[Music] I'd like you each to put your hands out in front of you, palms facing down, and take a look at the veins in your hands. Your circulatory system is transporting oxygen and nutrients to all parts of your body and it's also transporting microplastics. This is microplastics in your blood and in many ways this is horrifying.We think about the public health effects that we will see. Long-term studies are underway to determine what is the effect on human health. But initial studies are dire.There are conne ...

Environmental Impact of Plastics - Millions of tons of plastic waste end up on land, with 15 million tons directly entering the ocean annually [3] - Plastic persists in the environment for extended periods, ranging from 20 years to 450-600 years for nylon [3][4] - Macroplastics break down into secondary microplastics, while microplastics are also directly created from cosmetics, clothing, and tires [7][8][9] - Over 90% of drinking water samples contain microplastics, impacting not only bottled water but also water fountains and other liquids like beer and wine [13] Toxicity and Health Concerns - Microplastics can mechanically impair biological systems by jamming veins and the bloodstream [17] - Microplastics accumulate chemicals and pathogens, leading to potential chemical impairment in the body [16][18] - Synthetic polymers, due to their slow disintegration, can cause chronic toxic effects, potentially leading to conditions like lung cancer, while natural polymers may cause acute, localized toxicity like bronchitis [23][24] Addressing the Problem - Fast fashion contributes significantly to textile waste and microplastic pollution, with each wash releasing approximately 2,000 plastic particles per item, totaling about 12 million tons per year that wastewater treatment plants cannot capture [26][28] - The industry needs to bridge the gaps between academia, industry, and education to address microplastic pollution effectively [32] - Priorities include reducing textile waste, studying textile weathering, and investigating microplastics in lungs and intestines to determine toxicity levels [35][36] - A global vision is essential, involving the collection of microplastics from various environments (atmosphere, water, food) worldwide to understand and mitigate the problem [37][38]

Environmental Impact - Millions of tons of waste end up in the oceans annually, harming marine life and the environment [1] - Plastic waste can persist in the sea for up to 400 years [4] - A large floating island of plastic exists in the ocean and is growing [6] Waste Management & Recycling - Recycling is an effective way to reduce waste [2] - Proper disposal of rubbish in recycling bins is crucial [3] - Participating in beach and ocean cleanup organizations is beneficial [3][4] Plastic Reduction & Innovation - Reducing the use of single-use plastic bottles, bags, and packaging is important [4] - Companies should reduce plastic production [5] - Supporting and investing in the development of new, biodegradable plastics is necessary [5] Prevention & Awareness - Avoiding placing bins near the sea can prevent pollution [5] - Plastic pollution kills fish and other sea animals [6] - Immediate action is needed to protect the seas and the future [7]

Sustainability & Environmental Concerns - Plastic pollution is a global concern, especially regarding single-use plastics that significantly harm the environment [2] - Only 9% of plastic waste is actually recycled after losses, indicating a far from circular plastics life cycle [3] - Without additional action, annual plastics production, use, and waste generation are projected to increase by 70% in 2040 compared to 2020 [3] - Biodegradable materials like PLA, made from sugar cane or corn starch, break down into carbon dioxide and water in about 60 days under specific conditions [4] Research & Development - A project investigated incorporating cyclodextrin (ring-shaped molecules made of glucose) into PLA to create a new kind of sustainable plastic with improved mechanical properties and biodegradability [7] - The resulting plastic film sample felt rough, lacked transparency, and did not significantly enhance overall performance, making it unsuitable for real-life applications [10][11] Mindset & Approach - Imperfection allows things to grow into something that couldn't have been planned, suggesting a shift in focus from perfect solutions to meaningful contributions [16] - Real change doesn't always start with perfection; sometimes it starts with a sweet attempt that mixes science with honesty, failure with creativity, and even poetry with plastic [23] - Sustainability doesn't require perfection; it just requires a start [22] Impact & Engagement - An exhibition combining poetry and plastic aimed to demonstrate plastic's role within society and the environment, transforming it from discarded rubbish to a carrier of emotion [17] - The exhibition generated audience engagement, with many people expressing a desire to contribute to transforming current consumption patterns of plastic-made materials [21]

Creatures [Music] [Applause] from all around the world create waste. And honestly, who do you think creates the most. Yes, it's us, humans.What if I were to tell you that this was garbage that me, a kid, made in a day. And that doesn't even count the mice I made in school. Sounds extraordinary, right.Hi, I'm William. I'm Kate. Every year, we produce over 11 billion tons of waste worldwide.Our oceans, which cover up 70% of the Earth's surface, are facing an unpredictable crisis. Astonishingly, every day, 3 b ...