Plastik in der Umwelt – Conference Proceedings of the Final Conference

Publication: Conference Paper
Citation: Ecologic Institute (ed.) 2021: BMBF-Forschungsschwerpunkt Plastik in der Umwelt – Quellen • Senken • Lösungsansätze. Abschlusskonferenz des Forschungsschwerpunkts "Plastik in der Umwelt" am 20./21. April 2021. Berlin: Ecologic Institute.

Plastic pollution in the environment is a global problem with unforeseeable ecological consequences. Despite numerous activities and approaches, there are only a few reliable findings on the input and distribution pathways and the effects on humans and animals. In order to close these knowledge gaps, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research established the major research focus "Plastics in the Environment - Sources - Sinks - Solutions" in summer 2017 and funded 20 innovative collaborative projects. The aim of the research was to obtain an overall picture of the environmental impact of plastics along their entire life cycle, from production and use to disposal. The aim is also to identify opportunities for improvement as well as options for action, thus creating the scientific basis for holistic strategies and measures.

In addition, the scientists collaborated on cross-cutting issues in these seven cross-cutting topics:

harmonization of microplastic analysis,
harmonization of possible assessment methods,
clarification of terms and definitions,
social and political dimensions of plastic in the environment,
methodological aspects of modeling and life cycle assessment,
recycling processes and use of recycled products, and
biodegradability of plastics.

This conference proceedings present the research of the joint projects and work results in the cross-sectional topics.

Towards an Effective Science-Policy Interface for a Global Plastics Treaty

Year 2024

Publication:Policy Brief

Amidst intense global efforts to tackle plastic pollution, the Scientists' Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty highlights the critical role of reducing primary plastic polymers. The Scientists' Coalition, consisting of leading scientists worldwide, argues in its latest policy brief that without a significant reduction in the production of these polymers, the effective fight against plastic pollution is not possible. The urgent call aims to draw attention to the need to break the plastic cycle at its source - the production of primary plastic polymers. This approach is crucial as it directly reduces the amount of plastics that end up in our environment.

Primary Plastic Polymers: Urgently needed upstream reduction

Year 2024

Presentation:Speech

On 13 March 2024, Doris Knoblauch (Ecologic Institute) gave a lecture on "Plastics and the Environment" highlighting the need for a global plastics treaty at a postgraduate course, where 21 experts from ministries, authorities, municipalities, non-governmental organizations and industry from low-income countries and emerging economies were represented and exchanged. The focus was on why plastic pollution is a problem and why we urgently need an international, legally binding plastics treaty.

Plastics & the Environment – Why We Need a Plastics Treaty

13 March 2024
Doris Knoblauch

News

Doris Knoblauch was an observer at the negotiations in Nairobi during the week and, as part of the Scientists' Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty (Scientist's Coalition for short), provided various negotiating delegations with scientific information. The Scientist's Coalition is an independent network of scientists around the world who conduct research on plastics, chemicals, and health, covering various disciplines and aspects. A team was on site to answer open questions quickly, scientifically and independently.

UN Negotiations on a Potential Plastics Agreement were Stuck in Nairobi

A long way to go

13 - 19 November 2023

Publication:Article

Plastics Treaty Text Must Center Ecosystems

Letter in Science

Year 2023

Publication:Article

This article illustrates the communication strategies that were successfully applied in the citizen science program Plastic Pirates in Germany. The program engages schoolchildren, teachers and youth groups in plastic pollution research. A variety of communication strategies have been implemented and continuously revised and adapted since the start of the program in 2016.

Sharing Communication Insights of the Citizen Science Program Plastic Pirates

Best practices from 7 years of engaging schoolchildren and teachers in plastic pollution research

Year 2023

News

Photo, taken during the plastic negotiations. Text "Help us to empower the independent voice of science by supporting our involvement in the plastics treaty negotiations" and a donation button

Ecologic Institute is a UN-accredited voice for a global plastics agreement. But we lack funding for the next decisive round of negotiations in Busan (South Korea) in November 2024. By participating, we are contributing to counteracting lobbying and enabling delegates to be properly informed. In Ottawa, we are currently providing specialist information on the effects of plastic production and consumption. Your donation will enable us to strengthen independent science and continue this important work!

Strengthen the Independent Voice of Science

Support our participation in the global plastics negotiations!

22 April 2024

News

After the euphoria had been dampened at the beginning of the negotiation week in Paris, there was a good result in the end: The Chair H.E. Mr. Gustavo Adolfo Meza-Cuadra Velasquez and the INC Secretariat were given a mandate to present a first draft ("zero draft") in the run-up to the next negotiations. This is an important next step. Doris Knoblauch accompanied the INC-2 negotiations in Paris for Ecologic Institute.

Why the Negotiations on the UN Plastics Agreement in Paris were a Success

An important step

29 May - 2 June 2023

Publication:Book

For many people, plastic bottles have become an indispensable part of everyday life. However, the production and throwing away of plastic bottles is harmful to the environment and the climate. Ideally, PET bottles are recycled and reused. But what happens to the bottles during the recycling process? "Die Geisterstunde" by Christian Tielmann is the third PIXI book produced as part of the BMBF research focus "Plastics in the Environment" with Stiftung Lesen and Carlsen Verlag and is dedicated to the recycling of plastic bottles.

Die Geisterstunde

Year 2023

Language: German
Credits: Editorial Staff: Doris Knoblauch, Dr. Ulf Stein
Layout: Lena Aebli
Funding: Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany
Published by: Ecologic Institute, Germany
Year: 2021
Dimension: 116 pp.
Project: Scientific Coordination of Research Projects on "Plastics in the Environment – Sources • Sinks • Solutions" (PlastikNet)
Project ID: 2295
Table of contents: Click to show full table of contents

Einführung
Untersuchungsstandorte der Verbundprojekte
Session A: Analyse und Wirkungen von (Mikro-)Plastik in der Umwelt
RUSEKU
SubμTrack
ENSURE
Session B: Verringerung von Plastikeinträgen in die Umwelt – Strategien und Verfahren (Teil 1)
RAU
TextileMission
InRePlast
Querschnittsthemen Teil 1
QST 4: Politische & soziale Dimension
QST 5a: Ökobilanzierung – Ergebnisse
QST 5b: Modellierung – Synthesepapier
QST 7: Bioabbaubarkeit
Session C: Reduktion und Vermeidung von Plastikmüll – Modelle und Methoden
Innoredux
VerPlaPoS
PlastikBudget
Session B: Verringerung von Plastikeinträgen in die Umwelt – Strategien und Verfahren (Teil 2)
REPLAWA
EmiStop
PLASTRAT
PhD-WinterSchool
Session D: Untersuchung und Bilanzierung von Mikroplastik in Gewässern
MikroPlaTaS
MicBin
PLAWES
MicroCatch_Balt
Session E: Weiterentwicklung von Recycling und Wiederverwertung
MaReK
ResolVe
revolPET
KuWert
Querschnittsthemen Teil 2
QST 1: Analytik
QST 2: Toxikologie
QST 3: Begriffe & Definitionen
QST 6: Recycling & Produktentwicklung
Plastikpiraten
Impressum
Keywords: Coastal + Marine

Communication

Education

Events

Governance

Plastics

Resource Conservation + Circular Economy

Water

research focus, limnic systems, green economy, consumption, recycling, plastics, microplastics, analytics, sea, ocean

Germany

Further Links

Website of the Research Focus Plastics in the Environment

EventDigital EventPlastics in the Environment (PlastikNet) – Webinar Series

Ecologic Institute

Plastic waste in cities, in the landscape, in rivers, on beaches, and eventually in the oceans – the presence of plastics in the environment is immediately and negatively visible. Entry pathways into the environment and environmental impacts of plastic are diverse and... Read more

Digital Event:Plastics in the Environment (PlastikNet) – Webinar Series

Date: 2 June 2022
Location: online

EventDiscussionScience Sips on Citizen Science and Plastic in the Science Year 2016*17 – Seas and Oceans

Ever tried oysters from a natural heritage site, or discussed plastics pollution of the oceans while sipping seaweed cocktails? Participants at the second Science Sips event got to experience exactly that on 28 April 2017 while sitting across the impressive dinosaur... Read more

Discussion:Science Sips on Citizen Science and Plastic in the Science Year 2016*17 – Seas and Oceans

Date: 28 April 2017
Location: Berlin, Germany

EventDiscussionPlastic Waste – Dimensions and solutions

The widespread use of plastics, the mass consumption of disposable plastic products and the longevity of plastics lead to a waste volume that can hardly be managed anymore. Many people are particularly alarmed by the pollution of the oceans by microplastics and plastic... Read more

Discussion:Plastic Waste – Dimensions and solutions

Date: 26 June 2019
Location: Berlin, Germany

EventWorkshopThe Challenges and the Significance of Bioplastics as Packaging Materials in the Food Industry

On 17 June 2019, the NaWiKo workshop "Sustainable management in companies based on the example of bioplastics" took place at the facilities of Bio-Molkerei Söbbeke GmbH, a sustainable creamery, in Gronau near Münster. The aim of the workshop was for company... Read more

Workshop:The Challenges and the Significance of Bioplastics as Packaging Materials in the Food Industry

Date: 17 June 2019
Location: Gronau, Germany

ProjectPlastic Pirates – Go Europe!

A torn plastic bag on the riverbank or a yoghurt cup floating in the water are symptoms of serious interference with the highly complex system of seas, the ocean and flowing waterways. The Plastic Pirates – Go Europe! project focuses on this plastic waste problem and... Read more

Plastic Pirates – Go Europe!

Duration: Apr 2020 - May 2023
Funding: Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany

ProjectPlastic Pirates – Go Europe! – German campaign

Plastic Pirates – Go Europe! – German campaign

Duration: Jul 2020 - Mar 2022
Funding: Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany

EventConferenceTheme Day: Plastic in the Environment

Ecologic Institute

Can microplastics get into the water, when I wash a fleece jacket made of polyester? How many climate-damaging greenhouse gases are emitted by the production of plastic? What is chemical recycling? Together with numerous researchers from all over Germany, we got to the... Read more

Conference:Theme Day: Plastic in the Environment

Date: 6 May 2022
Location: Berlin, Germany