to the set targets by 2020, humanity will face catastrophic consequences such as accelerated sea-level rise and worsening extreme weather events. This study, a collaboration between Yuan Jiahai, professor at the School of Economics and Management of North China Electric Power University, and Liu Qilin, visiting researcher at the Center for Asian Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, focuses on China's energy consumption. Carbon dioxide accounts for 77% of global greenhouse gases, and more than 90% of carbon dioxide comes from energy consumption; therefore, reducing carbon emissions from energy consumption is a primary task in mitigating climate change. China's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) submitted to the United Nations in 2015 aimed to reduce the country's carbon dioxide emissions by 60%–65% per unit of GDP by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. (Yuan Jiahai)

2017-12-06

PwC releases "2017 SDGs Global Survey": 70% of global companies responded to the SDGs, but awareness remains insufficient.

To assist businesses in responding to the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and more effectively identifying key areas for development, PwC Taiwan and the Taiwan Business Sustainability Training Center jointly hosted the "Discovering Corporate Sustainability in the SDGs" forum on November 22, 2017. The forum released the "PwC Global SDG Reporting Challenge 2017" and invited Chien Yu-Hsin, Chairman of the Taiwan Business Sustainability Training Center, and Mr. Hans Schoolderman, Partner of PwC Netherlands Sustainability, to analyze strategies and solutions for businesses developing SDGs. Representatives from companies such as Sinyi Realty, Cathay Financial Holdings, Far EasTone Telecommunications, and Unilever also shared their experiences, aiming to help businesses gain a head start in formulating and developing their SDGs action capabilities. According to statistics, 43 countries worldwide submitted Voluntary Country Review Reports (VNRs) for the Sustainable Development Goals in 2017, and more countries are expected to submit VNRs in 2018, which will inevitably have a policy impact on business activities in the future. This year, PwC conducted the "PwC Global SDG Reporting Challenge 2017" specifically to investigate how companies are responding to the Sustainable Development Goals. According to the latest research results, 62% of companies are reporting the SDGs to stakeholders, higher than expected; among them, 37% of companies...

2017-12-06

"Connecting GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards with UN SDGs" - Green Sustainability E-textbook

In 2016, the United Nations launched a series of promotional activities for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and in 2017, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) released the latest version of the sustainability reporting framework – the GRI Standard. Linking the 17 UN SDGs with the GRI Standard has gradually become a trend in international corporate social responsibility reports and corporate sustainability reports. To provide SMEs with opportunities for self-learning and experience sharing, we have specially launched the "Linking GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards with UN SDGs" green sustainability e-learning material, assisting SMEs in creating their own corporate sustainability reports in accordance with international standards, even with reduced manpower. The link to the "Connecting GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards and UN SDGs" electronic green sustainability training material is: https://embed.kumu.io/b0dc95460ef3cd2800efb94261a3461f#gri-sdgs. The Small and Medium Enterprise Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, in order to enhance the green competitiveness of enterprises, commissioned the Quality, Environmental and Safety Department of the Plastics Processing and Technology Research Institute to implement the "SME Green Little Giant Guidance Program," dedicated to assisting manufacturers in meeting international environmental protection requirements and promoting green product design and marketing. If enterprises are further interested in green-related issues, they can visit the SME Green Environmental Protection Information Network at http://green.pidc.org.tw/index.php, or contact 0

2017-12-06

21 companies selected for Sustainable Earth 2017

Since 2016, the United Nations has used the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a blueprint and guide for sustainable development over the next 15 years, outlining 17 global sustainable development goals. Taiwan officially established the "Legislative Yuan UN Sustainable Development Advisory Committee" on September 26th of this year. Externally, this will be used to advance diplomacy; internally, policies will be reviewed based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, demonstrating Taiwan's emphasis on global sustainable development trends. The Small and Medium Enterprise Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs is also actively working to help 1.4 million SMEs connect with international standards, enabling Taiwanese companies to link to international markets and strengthen their sustainable development and green competitiveness. The "SME Green Little Giant Mentoring Program" serves as the main focus, guiding companies to become "Green Little Giants." Recently, in conjunction with the Taipei Main Station "Mobile Payment Shopping Festival," a showcase of annual achievements was presented under the theme "Sustainable Earth, Businesses Take Charge." Companies including Green Energy, Changxin Plastics, and Blue Whale International exhibited green and environmentally friendly products across food, clothing, housing, transportation, education, and entertainment, bringing the concepts of "sustainability and circular economy" closer to people's lives and advocating for the public to value the green economy, consume green products, create green cash flow, and achieve green manufacturing. Experts from the Allen MacArthur Foundation, a global pioneer in circular economy thought, were recently invited to Taiwan and also emphasized the "new plastic economy," which aims to ensure that plastics never become waste through a complete cycle. Cooperation within the plastic product value chain must be considered from the design stage.

2017-12-06

Duke University study: Haze significantly reduces the efficiency of photovoltaic power generation in China

According to data from the International Energy Agency, China added 34 GW of photovoltaic (PV) capacity in 2016, more than double that of the United States, accounting for half of the world's new installed capacity. If clean energy, represented by solar power, can replace the coal-fired power generation structure, it will greatly improve China's environmental situation. Huge investments in clean energy are one of the key initiatives of governments at all levels in China. Installing PV panels improves air quality—this is a cause-and-effect relationship we've always understood. But what about the reverse? Will the still-improving air quality negatively impact PV power generation? A recent study from Duke University confirms this question. Based on global climate model data from NASA's GISS, the study found that particulate matter in air pollution can significantly reduce PV power generation efficiency, by as much as 17%. Short-wave solar radiation is absorbed and scattered by dust and particulate matter; this phenomenon, known as solar dimming, reduces the intensity of radiation received by PV modules, resulting in power loss. According to the study, based on China's current PV power generation capacity, the power loss caused by smog is estimated at 11 GW, nearly one-third of China's new PV installed capacity. It is noteworthy that human-caused particulate matter has a greater impact on photovoltaic power generation than natural dust. Researchers sampled and analyzed the deposits on the surface of photovoltaic modules, finding that only 8% consisted of non-dust particles, i.e., particles generated by human activities. This 8%...

2017-11-16

Formosa Plastics ranks last among the world's 22 largest chemical companies in terms of "low-carbon response strategies".

To achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, the role of the chemical industry cannot be ignored. CDP, the world's largest environmental data platform, released a new report this month, "Catalyst for Change," analyzing the performance of the world's 22 largest chemical companies in their "low-carbon response strategies." The report points out that process improvements in the chemical industry are generally not transparent enough, with insufficient information disclosure. High-polluting processes such as those for petrochemical products still require more proactive innovation to have a chance of meeting the Paris Agreement's 2°C target. The chemical industry is a major energy consumer, accounting for one-eighth of global industrial carbon emissions, and is an indispensable link in the supply chains of other industries; for example, nearly 95% of industrial products rely on some form of chemicals. The "Catalyst for Change" report analyzed the carbon emissions of the world's 22 largest chemical companies, with a total market capitalization of $626 billion and annual carbon dioxide emissions reaching 276 million tons. In terms of performance rankings, Johnson Matthey, AkzoNobel, and DSM were among the best performers; Dow Chemical and LyondellBasell Industries were among the worst performers, with Formosa Plastics Group ranking last. The report, based on recommendations from Mark Carney's Working Group on Climate-Related Financial Risk Disclosure (TCFD), used four key indicators...

2017-11-16

Cardboard boxes are expensive and environmentally unfriendly, so China is promoting shared parcel lockers.

China is about to experience a surge in express delivery orders during the "Singles' Day" shopping festival. Statistics show that in 2016, the mainland's express delivery volume reached a staggering 31.2 billion pieces. However, cardboard boxes are expensive and environmentally unfriendly, prompting some companies to launch reusable "shared express boxes." According to reports from CCTV News and China News Service, statistics from the State Post Bureau of China indicate that in 2016, China's express delivery volume exceeded 31.2 billion pieces for the first time, requiring 46 million metric tons of corrugated cardboard, accounting for one-third of the global total, equivalent to approximately 72 million trees. This year, Suning Logistics will launch lighter and more portable "shared express boxes," with plans to deploy 200,000 by 2018 for self-pickup and door-to-door delivery services for 3C products, baby products, and fragile fast-moving consumer goods. Hou Enlong, president of Suning.com, said, "If the entire e-commerce industry joins Suning.com's shared parcel box project, pooling everyone's efforts, we can save nearly 46.3 Lesser Khingan Mountains (of trees) a year." The report indicates that the shared parcel box is a square plastic container. After delivery, the courier folds it up into a flat plastic sheet and takes it back to the warehouse for reuse. The production cost of a single shared parcel box is RMB 25 (approximately NT$115), and it can be recycled an average of 6 times per week. The estimated lifespan of a single parcel box is over 1000 uses, with a single use cost of only RMB 0.025. The report also points out that in addition to parcel boxes, some e-commerce companies have launched reusable packaging bags. These bags are sealed with drawstrings and are collected by delivery personnel, returned to the warehouse for repackaging and reuse. Source: Huanqiu.com

2017-11-16

UK: Government sued for ineffective air pollution control.

Thanks to the combined efforts of medical professionals and environmentalists, public awareness of air pollution has increased significantly, putting pressure on the government to address the issue. Consequently, air pollution has risen considerably on the UK political agenda. Much of the blame is directed at diesel vehicles. Because diesel engines emit fewer greenhouse gases than gasoline engines, previous governments encouraged their sales. According to government data, between 2000 and 2016, the share of newly produced diesel-powered cars rose from 12.9% to 39.1%, while the share of new diesel light commercial vehicles increased from 76.9% to 96.2%. A recent government policy making headlines is a complete ban on traditional petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040 to address violations of the EU's Ambient Air Quality Directive due to excessive nitrogen dioxide levels. The strategy involves requiring local councils to identify solutions to nitrogen dioxide emission hotspots, with draft plans required by March 2018. The UK government will provide £255 million to support the committee in implementing their plans, and will also establish a Clean Air Fund to fund measures such as road redesign, removal of traffic lights and speed bumps, and upgrades to buses. The UK government has already been sued three times by the legal organization ClientEarth over air pollution. The organization argues that the government's proposals so far are both insufficient and too slow to address a problem of this scale. The implementation speed of the government's policies has been slow each time.

2017-10-12

The EU is expected to launch a consumer APP to strengthen the improvement of SVHC replacement rate

The EU is expected to launch a consumer APP to strengthen the improvement of the SVHC phase-out rate. Recently, the EU REACH authorities, NGOs and academic units have worked together to promote the AskREACH APP project, aiming to enhance consumers' knowledge and understanding of substances of very high concern (SVHC) in products. What are the negative risks of these SVHCs to the human body and the environment, and help consumers identify the SVHCs contained in products so that consumers can make informed purchasing decisions. This project was initiated by the German Environmental Protection Agency (UBA) and has brought together more than 20 project partners from 13 EU member states to assist in the development and construction of this APP, which is expected to be launched in the spring of 2019. Another purpose of the plan is to encourage manufacturers to replace SVHC in their products. Through the transparent information of the APP, it reminds retailers, manufacturers, importers and their supply chain manufacturers that they must comply with the requirements of REACH regulations, while strengthening the supply chain. information communication. The ultimate goal of this project is, of course, to increase consumer awareness of SVHC in products, leading to the replacement of all SVHC in products marketed in the EU with safer chemicals. For this project to be successful, it will require an EU central IT system that includes the following three elements: – An information center where companies can upload SVHC data in products; – In addition to providing consumers with multiple language options, a smart APP, this APP must also be used at the sales location through big data technology

2017-10-12

Disclosure of UN SDGs-related information from companies across China

Information Disclosure Regarding UN SDGs by Companies Across Greater China This September marks the second anniversary of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). This article reviews the newly released Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reports for 2016 to understand how companies in Greater China are disclosing their SDG commitments. Among the 50 largest listed companies in mainland China and Hong Kong, only one-fifth listed SDG-related commitments in their 2016 CSR reports. In Taiwan, more than half of the 50 largest listed companies listed such commitments. However, the quality of information disclosure regarding SDG alignment strategies varies. Some CSR reports including SDG commitments lack open and transparent discussion, while others focus on the potential positive and negative impacts of corporate operations on SDGs and clearly translate SDG commitments into measurable and time-bound targets. Among companies operating in the Greater China region, some are taking a more strategic approach, identifying SDGs relevant to their operations and leveraging their contribution to expand their influence: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC) – in order to address seven specific SDGs

2017-10-12

Hong Kong environmental groups are researching and promoting easily recyclable fish tanks to reduce marine debris.

Hong Kong environmental groups are exploring the use of easily recyclable fish tanks to reduce marine debris. More than half of Hong Kong's marine debris is plastic, and some groups are suggesting that the government subsidize fishermen to help clean up marine debris during the fishing moratorium, while also establishing a comprehensive recycling and remanufacturing system. The groups plan to collaborate with Hong Kong fisheries representatives and fish wholesale markets to trial polypropylene fish tanks developed in the UK, replacing styrofoam boxes for holding fish. These tanks are less prone to breakage and offer similar insulation to styrofoam. Some fishermen have expressed willingness to try them, but this will depend on the cost of the fish tanks. Yang Songying, Project Manager (Ocean) of the Hong Kong branch of the World Wildlife Fund, visited the UK and the Netherlands earlier this month at the invitation of the European environmental organization Waste Free Oceans. He pointed out that Hong Kong previously lacked a comprehensive system for handling marine debris, relying on garbage collected from the sea and then sent to landfills for disposal. Referring to overseas experience, the focus should be on preventing garbage from falling into the ocean, starting with waste reduction at the source, reducing excessive packaging, implementing producer responsibility, and establishing an effective recycling system. He noted that in Spain, fashion design companies use recycled plastic bottles to produce clothing and shoes, and some European manufacturers use plastic bottles collected at sea to recycle cleaning agent bottles. Yang Songying said that it is necessary to encourage groups such as fishermen and water sports enthusiasts to work together to solve the marine debris problem. For example, in the UK and the Netherlands, local environmental groups promote the "Fishing for Litter" program, where fishermen collect garbage while fishing in large garbage bags, which are then processed immediately at recycling and sorting facilities on shore. Hong Kong could also learn from European fishermen applying for government funding during the fishing moratorium.

2017-10-12

Hazardous chemicals have become a high-risk source of consumer products in the EU.

Hazardous chemicals have become a high-risk source of consumer products in the EU. Hazardous substances in products have become the second largest source of health and safety risks in the EU market. According to the 2016 statistical report of the European Commission's Rapid Alert System for Non-Food Products (RAPEX), injuries caused by product use are the leading source of risk in the EU, accounting for 25% of rapid alert notifications in 2016, while notifications of products containing hazardous chemicals exceeding limits accounted for 23%, ranking second. The EU has implemented the RAPEX notification system since 2004. Its main purpose is to ensure that European consumers can buy safe products. It also serves as an information aggregation platform for market surveillance agencies among EU member states and for the European Commission to exchange and rapidly notify of dangerous goods. RAPEX publishes the name and brand of the notified product, the country of origin, the reason for being notified as a dangerous product, and the subsequent market handling mechanism weekly. Since its inception in 2004, the blacklist has seen tens of thousands of products added each year. Notified products are subject to varying degrees of corrective measures by the market surveillance authorities of EU member states, and in severe cases, manufacturers may be required to remove the products from shelves and recall them. The 2016 statistics for notified product categories were similar to previous years: – 26% were toys; – 18% were motorized vehicles.

2017-10-12

The first "eco-friendly" laundry bag is designed to prevent plastic fiber pollution of the ocean.

The first "eco-friendly" laundry bag specifically designed to prevent plastic fiber pollution in the ocean. Does washing clothes create plastic waste? The Guardian reports that German outdoor retailer Alexander Nolte & Oliver Spies has developed a super-fine mesh laundry bag that prevents plastic fibers from wool fabrics from entering the environment with laundry wastewater. The company is now collaborating with the well-known outdoor apparel brand Patagonia, and this week will ship the new laundry bag, "Guppy Friend," to those who supported them on Kickstarter last year. It will then be available on Patagonia. "Guppy Friend" is the first product developed specifically to address plastic fiber pollution. Plastic fibers are very small and easily end up in wastewater treatment plants. While natural fibers like wool or cotton biodegrade over time, synthetic fibers are not and easily absorb harmful chemicals from wastewater, such as pesticides or flame retardants. Furthermore, clothing fibers often contain chemicals to enhance waterproofing and other functionalities. Numerous studies have indicated that plankton and other small organisms may experience health problems if they ingest plastic fibers, and these fibers can also be introduced into the food chain. Researchers have also found large amounts of plastic fibers in fish and shellfish sold in markets. Currently, there is no research showing whether plastic fibers are harmful to humans. However, Nott believes that scientific research takes time, and it may take several generations to know the answer.

2017-10-12