Battling pollution in history’s most fabled sea

The shorelines, once covered in trees, have been largely stripped of greenery, while many of the fine sandy beaches are now lined with high-rise hotels. From the Bosphorus to the Saronic Gulf, towering container ships choke the waterways where wooden triremes previously held sway. And then there’s the trash. The past few decades haven’t been particularly kind to the Mediterranean, perhaps antiquity’s most storied sea. Booming population growth has saddled it with dollops of land-based waste, while massively expanded fishing and shipping operations have dirtied its waters from offshore. There are around 500 million bits of rubbish on the Mediterranean seafloor, according to UN Environment’s 2015 Marine Litter Assessment. In 2017, the sea frequently made the news for all the wrong reasons, and this year has only brought more of the same. For anybody of water, this would be intensely problematic. But for the Mediterranean – and the 21 countries that flank it – it is perhaps doubly so. No other sea of its size has so many dependents, including millions who rely on it for their livelihoods. And few other ecosystems can boast as outsized a share of the world’s marine life. Although the Med accounts for less than one percent of the global marine area, it shelters about six percent of marine species. If the sea’s water quality continues to deteriorate, there’s no telling how grave the consequences might be. The Med’s struggles take place against a backdrop of rising global concern about plastic pollution, and much of that distress is directed seawards. At least eight million tonnes of plastic filters into the planet’s oceans every year – a figure that might triple within a decade if nothing is done, according to a recent UK government report. Earlier this month, a pilot whale choked to death off the coast of Thailand after consuming at least eight kilograms of plastic. In some ways, it was inevitable that the Mediterranean would one day do battle with pollution because circumstances have, to a certain extent, conspired against it. It’s a semi-enclosed waterway, with only one proper outlet – which is of limited usefulness in expelling pollutants as stronger Atlantic currents block much of the outflow. It’s punctured by dozens of trash-laced rivers, and its circulation is rendered all the more peculiar by the incoming Black Sea flow, which is exceptionally nutrient-rich, and the Suez Canal, which introduces warmer Red Sea waters. But it didn’t have to be this bad. In large part, the Med is a victim of massive mismanagement. 70 percent of the wastewater that makes its way into the sea is untreated, according to UN Environment statistics, a volume that has only increased as the combined population of the littoral states has surged from 276 million in 1970 to not far off 500 million now. The Mediterranean has borne the brunt of states’ failure to keep pace with waste disposal requirements. And as the region’s coastal tourism infrastructure continues to grow, servicing well over 100 million sun seekers a year, so too is its irresponsible use of single-use plastics. In Greece alone, the volume of marine litter doubles over the summer. The Mediterranean’s fishy dependents have suffered even more than its humans. Every local turtle species is on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List, including the very endangered green turtle, whose numbers have fallen from around 1,000 females in the late 1970s to around 350 now.

Mediterranean action plan

Fortunately, however, there is help at hand. In fact, some wonder if the Mediterranean’s relative success so far in carving out a proper pollution-fighting framework might even be a model for others. Beginning in 1975, with the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP), the littoral countries have become increasingly ambitious in facing up to their shared crisis. The Plan, which was drawn up under the auspices of UN Environment’s Regional Seas Programme, was the first of its kind in the world to adopt legally binding measures on marine litter. It has contributed to a decrease in the amount of muck seeping into the water, no mean feat in a region sometimes riven by political tensions and divided among so many states. UN Environment/MAP is pushing to introduce improved, reduced, and standardized waste disposal facilities in ports. And as of this summer, at least seven bordering states have passed some kind of anti-plastic bag legislation. The tide, it seems, has finally begun to turn.

Infosys World Environment Day – Plastic to Funtastic

Plastic accounts for around 90% of all ocean trash with 46,000 pieces of plastic covering every square mile. It is high time we became aware of the harm caused by plastic!, On World Environment Day, the Infosys Sustainability team and the Eco Club at Infosys Bangalore partnered with Freethinker - a creative team based out of Bangalore - to support UN Environment and the #BeatPlasticPollution campaign.  

The team conceptualized an out-of-the-box program, adding FUN to address a serious issue. The result was ‘Plastic to Funtastic’, a unique experience to educate employees on how to minimize and eliminate single-use plastic from their daily lives and show the frightening consequences of inaction.  Plastic to Funtastic was a carnival-themed event where visitors had fun with plastic. Volunteers were deployed on-the-ground to set up and co-ordinate various games, activities and artistic displays made of plastic, bringing to life the importance of the theme: #BeatPlasticPollution.
 Among them, were vendors showcasing products made from copper and steel; bamboo home remedies made from bio-enzymes; jewelry crafted from recycled waste; and more. Visitors saw the opportunity to avail of a ‘cutlery bank’ facility free of cost, for small and large functions.  The Adamya Chetana team, an NGO based in Bangalore showcased their initiative to promote zero waste parties. The Infosys Sustainability team will continue such awareness programs to encourage Infoscions to adopt sustainable lifestyles. This move is part of Infosys’ continued effort to conserve the environment and encourage a sustainable lifestyle.

Why fast fashion needs to slow down

A recent study by the Ellen McArthur Foundation found that one garbage truck of textiles is wasted every second. And the Copenhagen Fashion Summit reported that fashion is responsible for 92 million tons of solid waste dumped in landfills each year. The fashion industry is also the second-biggest consumer of water, producing 20 percent of wastewater while also generating more greenhouse gas emissions than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. Ahead of World Environment Day on June 5, themed “Beat Plastic Pollution,” it’s worth remembering that synthetic microfiber pollution is washing up in our oceans at alarming rates. Around 100,000 marine animals are killed each year by plastic waste, including microfibers. We need to rethink our fast-fashion habit—we can’t continue to make clothes that do not consider our environment. First, it’s up to apparel brands to take responsibility for the waste they’re creating. Brands need to address chemicals, use of textiles waste and synthetic fabrics that don’t break down, and unfair working environments in the clothing industry head-on. The no-waste economy must be applied to fashion, just as it is in the food industry. We need action at each stage of the supply chain, starting with sustainable sourcing of fabrics, through to design, exploration of possible alternatives to distribution, and recovery and recycling of clothing. Big brands are starting to take notice: Nike, H&M, Burberry, and Gap have all recently signed up to the Make Fashion Circular initiative. It aims to improve the industry’s record on sustainability and reduce global waste from fashion by recycling raw materials and products. While recycling is certainly one solution, it is by no means the only solution. In China, but this is not ideal. In general, richer countries are consuming fashion that is made and produced in poorer countries. But all countries are involved in the value chain. In countries with emerging economies, there are an estimated 2 billion new consumers waiting to buy the latest trends. We are racing against the clock to include poorer countries in more sustainable manufacturing models so they can produce clothing locally and more sustainably. To shift typically linear take-make-waste fashion towards a circular model with no waste, we all need to be part of the movement to innovate and redesign our fashion industry. We can start by buying clothes with the circular economy in mind. It’s up to us as consumers to trigger change by voting with our wallets. The average number of clothing collections in Europe more than doubled between 2000 and 2011: we are buying more clothes and wearing them less. Our fast-fashion habit is expensive. More than US$500 billion in value is lost every year due to under-utilized clothes and lack of recycling. We as consumers need to educate ourselves about Circular fashion: we need to buy less clothing and when we do, we need to make sure that is more sustainable and higher quality. We also need to demand transparent sourcing. It will take time for the fast-fashion industry to slow down. The trends already set in motion by the Make Fashion Circular initiative and others are starting to gather steam. But to stop stretching our planet, we all need to play our part. Consume consciously and responsibly by reading the labels before you purchase. Be sure to look for natural and organic fibers, non-toxic dyes, take-back programs, and ethical production

Plastic pollution: how humans are turning the world into plastic

Modern life would be impossible without plastic – but we have long since lost control over our invention. Why has plastic turned into a problem and what do we know about its dangers? This video is a collaboration with UN Environment and their Clean Seas campaign if you want to take action to turn the tide on plastics, go to clean seas and make your pledge. We also partnered with ask science on Reddit – on you can talk to experts and ask questions about plastic pollution today!

Powering ships with plastic in Amsterdam

In the Port of Amsterdam, a new factory is being built that could revolutionize the way we dispose of plastic waste. Utilizing groundbreaking technology, the facility will use previously unrecyclable plastic to create fuel for diesel-powered cargo ships. The group behind the facility is Bin2Barrel, a Dutch company founded in 2012 by waste management entrepreneurs Floris Geeris and Paul Harkema. While the chemical recycling technology used in the past has worked, Bin2Barrel is the first company to utilize it commercially. Thanks to a partnership with the Port of Amsterdam and a grant from the Dutch government, the plant is expected to begin operations by the end of 2018. If all goes well, this will be the first of four such ‘plastic to fuel’ factories to be built near the port. In the initial year, it’s estimated that 35,000 tonnes of garbage will be converted into 30 million liters of fuel, giving value to materials that would otherwise go to waste. The project provides a multitude of environmental benefits across the entire value chain. The Port of Amsterdam estimates an annual 57,000 tonnes reduction of CO2 emissions. The most obvious benefit is in waste disposal. The plastic used by the factories is not suitable for traditional recycling and until now it was either burnt or ended up in landfills. By converting it to fuel, the plastic gets a new life and doesn’t enter the environment as trash. The other major benefit is in the actual fuel produced by the plant, which is being sold to the maritime industry. Traditional diesel requires massive amounts of energy to extract, transport and eventually burn. Because it bypasses the traditional production process, diesel made at the Bin2Barrel factory will emit 80 percent less CO2. It also provides an alternative to biofuels, which require large amounts of land and resources to produce. Critics of waste to energy argue that this sort of technology impedes the growth of truly renewable forms of power, such as solar and wind. However, the proponents of such recycling models argue that factories such as these are necessary, as they offer a more environmentally friendly option than those reliant on fossil fuels and at the same time address the ever-growing plastic pollution challenge. It goes without saying that to ensure a sustainable future, we need to move away from fossil fuels. The founders of Bin2Barrel acknowledge this and see ‘plastic to fuel’ as an intermediate step. The end game of the company isn’t to be a major fuel producer but instead turn towards recycling the plastics and advocate for a circular economy. The company’s ultimate goal is “the implementation of chemical recycling, in order to enable the creation of new plastics.” Once the technology is advanced Bin2Barrel wants to focus on breaking plastic waste down to valuable chemical components, so it can then be used again in entirely new products.

China’s trash ban lifts lid on global recycling woes but also offers opportunity

Governments also have a role to play by investing in recycling and waste management, he added. The British government is due to publish a Waste and Resources strategy later this year. China’s decision to ban imports of foreign waste, including some plastics, has reverberated around the world, with recycling operations in other countries struggling to deal with the new reality. But is this an opportunity wrapped in a crisis? Some experts argue that developed nations will, at last, have to face up to the true cost of their plastic addiction instead of shipping the problem to China, which has taken nearly half the world’s waste since 1992. This could spur much-needed investment in domestic recycling facilities as well as innovation in plastic manufacturing to make products more suited to repurposing. It could also invigorate the vociferous public campaign to change our throwaway culture. Last year, China decided to ban imports of 24 categories of solid waste, including certain types of plastics, paper, and textiles, citing environmental and health concerns. Essentially, it is seeking to upgrade its economy and deal more effectively with its own growing mounds of trash. The material it was importing added 10-13 percent to its overall waste levels. Another problem was the poor quality of waste imports, which made them more difficult to recycle and consequently hit profits for the Chinese companies involved. The ban came into force in January and the effects are now being tallied. In a new study, published in June in Science Advances, scientists from the University Of Georgia (UGA) found that 111 million metric tons of plastic waste will be displaced by China’s new policy by 2030. All that rubbish will have to go somewhere else. “Without bold new ideas and management strategies, current recycling rates will no longer be met, and ambitious goals and timelines for future recycling growth will be insurmountable.” The ban is already beginning to bite. The Washington Post says states such as Massachusetts and Oregon are lifting restrictions on pouring recyclable material into landfills. AFP has reported that significant stockpiles of recyclables are piling up in the US, with some municipalities saying they will no longer collect certain materials or send them to landfills, while some recycling facilities are storing the extra waste outside or in parking lots. The ban has also exposed systemic weaknesses in recycling processes in the United States. The National Recycling Coalition (NRC) said in May that the ban exposed the problems caused by dirty recyclables. The introduction of single-stream recycling in the United States, which mixes paper, metal, glass, and plastics - means recyclables are less pure and less valuable. Such changes will, of course, take time. As will new investment in recycling facilities to fill the gap left by China, which imported around 7 million tonnes of waste in 2016. This is even more concerning when one realizes that, to date, only 9 percent of waste has been recycled globally, with most of it ending up in landfills or in the environment, including in our seas sorted for recycling in Vietnam, one of the countries that is importing much of the waste now banned from China. Some developed countries reacted to the ban by sending their waste to other Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand and Malaysia, and some Chinese recyclers have opened factories in nearby countries to cash in on this new business. However, experts point out that some of these countries do not have the capacity to deal with the waste influx and are already considering imposing restrictions of their own. Another concern is that Asia is already home to five of the world’s top marine plastic polluters and sending more trash to countries that are ill-equipped to deal with it will simply exacerbate that problem. Since the Chinese ban, Britain’s waste exports to Malaysia have tripled, the Financial Times has reported, with the domestic recycling industry seen to be languishing and underfunded. European authorities appear to have recognized the value inherent in plastics. The European Commission’s Plastics Strategy, which was unveiled in January, says its drive to make all plastic packaging recyclable or reusable by 2030 could create 200,000 jobs but only if recycling capacity is multiplied fourfold.

Can listening to bees help save them - and us?

Bees are in trouble, but we're not quite sure why.

It could be the overuse of insecticides; air pollution; warming temperatures; the varroa destructor mite; or even interference from electromagnetic radiation. Or it could be a combination of all these factors. But until we have more data, we won't know for sure. So the World Bee Project and IT firm Oracle are creating a global network of AI "smart hives" to give scientists real-time data into the relationships between bees and their environments. Up to six sensors will be mounted on hives, capturing the sound of the bees' buzzing, the movement of their feet and wings, the weight of their honey, the hive's humidity, as well as local weather and pollution levels. Oracle - which says the data will be owned by the World Bee Project - will use blockchain to verify that the data is coming from a particular hive and hasn't been tampered with. Simon Potts, professor of biodiversity at Reading University, says it can be quite hard with simple laboratory or field experiments to tease out what is affecting bees.

For instance, when bees swarm, the existing hive can lose half its population and half of its honey, as those bees about to leave will gorge themselves first. So beekeepers want to minimize swarming. Bees often swarm due to inadequate ventilation or high temperatures, so having live data on humidity, temperature and the weight of a hive's honey would all give early indications of problems. A beekeeper would then be able to take preventative action.

Why are bees so important?

Bees are crucial for agriculture: 1.4 billion farming jobs and three-quarters of the world's food supply - worth about $577bn (£447bn) a year - depending on the pollination of crops. And of the 100 crop species that feed 90% of the world's population, 70 are pollinated by domesticated and wild bees. "Honeybees are the single most important pollinator on the planet," says Prof Simon Potts.

In the past 50 years, the volume of agricultural production dependent on pollination has risen by 300%, yet at the same time, bee populations have plunged. In the UK, for instance, the number of honey bees fell by 54% between 1985 and 2005. In the US the number of honey-producing bee colonies fell from 5.9 million to 2.4 million between 1947 and 2008 - a fall of 59%. More than 40% of invertebrate pollinator species - particularly bees and butterflies - are facing extinction, and the potential impact of this on agricultural production is just one of the factors behind last year's stark warning on global food security from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Yet what scientists have lacked is a comprehensive set of data to analyze the rates of bee declines in different regions of the world and the differing reasons for this. In the UK, an invasive species that is now threatening honey bees is the Asian hornet. When the much larger hornet enters a hive, worker bees will surround it and effectively cook it - and themselves - to death by raising their own body temperatures. Live monitoring would again allow an earlier action to be taken in removing such predators. In Manchester, Cisco and the city's Mi-Idea innovation Centre have partnered with Australia's data innovation group, Data61, to track bees' movements by using IoT technology. The team wants to understand phenomena such as colony collapse disorder, which sees the worker bees disappearing and leaving the queen isolated. The project fits RFID [radio-frequency identification] chips safely onto individual bees so researchers can record their movements.