Environmental Impact of Plastics - 99% of plastic is made from fossil fuels, contributing to climate crisis as oil and gas companies increase plastic production [3] - By 2050, the amount of plastic could double or triple, exacerbating the climate crisis [4] - Over 4,200 out of 16,000 chemicals associated with plastic production pose significant hazards to human and environmental health [4][5] - Microplastics are found in remote environments, water, air, and even human organs, including the placenta and testicles [5][6] - The average human brain contains the equivalent of one plastic spoon's worth of microplastics [7] Plastic Production and Usage - 40% of all plastic produced today is used for packaging, which are often used briefly but last forever [8] - The industry is flooding markets with plastics and concealing the risks associated with it [4] Solutions and Alternatives - Reducing single-use plastics through policy reforms, brand audits, corporate accountability, and zero waste initiatives are crucial [11] - Investing in reuse systems, like the milkman model, can restore health and community connections [12] - Ending the unchecked production of plastics is essential to protect the environment and human health [12][13] Environmental Justice - Communities near production sites, landfills, and incinerators, often black, brown, indigenous, and rural communities, are disproportionately affected by plastic pollution [6]

When world leaders come together to solve the problem of plastic pollution, what do they need to get the job done. Well, to start, they need scientists. So, when I was a kid growing up in southern Louisiana, I spent so much of my summer collecting snakes and turtles.When I was 14 years old, my clubhouse was full of aquariums. There were snakes everywhere. I had a backyard pond.My mom let me dig with I counted 96 turtles. There baby alligator in there somewhere. I was a kid with a neighborhood zoo and I love ...

Kelp's Potential & Benefits - Kelp is a regenerative resource that improves ocean and environmental health [2] - Kelp has versatile uses beyond food, including skin cream, health supplements, fuel, and plastic packaging replacement [2][3] - Kelp farming provides an alternative to commercial fishing, especially in warming ocean regions like the Gulf of Maine [3][4] - Kelp farming creates new market demand, jobs, and income diversification, building resilience against climate change [4] - Kelp absorbs carbon dioxide 20 times more efficiently than land forests and deacidifies oceans [12] - Kelp provides habitat for marine life and protects shorelines [13] US Kelp Industry & Innovation - The US imports 90-95% of its seaweed, missing opportunities for domestic growth [13] - Maine is a leader in US seaweed farming, producing over 1 million pounds (approximately 453,592 kilograms) of kelp commercially in 2024 [16][17] - US companies are receiving federal funding for R&D into green extraction technology to maximize bioactive compounds in kelp for skincare, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical uses [17] - Innovators are creating seaweed-based biomaterials for coatings, packaging, single-use plastic replacements, and fishing gear [19][20] - Kelp farms needed to replace single-use plastics would take up less than 1% of the oceans [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 ...