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Plastic Free July is a waste of time if the onus is only on consumers

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bhavna-middha-1061611">Bhavna Middha</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ralph-horne-160543">Ralph Horne</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a> Every year, the <a href="https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/">Plastic Free July</a> campaign asks us to refuse single-use plastic. The idea is that making a small change in our daily lives will collectively make a big difference. And hopefully, better behaviour will stick and become a habit. The intent is good, but consumers shouldn’t have to bear full responsibility for plastic pollution. Individual sacrifices – particularly temporary ones – <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301421509004728">won’t make a significant difference</a>. Governments, manufacturers and retailers need to get serious about tackling this problem. If Plastic Free July put pressure on the supply side of the equation, rather than demand, it could be more successful. Our research spans food packaging including plastics, waste, sustainable consumption and social practices. We know consumer demand is only one part of the picture. Eliminating plastic waste requires broader systemic changes. <h2>The cabbage dilemma</h2> Research shows consumers generally want to do the <a href="https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/news/news-articles/the-conversation-on-sustainability-has-changed">right thing by the environment</a> but find it <a href="https://theconversation.com/households-find-low-waste-living-challenging-heres-what-needs-to-change-197022">challenging</a>. Coming out of a supermarket with no packaging is difficult. There are few unpackaged food items and even when there is a choice, the unpackaged item may be more <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/want-your-fruit-and-veg-without-the-plastic-you-ll-have-to-pay-more-20231107-p5eib4.html">expensive</a>. Have you ever been stuck in the supermarket, choosing between the large head of cabbage you know you won’t finish before it goes bad, or the plastic-wrapped half-cabbage you really need? Consumers should not be forced to choose between food waste (another huge problem) or plastic waste. Maybe there’s another way. For example, why not sell cabbages of different sizes? Why do we need to grow such large heads of cabbage anyway? Both plastic consumption and food waste can be addressed by changing how we produce and distribute certain foods. <h2>Governments, manufacturers and retailers must drive change</h2> The onus for reducing plastic consumption and waste should be placed firmly on those who make plastic and profit from selling their products, as well as those who make and sell products wrapped in plastic packaging. Research has shown just <a href="https://www.csiro.au/en/news/All/News/2024/April/Global-study-finds-more-than-half-of-branded-plastic-pollution-linked-to-56-companies?utm_source=pocket_shared">56 companies</a> globally are responsible for more than half of the branded plastic pollution that ends up in the environment. Companies profit from using plastics because it is cheaper to use than changing to alternatives, such as cardboard or compostable materials, or using less packaging. This means companies choosing to avoid using plastics face unfair competition. It’s a tough habit to kick. Industry-led <a href="https://productstewardship.us/what-is-epr/#:%7E:text=Stewardship%20can%20be%20either%20voluntary,product%20stewardship%20required%20by%20law">voluntary schemes</a> are <a href="https://www.insidewaste.com.au/91038-2-product-stewardship-schemes/">limited in terms of both participation and outcomes</a>. Many companies are failing to meet their own <a href="https://www.asyousow.org/report-page/2024-plastic-promises-scorecard">plastic reduction goals</a>. Governments need to step in and force companies to take responsibility for the plastic and packaging they manufacture. In practice, this could involve similar schemes to the container deposit scheme for beverage containers, or returning plastics to stores. Replacing voluntary schemes with mandatory regulations and increased producer responsibility means companies will have to <a href="https://www.insidewaste.com.au/91038-2-product-stewardship-schemes/">invest in long-term changes designed with care</a>. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UnXVU-06ciI?wmode=transparent&start=1" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>What’s Plastic Free July?</figcaption></figure> <h2>Cities are built around plastic</h2> Our previous research has shown plastic performs an essential role in some, <a href="https://rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/geoj.12457">constrained circumstances</a>. We found vulnerable householders often rely on plastic to make life manageable, such as using plastics to cover belongings on the balcony, or using plastic cutlery and plates in student apartments with minimal kitchen space. This includes people with accessibility needs, people relying on public transport to shop for groceries, or people who are financially constrained or living in small high-rise <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-cant-keep-putting-apartment-residents-waste-in-the-too-hard-basket-200545">apartments</a>. Unsustainable lifestyles are not so much a choice as a product of poorly planned cities, housing and regulations. It is all very well if you are mobile and well-located, but if you live in a <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-08/food-deserts-have-serious-consequences-for-residents-experts/6605230">poorly serviced</a> distant suburb and <a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2023/01/are-you-living-in-a-food-desert--these-maps-suggest-it-can-reall">transport groceries or takeaway food</a> or buy things on the go, then plastic is perhaps the only current affordable way to make it work. So campaigns and solutions that do not consider how <a href="https://rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/geoj.12457">everyday lives and economy</a> are intertwined with plastics can <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s42949-024-00149-w">exclude people and spaces</a> who can’t access the alternatives. For example, there are ways to make <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1745-5871.12464">convenience eating more sustainable</a> in education settings. We have shown how <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1745-5871.12390">canteens and microwaves</a> in shared spaces can enable people to access affordable food with their friends, as in <a href="https://www.charlesabroad.cz/post/german-university-canteens-why-do-they-beat-the-czech-ones">University Mensa in Germany</a>. Our <a href="https://cur.org.au/project/tackling-food-related-single-use-plastics-in-diverse-consumption-contexts/">new research</a> will explore how single-use food-related plastics and packaging form an integral part of our daily lives, including shopping, work, cooking and storage. Sometimes new policies inadvertently disadvantage certain groups and communities, such as the aged, less mobile, people living in apartments, or low socio-economic groups. Before we roll out new policies and regulations, we need to understand the roles these materials play and the kinds of services and value they provide. We aim to develop a framework to inform policies and strategies that enable a just and inclusive transition to reduced plastic use. <h2>What about after July?</h2> Plastic Free July and similar campaigns are based on idea that making a temporary change will lead to more permanent lifestyle changes. But research shows temporary shifts are <a href="http://www.demand.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/DEMAND2016_Full_paper_42-Shove.pdf">very different</a> to <a href="https://pure.manchester.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/32468813/FULL_TEXT.PDF">structural, permanent shifts</a> in <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315816494-1/introduction-social-practices-intervention-sustainability-beyond-behaviour-change-yolande-strengers-cecily-maller?context=ubx&refId=d608abad-39f9-4bb2-8754-56e9e2000c5e">practices</a>. Supermarkets will still wrap items in plastic and sell single-use plastic, even if we try to buy less during Plastic Free July. Ultimately, the focus should be on designing effective infrastructure and policy solutions for lasting results, considering how demand for plastic is produced in the first place. Some of these changes will require a shift in community expectations and food culture. Rather than pointing the finger at consumers, let’s get to work on redesigning our cities. We need to rethink how everyday practices, manufacturing and distribution systems are structured to eliminate plastic waste.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/233436/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bhavna-middha-1061611">Bhavna Middha</a>, ARC DECRA and Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Urban Research, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ralph-horne-160543">Ralph Horne</a>, Associate Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research & Innovation, College of Design & Social Context, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/plastic-free-july-is-a-waste-of-time-if-the-onus-is-only-on-consumers-233436">original article</a>. </div>

Home & Garden

Flex your sustainability skills this Plastic Free July

It’s no secret that single-use plastics are often a huge part of our lives, with grocery items and household essentials often relying on plastic for their packaging. However, if you look a little further, you’ll find that there are sustainable options out there to help curb your plastic consumption. The annual global initiative of <a href="https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/">Plastic Free July</a> is once again taking place, with over 190 countries determined to be a part of the plastic pollution solution. Plastic Free July is a great opportunity to discover more sustainable options in day to life, while also helping to save valuable dollars during the ongoing cost of living crisis. In collaboration with this international movement, <a href="https://www.brita.com.au/">BRITA</a> have shared ten valuable tips to help reduce individual plastic waste contribution in everyday life. <ol> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Make the switch to a filtered water jug and reusable bottle instead of drinking single-use bottles of water at home or at the office. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Instead of plastic food wraps, choose alternatives such as beeswax wraps or reusable containers. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Try a bamboo toothbrush instead of a plastic one. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Skip the plastic straw or buy stainless steel straws to reduce dangerous plastic waste caused by used straws. Think of the turtles! </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Try out powdered laundry detergent that comes in a box instead of laundry liquid in plastic bottles. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Swap plastic bin liners for newspaper or certified compostable ones instead. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Avoiding pre-packaged foods by choosing bulk or loose food. Or, better yet, take in your own jars. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Use soap bars instead of liquid soap in plastic containers. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Use your own cutlery when ordering takeaway food, instead of relying on plastic ones. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Always consider the three R’s for a better planet – reduce, reuse, recycle! </li> </ol> Image credits: Getty Images

Home & Garden

3 little-known reasons why plastic recycling could actually make things worse

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/pascal-scherrer-230971">Pascal Scherrer</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/southern-cross-university-1160">Southern Cross University</a> This week in Paris, negotiators from around the world are <a href="https://www.unep.org/events/conference/second-session-intergovernmental-negotiating-committee-develop-international">convening</a> for a United Nations meeting. They will tackle a thorny problem: finding a globally binding solution for plastic pollution. Of the staggering <a href="https://stats.oecd.org/viewhtml.aspx?datasetcode=PLASTIC_USE_6&lang=en">460 million tonnes of plastic used globally in 2019 alone</a>, much is used only once and thrown away. About <a href="https://www.oecd.org/environment/plastic-pollution-is-growing-relentlessly-as-waste-management-and-recycling-fall-short.htm">40% of plastic waste</a> comes from packaging. Almost two-thirds of plastic waste comes from items with lifetimes of less than five years. The plastic waste that escapes into nature persists and breaks up into smaller and smaller pieces, <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.1700782">eventually becoming microplastics</a>. Plastics now contaminate virtually every environment, from <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/nov/20/microplastic-pollution-found-near-summit-of-mount-everest">mountain peaks to oceans</a>. Plastic has entered vital systems such as our food chain and even the human <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/24/microplastics-found-in-human-blood-for-first-time">blood stream</a>. Governments and industry <a href="https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/nations-agree-end-plastic-pollution">increasingly acknowledge</a> the urgent need to reduce plastic pollution. They are introducing <a href="https://apco.org.au/the-australian-packaging-covenant">rules and incentives</a> to help businesses stop using single-use plastics while also encouraging collection and recycling. As a sustainability researcher, I explore opportunities to <a href="https://www.scu.edu.au/research/zerowaste/">reduce plastic waste </a>in sectors such as tourism, hospitality and meat production. I know how quickly we could make big changes. But I’ve also seen how quick-fix solutions can create complex future problems. So we must proceed with caution. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> The best way to tackle plastic pollution is to prevent it in the first place. Governments, businesses, civil society, and academia can all be part of the solution to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BeatPlasticPollution?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BeatPlasticPollution</a>. Join in this <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldEnvironmentDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldEnvironmentDay</a>: <a href="https://t.co/ENu9UG82kz">https://t.co/ENu9UG82kz</a> <a href="https://t.co/1p5G0183uh">pic.twitter.com/1p5G0183uh</a> — UN Environment Programme (@UNEP) <a href="https://twitter.com/UNEP/status/1660873190577680384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <h2>Plastic avoidance is top priority</h2> We must urgently eliminate waste and build a so-called “<a href="https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/overview">circular economy</a>”. For plastics, that means reuse or recycling back into the same type of plastic, not lower grade plastic. The plastic can be used to make similar products that then can be recycled again and again. This means plastics should only be used where they can be captured at their end of life and recycled into a product of the same or higher value, with as little loss as possible. Probably the only example of this to date is the recycling of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) soft-drink bottles in Norway and Switzerland. They boast recovery rates of <a href="https://phys.org/news/2020-02-norway-bottles-plastic-fantastic.html">97%</a> and <a href="https://houseofswitzerland.org/swissstories/environment/switzerland-leads-way-pet-recycling">95%</a> respectively. The <a href="https://wastewise.be/2014/11/ad-lansink/">waste management pyramid</a> below shows how to prioritise actions to lessen the waste problem. It is particularly relevant to single-use plastics. Our top priority, demanding the biggest investment, is prevention and reduction through redesign of products. Where elimination is not yet achievable, reuse solutions or recycling to the same or higher-level products can be sought to make plastics circular. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/527407/original/file-20230522-21-y07zqy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/527407/original/file-20230522-21-y07zqy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=406&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527407/original/file-20230522-21-y07zqy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=406&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527407/original/file-20230522-21-y07zqy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=406&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527407/original/file-20230522-21-y07zqy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=510&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527407/original/file-20230522-21-y07zqy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=510&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527407/original/file-20230522-21-y07zqy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=510&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Inverted pyramid diagram showing waste management priorities" /><figcaption>In the inverted pyramid of waste management priorities, downcycling is almost the last resort. Pascal Scherrer</figcaption></figure> Unfortunately, a lack of high-quality reprocessing facilities means plastic waste keeps growing. In Australia, plastic is largely “downcycled”, which means it is recycled into lower quality plastics. This can seem like an attractive way to deal with waste-plastic stockpiles, particularly after the recent collapse of soft-plastics recycler <a href="https://theconversation.com/redcycles-collapse-is-more-proof-that-plastic-recycling-is-a-broken-system-194528">RedCycle</a>. But downcycling risks doing more harm than good. Here are three reasons why: <h2>1. Replacing wood with recycled plastics risks contaminating our wildest natural spaces</h2> An increasing number of benches, tables, bollards and boardwalks are being made from recycled plastic. This shift away from timber is touted as a sustainable step - but caution is warranted when introducing these products to pristine areas such as national parks. Wood is naturally present in those areas. It has a proven record of longevity and, when degrading, does not introduce foreign matter into the natural system. Swapping wood for plastic <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0269749122019510?via%3Dihub">may introduce microplastics</a> into the few remaining places relatively free of them. Replacing wood with downcycled plastics also risks plastic pollution through weathering or fire. <h2>2. Taking circular plastics from their closed loop to meet recycled-content targets creates more waste</h2> Clear PET bottles used for beverages are the most circular plastic stream in Australia, approaching a 70% recovery rate. When these bottles are recycled back into clear PET bottles, they are circular plastics. However, the used PET bottles are increasingly being turned into meat trays, berry punnets and <a href="https://www.praise.com.au/faqs-100-recycled-bottles">mayonnaise jars</a> to help producers meet the <a href="https://apco.org.au/national-packaging-targets">2025 National Packaging Target</a> of 50% recycled content (on average) in packaging. The problem is the current industry <a href="https://anzpacplasticspact.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Recovered-Polymer-Specifications_FINAL_June2021d.pdf">specifications for plastics recovery</a> allow only downcycling of these trays, punnets and jars. This means that circular PET is removed from a closed loop into a lower-grade recovery stream. This leads to non-circular downcycling and more plastic sent to landfill. <h2>3. Using “compostable” plastics in non-compostable conditions creates still more plastic pollution</h2> Increasingly, plastics are labelled as compostable and biodegradable. However, well-intended use of compostable plastics can cause long-term plastic pollution. At the right temperature with the right amount of moisture, compostable plastics breakdown into soil. But if the conditions are not “just right”, they won’t break down at all. For example, when a landscape architect or engineer uses a “compostable” synthetic fabric instead of a natural alternative (such as coir or jute mats) they can inadvertently introduce persistent plastics into the environment. This is because the temperature is not hot enough for the synthetic mat to break down. We must also <a href="https://documents.packagingcovenant.org.au/public-documents/Considerations%20for%20Compostable%20Packaging">differentiate</a> between “home compostable” and “commercially compostable”. Commercial facilities are more effective at composting because they operate under more closely controlled conditions. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Plastic pollution could reduce by 80% by 2040 if governments and companies make policy and market shifts using existing technologies. OUT NOW – UNEP’s new report provides a pathway for nations to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BeatPlasticPollution?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BeatPlasticPollution</a>: <a href="https://t.co/dcfBkZaOfN">https://t.co/dcfBkZaOfN</a> <a href="https://t.co/iSQ9QSpYC1">pic.twitter.com/iSQ9QSpYC1</a> — UN Environment Programme (@UNEP) <a href="https://twitter.com/UNEP/status/1658419925638152192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2023</a></blockquote> <h2>Learning from our mistakes</h2> Clearly, we need to reduce our reliance on plastics and shift away from linear systems – including recycling into lower-grade products. Such downcycling may have a temporary role in dealing with existing plastic in the system while circular recycling capacity is being built. But we must not develop downcycling “solutions” that need a long-term stream of plastic waste to remain viable. What’s more, downcycling requires constantly finding new markets for their lower-grade products. Circular systems are more robust. So, to the negotiators in Paris, yes the shift to a circular plastics economy is urgent. But beware of good intentions that could ultimately make things worse.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/206060/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/pascal-scherrer-230971">Pascal Scherrer</a>, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Business, Law and Art, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/southern-cross-university-1160">Southern Cross University</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/3-little-known-reasons-why-plastic-recycling-could-actually-make-things-worse-206060">original article</a>.

Home Hints & Tips

Everyday items to come with $11,000 fine under incoming plastic ban

Beginning in November, a new law will see single-use plastic items outlawed in NSW - with anyone caught supplying them risking a potential $11,000 fine. The statewide move will be the second stage of the government’s crackdown on single-use items, which aims to stop 2.7 billion of these items from ending up in our natural environment over the next 20 years. From November 1, single-use straws, stirrers, plastic cutlery, plates, bowls without spill-proof lids, and foodware and cups made from EPS (expanded polystyrene) will be prohibited, in a switch that has been welcomed by restaurant owners. Single-use chopsticks, food picks, plastic-stemmed cotton buds, and personal care products that contain plastic microbeads, such as cleansers, exfoliants, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner. With the ban applying to retail and hospitality business, as well as charities and individuals undertaking activities for sporting, education or community purposes, there are some instances where the ban doesn’t apply. Pre-packaged items where plastic items are integrated into the packing through an automated process, such as plastic straws attached to juice boxes or plastic bowls in frozen meals, won’t be affected by the ban, nor will using EPS trays for raw meat, seafood, fruit or vegetables. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/plastic-ban-nsw.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Image: NSW Government People with a disability or medical need will also be allowed to use single-use plastic straws, but businesses mustn’t make the straws accessible to customers or display them. As for those who don’t follow the new rules, a NSW EPA spokesperson told 7News that financial penalties would be applied on a case-by-case basis. As a result, individual suppliers such as sole traders could be issued with a $2750 “on-the-spot fine” or $11,000 court penalty, while corporations face a maximum penalty of $55,000, and manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors face $110,000 fines. Ahead of the change, James Griffin and Mark Coure, the NSW Environment Minister and Multiculturalism Minister respectively, have spoken to 43,000 businesses to ensure small businesses are supported through the transition. “(We’ve been trying) to help educate them about the change that’s coming, and provide them easy instructions on easy alternatives that are easier for the environment,” they said. While some businesses have taken the financial hit of changing from single-use plastic to more eco-friendly options, which are often more expensive than plastic, some customers may see prices increase following the change. It comes after NSW banned lightweight plastic shopping bags, including biodegradable, compostable and bio-plastic bags, earlier this year, bringing with it a fine of up to $275,000 for retailers who continued to provide them. NSW isn’t the only state on its way to phasing out single-use plastics either, as each state has its own roadmap towards a plastic-free future. With most of these roadmaps launching last year, it’s expected that many will be fully implemented by 2023. Image: Getty Images

Legal

Albo denies plastic surgery rumours

Anthony Albanese has denied rumours that he has had botox done and that his best weight loss secret is to cut the carbs and “give up the bread”. The Australian Prime Minister appeared on NovaFM’s Fitzy and Wippa where he spoke about his weight loss journey. The presenters then pointed out that an article written by the Daily Mail caught their attention in which it questioned whether or not Mr Albanese had botox done. “It was a headline that struck us, Prime Minister, in the Daily Mail, ‘Botox fillers or just clean living? Albo debuts a fresh new look as he sports a smoother complexion following his weight loss and style transformation’. “Have you had Botox and how many fillers have you had, Prime Minister?’’ they asked him. Mr Albanese laughed off the claim and instead took a dig at the reporter and the leading cosmetic injector. “Seriously, I think whoever wrote that article's been having Botox in the wrong place,” he said. He went on to talk about how a near death experience in which he was involved in a car crash, caused him to take charge of his health. “For anybody listening right there might be carrying a couple of kilos. What was your one tip or secret that you had to the weight loss?’’ he was probed. “Don’t eat the bread,’’ the Prime Minister replied. “I just had two boiled eggs for breakfast. It keeps you going to lunchtime. “Stopping eating in between meals is the big thing.” Mr Albanese confessed that he still indulged every now and then with beer and hot chips, but all in moderation. “I get to have a beer every now and then. Both light and heavy,’’ he said. “I have the odd hot chip and all of that. Not be too religious about it. It took a long period. It was over 18 months. But the real motivation, I don’t recommend this, was having a near life ending car crash. “And that was a real wake up call to get fit and get healthy. It’s worked. I feel much better for it and I just feel much better in the morning but much better throughout the day.” Image: Getty

Body

Forget plastic surgery! These 7 makeup tricks could completely transform your features

Nose contouring instead of a nose job If you find your nose too big, too wide, or too something else, get ready to transform it with contouring. For the uninitiated, contouring is the process of strategically placing bright concealer or highlighter on areas you want to catch light, making them more pronounced, and darker products on places where you want to create shadows, making them less noticeable. There are specific contouring techniques for each nose shape, but in every case, you’ll want to apply concealer that’s two shades lighter than your skin tone to the bridge of your nose, and a greyish-brown or dark taupe colour (a powder or liquid) to cover bumps, wide nostrils, or hook shapes. Always blend the light and dark colours into place using a beauty blender sponge or a rechargeable makeup brush, which evenly disperses granules of makeup in thin, even layers for an airbrush-like finish. The results are like an instant nose job – no surgery required! Strategic eyeliner instead of an eye lift Oh, the wonders of a good eyeliner. Whether your eyes are too small, too big, too down-turned or too something else, applying eyeliner in the proper style and colour is the perfect way to visibly alter their shape. To open up the eyes, adding white liner to the lower lash line creates an optical illusion as it acts as a continuation of your eyes, making them look bigger. For down-turned eyes, nothing works better than a reverse cat eye in black liner. For hooded lids, apply smokey eyeliner to enhance the outer corners for the illusion of lift. Shading cheekbones instead of fillers Women have been turning to pricey injectable fillers to fake supermodel cheekbones, but there’s a much easier – and cheaper – way. For this no-fuss three-step process, all you need is your trusty contour kit (foundation that is two shades lighter than your skin tone, plus a base that is two shades darker), which you will use to outline and highlight the apples of your cheeks. First apply the one-shade lighter cream foundation on your cheekbones to draw light; then apply the two-shades darker base below the cheekbones to help those areas recede. Finish with a pop of pink or peach on the apples of your cheeks, and dab a few drops of liquid highlighter at the top of cheekbones. Blend, et voila – Hollywood cheekbones. Smoothing foundation instead of botox Many foundations are prone to caking, cracking and flaking, which are likely to make any wrinkles and blemishes more noticeable instead of concealing them. If you want your face to look younger, one of the easiest ways is by smoothing skin. That means starting with a primer, which smooths the canvas of your face, like a painter would spackle and prime walls before applying colour. Follow with a satin foundation for a silky smooth, practically Photoshopped face. Overlining lips instead of injectable plumpers Less is definitely more here, but this tiny adjustment will make a huge difference in the appearance of your lips. The trick is to first apply a neutral-coloured, matte lip liner all over your lips; then trace slightly outside the lines. Don’t venture more than a few millimetres beyond your natural lip line, as that looks too obvious (and a little scary). You can also strategically choose the areas you want to overline, like the cupid’s bow or bottom lip instead of the entire rim. Once you’ve overlined, apply your favourite matte lipstick not only to your lips, but onto the overlined area as well. A matte finish will hide the line you’ve added, whereas shiny lipstick emphasises it. Chisel your chin with powder instead of surgery If your jawline isn’t quite as sharp as you’d like, shaping powder is an easy way to get more definition. Take a greyish-brown powder (nothing too orange) and apply it along your jaw line from behind your ear all the way down to the tip of your chin. Repeat this application on the other side of your jaw. Blend the powder down your neck so that there aren’t any noticeable lines or colour differences. You’ll absolutely love the look of your sharp new bone structure. Slim your silhouette Though some celebrities manage to rock a round face, the rest of us can feel insecure about so-called chipmunk cheeks. A great way to slim your face is to use a contour stick and bronzer to hollow out the cheeks, then apply blush and highlighter above the bronzer to make your cheekbones more pronounced. This will not only elongate your face shape, but will give you those model-like chiselled cheeks. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/beauty/forget-plastic-surgery-these-7-makeup-tricks-could-completely-transform-your-features" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Beauty & Style

Plastic surgeon called out for “toxic” video

A beautician has been slammed for a video she posted online outlining the cosmetic surgery she thought a star of Stranger Things would need. Miranda Wilson, who describes herself as a nurse practitioner injector, posted a video on TikTok outlining the alterations she believed would enhance the look of actress Natalia Dyer. “We’d start by treating those masseters … to help slim the face,” Ms Wilson said, referring to Dyer’s prominent bottom jawline. She then recommended adding “a bit of chin filler just to help fill out her chin and make her face more of a heart shape”. Moving onto Dyer’s lip and brow area, Wilson said she would “add just a little bit to the lips” than “do a little Botox (to) give her a nice brow lift to help open up her eyes”. “And to top if off we’d start with some Sculptra, she does seem to have more thin skin and we want to prevent that from getting thinner and create more collagen,” Wilson said. She ended the clip with a “before and after” image of Dyer, where she complimented the actress’ slimmer jaw, pointy chin, lifted brows and pouty lips. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/07/tiktok-beauty2.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> However, her assessment drew large amounts of ire from viewers, who described the clip as “toxic” and “highly insulting”, with one commenter arguing that videos like hers were “one of the reasons girls today are so insecure”. Though she has since deleted the video, download copies have been uploaded and shared on other social media platforms, including Twitter, where the uproar continued. “Still can’t believe a plastic surgeon (sic) spoke on what she’d change about someone’s face without a) their consent, b) any indication that the person disliked those features and c) putting a disclaimer that the person is already beautiful as they are,” one Twitter user said. “Like I cannot believe she ‘influencerfied’ her face completely unprovoked as if it was a free consultation.” After the backlash, Wilson posted a follow-up video saying she wanted to “clear the air”, adding that she “didn’t mean to offend anyone” in the controversial clip. “I was simply offering suggestions – not on what you have to do – just on what the possibilities are,” Wilson said. “As an advanced injector that is what we do – we look at faces and assess and look at the possibilities.” <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/07/tiktok-beauty-1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> She then took a photo of herself and suggested improvements, such as botox injectables, lip and cheek fillers, and a brow lift, sharing another “before and after” image and writing in the caption that “Natalia is absolutely stunning the way she is” but that her image was just an “example”. Though comments were disabled on her later video, upset viewers took to Twitter to call out her behaviour. “She posted a sorry, not sorry video where she completely missed the point of what the original complaint was,” one Twitter user said. Another questioned who Wilson’s target audience was and pondered the impact such views would have on young women. “If Natalia Dyer, a white and thin and conventional woman gets scrutinised on her appearance like this, what happens to all the young impressionable poc/mid-size/plus-size girls watching?”, they wrote. Images: TikTok

Beauty & Style

"Better than plastic and cats love them": Call to bring back Woolies favourite

Supermarket shoppers have been reminiscing about an iconic shopping item they would love to see returned to stores. A loyal Woolies customer shared a photo of a Woolies paper bag from the 1970s with a unique retro design to the Old Shops Australia Facebook group. Immediately, comments flooded in from so many customers about how they missed the bag and wanted it brought back. “Bring them back please – so much easier on the shoulders,” one customer said. Another added: “Better than plastic bags and cats love them.” Others pointed out other uses for the bags such as cooking inside of and how they created an additional position of employees whose whole job description was packing them for customers. A handful of social media users pointed out these bags were done away with in favour of plastic bags to save the trees. One said they much prefer the current paper bags with handles as they were stronger and the bottoms didn’t “fall out” when wet. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/07/woolies-paperbags.jpg" alt="" width="620" height="313" /> Woolies old paper bags and their updated version. Woolworths reintroduced paper shopping bags with a twist in 2020 after an increase in customer demand, with the new paper bags made from 70% recycled paper making them easy to dispose of in recycling bins. Last month, Woolies announced plastic bags are being phased out for good over the next 12 months to encourage shoppers to bring their own bags and promote sustainability. BIG W is also set to phase out its $0.15 and $0.45 reusable plastic bags from stores by the end of June 2023. While Western Australia has already embraced the change, stores in South Australia and Northern Territory are up next. Natalie Davis, Managing Director of Woolworths Supermarkets said at the time of announcement: “Our reusable plastic bags were introduced back in 2018 to help customers adjust to the removal of single use plastic bags from our stores. “We’ve seen a huge shift in shopping habits since we stopped giving out single use plastic bags, with 8 out of 10 customers now bringing their own bags from home. Image: Woolworths / Facebook

Food & Wine

Plastic pollution on Australia’s coasts has decreased by 29% since 2013

Plastic pollution is an escalating global problem. Australia now produces 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, while world-wide production is expected to double by 2040. This pollution doesn’t just accumulate on our beaches: it can be found on land and other marine environments (heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?) But according to a new study by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, plastic pollution on Australia’s coasts has decreased by 29% since 2013. The study, which assessed waste reduction efforts in Australia and their effect on coastal pollution, highlights that although Australia’s plastic use has remained constant since 2013, local governments are getting better at preventing and cleaning up pollution. “Our research set out to identify the local government approaches that have been most effective in reducing coastal plastics and identify the underlying behaviours that can lead to the greatest reduction in plastic pollution,” says lead researcher Dr Kathryn Willis, a recent PhD graduate from the University of Tasmania. “Whilst plastic pollution is still a global crisis and we still have a long way to go, this research shows that decisions made on the ground, at local management levels, are crucial for the successful reduction of coastal plastic pollution,” she adds. The study has been published in One Earth. Local government approaches work The new research builds upon extensive 2013 CSIRO coastal litter surveys with 563 new surveys and interviews with waste managers across 32 local governments around Australia completed in 2019. The results found that, although there was a decrease in the overall national average coastal pollution by 29%, some surveyed municipalities showed an increase in local litter by up to 93%, while others decreased by up to 73%. Since global plastic pollution is driven by waste reduction strategies at a local level (regardless of where the pollution originates), researchers then focused on identifying which local government approaches had the greatest effect on these levels of coastal pollution. To do this they sorted local government waste management actions into three categories of human behaviour, including: Planned behaviour – strategies like recycling guides, information and education programs, and voluntary clean-up initiatives. Crime prevention – waste management strategies like illegal dumping surveillance and beach cleaning by local governments. Economic – actions like kerb-side waste and recycling collection, hard waste collections and shopping bag bans. They found that retaining and maintaining efforts in economic waste management strategies had the largest effect on reducing coastal litter. “For example, household collection services, where there are multiple waste and recycling streams, makes it easier for community members to separate and discard their waste appropriately,” says co-author Dr Denise Hardesty, a principal research scientist at CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere. “Our research showed that increases in waste levies had the second largest effect on decreases in coastal plastic pollution. Local governments are moving away from a collect and dump mindset to a sort and improve approach,” adds Hardesty. Clean-up activities, such as Clean Up Australia Day, and surveillance programs that directly involved members of the community were also effective. “Increasing community stewardship of the local environment and beaches has huge benefits. Not only does our coastline become cleaner, but people are more inclined to look out for bad behaviour, even using dumping hotlines to report illegal polluting activity,” says Hardesty. Another piece of the solution to our plastics problem This isn’t the be-all and end-all solution to Australia’s plastics problem – let alone globally – but this research does provide decision-makers with empirical evidence that the choices made by municipal waste managers and policymakers are linked to reductions in plastic pollution in the environment. Identifying the most effective approaches for reducing coastal litter is an important part of future plastic pollution reduction strategies. The CSIRO’s Ending Plastic Waste Mission is aiming for an 80% reduction in plastic waste entering the Australian environment by 2030. “While we still have a long way to go, and the technical challenges are enormous, these early results show that when we each play to our individual strengths, from community groups, industry, government and research organisations, and we take the field as Team Australia, then we can win,” says Dr Larry Marshall, chief executive of CSIRO. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/australia-coastal-plastic-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Imma Perfetto. Image: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

Self-cleaning bioplastic modelled on the lotus plant

Researchers have developed a new <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/sustainability/bioplastic-versus-plastic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-type="URL" data-id="https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/sustainability/bioplastic-versus-plastic/">bioplastic</a> that’s sturdy, compostable, and cleans itself, modelled on the miraculous qualities of the lotus leaf. <div class="copy">The innovative plastic repels liquid and dirt, and then breaks down rapidly when buried in soil, according to studies published in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969721077627?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science of the Total Environment</a> and <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsami.1c09959" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Applied Materials and Interfaces</a>.Mehran Ghasemlou, lead author of the studies and a PhD researcher at RMIT University, says the new bioplastic could be ideal for use in fresh food and takeaway packaging.“Plastic waste is one of our biggest environmental challenges but the alternatives we develop need to be both eco-friendly and cost-effective, to have a chance of widespread use,” says Ghasemlou. “We designed this new bioplastic with large-scale fabrication in mind, ensuring it was simple to make and could easily be integrated with industrial manufacturing processes.”The new research is a classic example of <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsfs.2015.0031" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bio-inspiration</a> – taking inspiration from the ingenuity of evolution to solve classic technological problems. “We’ve replicated the phenomenally water-repellent structure of lotus leaves to deliver a unique type of bioplastic that precisely combines both strength and degradability,” says Ghasemlou.Compostable plastics?The new plastic is naturally compostable, which sets it apart from most mainstream bioplastics which require industrial processes to break down.This bioplastic, on the other hand, breaks down quickly in soil.“There are big differences between plant-based materials – just because something is made from green ingredients doesn’t mean it will easily degrade,” says Ghasemlou.<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><div class="entry-content-asset"><div class="embed-wrapper"><div class="inner"></div></div></div></div><figcaption>A lotus inspired bioplastic that’s sustainable and compostable. Credit: RMIT University</figcaption></figure>“We carefully selected our raw materials for compostability and this is reflected in the results from our soil studies, where we can see our bioplastic rapidly breaks down simply with exposure to the bacteria and bugs in soil.“Our ultimate aim is to deliver packaging that could be added to your backyard compost or thrown into a green bin alongside other organic waste, so that food waste can be composted together with the container it came in, to help prevent food contamination of recycling.”Lotuses: a lean, mean, self-cleaning machineLotus leaves, among their many strange and mythic attributes, are almost impossible to get dirty. That’s thanks to their supremely water-repellent surface which, at the micro-level, is composed of tiny pillars topped with a waxy layer.Any water that lands on a lotus leaf will remain a droplet, and simply roll off as compelled by gravity or wind. Those droplets sweep up any dirt from the leaf’s surface as they go, keeping it remarkably clean.To make their self-cleaning plastic, the RMIT researchers synthetically engineered a plastic made of starch and cellulosic nanoparticles. The surface of the plastic was then imprinted with a pattern that mimicked the columns of a lotus leaf, before being coated with a protective layer of PDMS, a silicon-based organic polymer.Tests found that the bioplastic not only repels liquids and dirt effectively, but also retains its self-cleaning properties after being scratched with abrasives and exposed to heat, acid and ethanol. That makes it particularly useful for the food industry.Corresponding author Benu Adhikari says the design overcomes many of the challenges of starch-based plastics.“Starch is one of the most promising and versatile natural polymers, but it is relatively fragile and highly susceptible to moisture,” Adhikari says.“Through our bio-inspired engineering that mimics the ‘lotus effect’, we have delivered a highly effective starch-based biodegradable plastic.” <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="height: 1px!important;width: 1px!important;border: 0!important" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=181548&title=Self-cleaning+bioplastic+modelled+on+the+lotus+plant" width="1" height="1" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" /> </div><div id="contributors"><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/materials/self-cleaning-bioplastic-modelled-lotus-plant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/amalyah-hart" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amalyah Hart</a>. Amalyah Hart is a science journalist based in Melbourne. She has a BA (Hons) in Archaeology and Anthropology from the University of Oxford and an MA in Journalism from the University of Melbourne.Image: Getty Images</div>

Technology

Coles cleans house by "trashing" entire product line

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> Supermarket giant Coles has announced its plans to stop selling single-use plastic tableware and cutlery. Shops nationwide will stop stocking plastic products, including cups, plates, straws and bowls by July 1. This is part of a massive effort to stop the amount of single-use plastic that ends up in landfill, with the move predicting a reduction of plastic by 1.5 million kilograms a year. Clean Up Australia Chairman Pip Kiernan praised Coles for the effort. "Too many of these items end up in our parks, waterways, beaches and roadsides and if left there damage our precious environment for hundreds of years, outliving all of us," Ms Kiernan said to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/coles-supermarket-to-stop-selling-single-use-plastic-cups-plates-straws-cutlery-by-july-1/f5b6ff9e-ca60-4d94-8719-4bb60b714ce1" target="_blank">9News</a>. "We applaud Coles for listening to their customers and taking the lead in replacing these single use plastic items." </div> </div> </div>

Food & Wine

“Check your receipts”: Shopper issues Woolworths plastic bag warning

A Woolworths customer who noticed an unusual charge on her shopping receipt has warned others to check if they too have been stung by an extra cost. The woman said a staff member intentionally scanned a reusable bag that she brought from home at least three different times as she was checking out. Taking to the company’s Facebook page to issue a complaint, she expressed her confusion as to how a wrinkled-up bag inside her handbag was mistaken for a brand new one. “For the third time (that I am aware of) you have charged me 15 cents for my own bag,” the shopper wrote. She said it was not about the money but made her question how many others had been charged. The woman said that although she always keeps a reusable bag in her handbag, so she didn’t get “caught out”, the decision seems to have backfired due to careless staff members. “Those bags are so neatly and tightly folded that it should be quite obvious to anyone that they have not just been picked up in store that day,” she wrote. “The scrunched-up handles and few little tears are also a dead giveaway. Not to mention the fact that when I hand it over, I say, ‘Here’s my bag’.” The woman advised others to “check your receipts” as she was certain that she wasn’t the only one hit with the charge. “I’m not the only one this would be happening to. Shame on you Woolworths,” she said. A spokesperson for Woolworths responded to the shopper saying it was an error on the staff member’s part, but that they “wouldn’t intentionally re-scan” the reusable bags. “We’d be more than happy to fix it up next time you’re in store. We like seeing our customers bring their own bags and wouldn’t intentionally re-scan them,” said the representative. “If you can please let us know the store visited, that would be appreciated, and we’ll ensure the feedback is forwarded to the store management team. We look forward to hearing from you and appreciate your understanding.”

Food & Wine

Jane Fonda on more plastic surgery: “I’m not going to cut myself up anymore”

Jane Fonda, 82, has decided to fully embrace her age and has urged her fans she has sworn off cosmetic procedures. “I can’t pretend that I’m not vain, but there isn’t going to be any more plastic surgery - I’m not going to cut myself up anymore,” she admitted to <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ellecanada.com/culture/celebrity/jane-fonda-elle-canada" target="_blank">Elle Canada</a>. The star debuted a stunning new white hairdo at the 2020 Academy Awards, and later said she has had to “work everyday to be self-accepting; it doesn’t come easy to me. “I try to make it very clear that it has been a long and continuing struggle for me. I post pictures of me looking haggard - and once with my tooth out! The Grace & Frankie Netflix star went on to show one of her incisors to the magazine and told them: “This is a fake tooth. It came out in a restaurant in Portugal, and I posted it.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8mEt3iFnhp/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8mEt3iFnhp/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by EQUIPMENT (@equipmentfr)</a> on Feb 15, 2020 at 8:52am PST </div> </blockquote> Fonda took to the stage at the Oscars this year to present best picture, where she debuted her new silver icy blonde hue that blew away fans. Her hair colorist Jack Martin shared that “her goal color was a silver icy blonde to surprise everyone at the 2020 Oscars presenting the final award winner for the movie of the year." Choosing to embrace her skin and age is not new to the actress, who told <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/may/21/jane-fonda-youth-plastic-surgery-sex-cannes" target="_blank">The Guardian</a> in 2015 she believed she “brought myself a decade with plastic surgery,” but ultimately walked away from cosmetic procedures altogether. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8X9ldhAkos/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8X9ldhAkos/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Jane Fonda (@janefonda)</a> on Feb 9, 2020 at 9:20pm PST </div> </blockquote> In her new HBO documentary Jane Fonda In Five Acts, the title film star expressed some regret at having turned to plastic surgery for her face. “I love older faces. I love lived-in faces. I love Vanessa Redgrave's face. I wish I was braver,” she said.

Beauty & Style

"Get with the program guys": Coles shopper not happy with plastic bag overload

A “disgruntled” shopper has expressed anger over the excessive packaging in her Coles online order. The woman said on a Facebook post that despite having ticked the ‘No bags’ option in her Click & Collect order, her groceries still came in individual plastic bags. “When there is an option for No Bags for Click & Collect (which I always tick) and then you put every single piece of fruit or vegetable in said plastic bags it kinda defeats the purpose of “no plastic bags”,” she wrote. “Having one onion or one lemon in a plastic bag is really not necessary and makes me quite furious about the waste and blatant disregard for the climate. Get with the program guys. The general public are becoming way more vigilant about saving our planet. It’s time for you guys to start making some changes too.” The “disgruntled customer” said she “can quite easily shop at Woolworths or Aldi next door”. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fcoles%2Fposts%2F2743332352397429&width=500&show_text=true&height=695&appId" width="500" height="695" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> In its response to the woman’s post, Coles said the plastic bags are “necessary for health and safety reasons”. “We can advise that plastic bags are essential to keep your items together during the shopping process, and are necessary for health and safety reasons with some products,” the response read. Single-use plastic bag ban was introduced in Coles and Woolworths in June 2018. The change had led to an 80 per cent drop in plastic bag consumption nationwide within three months, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-03/supermarket-ban-sees-80pc-drop-in-plastic-bags-nationwide/10576554">according to the National Retail Association</a>. However, the lack of statistics on the supermarkets’ sales of reusable plastic bags suggests that there is no significant reduction in plastic bag use, according to the University of Melbourne’s behaviour change and environmental sustainability expert Geoffrey Binder. “I think that we’ll find that certainly when people go shopping there are people who are now taking bags to the supermarket, but does that mean there has been a net decrease in plastic bag use? Probably not,” Binder told <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/coles-woolworths-reusable-plastic-bags-ban-failing-040305984.html">Yahoo News Australia</a>.

Food & Wine

ALDI, Coles and Woolies under the microscope for too much plastic packaging

As shoppers are becoming more aware of how much plastic they use in their daily lives, they’re slowly turning their attention to the supermarkets and their overuse of plastic. This week is National Recycling Week and many shoppers are voicing their opinions about the amount of single-use plastic that is used by supermarkets and the impact it can have on the environment. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> Do better <a href="https://twitter.com/Coles?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coles</a> ... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/plasticshame?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#plasticshame</a> <a href="https://t.co/RnACUKJIzd">pic.twitter.com/RnACUKJIzd</a> — Roz Kelly (@Roz_Kelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/Roz_Kelly/status/1144758945854001152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">29 June 2019</a></blockquote> Woolworths recently has items such as apples, bananas, mandarins and pears for sale that come in pre-packaged plastic. However, there were examples of excessive packaging, including varieties of fruit packaged together in plastic as well as two organic capsicums wrapped in plastic. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> Far too many small <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/plastic?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#plastic</a> labels recently recovered from the compost bin. Surely our supermarkets & fruit&veg suppliers & retailers can do better <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WarOnPlastic?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WarOnPlastic</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sydney?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sydney</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NSW?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NSW</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NewSouthWales?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NewSouthWales</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Australia?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Australia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aldi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Aldi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Coles?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Coles</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Woolworths?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Woolworths</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IGA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IGA</a> <a href="https://t.co/omtXplYAO8">pic.twitter.com/omtXplYAO8</a> — Peter F Williams (@pfwaus) <a href="https://twitter.com/pfwaus/status/1157808107226927104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">4 August 2019</a></blockquote> Woolworths has said that it has taken initiative to reduce plastic. “We understand many of our customers want us to reduce plastic packaging in our stores and we’re working hard to do just that,” a Woolworths spokesperson said to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/aussie-supermarkets-questioned-over-plastic-packaging-in-stores/news-story/ec18a520c22684a45723c44ce4390fc0" target="_blank">news.com.au</a>. “Over the last two years, we have removed around 1000 tonnes of plastic from our fruit and vegetables and bakery ranges.” Woolworths has removed plastic wrapping from tomatoes, organic bananas, spring onions, celery bunches and kale. Woolworths has also introduced a new initiative where customers are able to return soft plastics to the store, so they were able to be recycled. “We have also rolled out REDcycle facilities in all our stores, which allows customers to return soft plastics, including fruit and veg packaging, to our stores to be recycled,” the spokesperson said. “Nationally, we’ve now repurposed more than 900 tonnes of soft plastics into useful items like outdoor furniture and benches for community groups and stores with REDcycle.” Coles also has a similar set up to Woolworths, with a mixture of unpackaged produce and fresh items that are wrapped in plastic. Some items included a few heads of broccoli inside a plastic bag, plastic boxes of garlic cloves and separate plastic boxes of whole garlic. Coles noted that many of its supplier’s package produce differently so it’s not confused with non-organic products. “We understand the importance of appropriate packaging in maintaining food safety, supporting product longevity and reducing food waste,” the spokesperson said. “At the same time, Coles is committed to making our packaging more sustainable.” Coles also noted that it was the first supermarket to offer REDcycle in its stores around the country. “Since the program began in 2011, Coles has diverted 715 million pieces of plastic from landfill across Australia, including more than 200 million pieces in FY19 alone,” the spokesperson said, “Coles is also actively working with our suppliers on more sustainable and recyclable forms of packaging across all products. “Coles is a member of the Australian Packaging Covenant, which sets sustainable packaging guidelines and we also have our own Sustainable Packaging Policy.” ALDI doesn’t have the same range of fresh produce that Coles and Woolworths offer, but there’s still a significant amount of plastic-packaged produce. This includes capsicums wrapped in plastic as well as a single head of iceberg lettuce on display in a plastic bag. ALDI told news.com.au that reducing their plastic would be a process that takes years and not weeks. “Packaging on a select range of our fresh fruit is used to ensure the freshness of the product for our customers,” ALDI Australia produce buying director Gina Goodridge explained. “From providing a physical barrier to delicate produce like strawberries and mushrooms, to preventing the greening of potatoes or the dehydration of refrigerated produce, our packaging methods are designed to deliver optimum freshness and prevent wastage.”

Food & Wine

Recycling plastic bottles is good but reusing them is better

Last week <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/woolworths-to-be-first-in-australia-with-zerowaste-food-delivery-system/news-story/8fb2f4018a2b0d25a63c58ba8b12a19b#.mo33b">Woolworths announced</a> a new food delivery system, in collaboration with US company TerraCycle, that delivers grocery essentials in reusable packaging. The system, called Loop, lets shoppers buy products from common supermarket brands in reusable packaging. As Australia works out how to meet the national packaging target for 100% of Australian packaging to be <a href="http://www.joshfrydenberg.com.au/guest/mediaReleasesDetails.aspx?id=562">recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2025</a>, programs like this offer an opportunity to overhaul how plastic packaging is produced, used and recycled. Recycling alone is not the silver bullet Plastic packaging, most of which is for <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/3f275bb3-218f-4a3d-ae1d-424ff4cc52cd/files/australian-plastics-recycling-survey-report-2017-18.pdf">food and beverages</a>, is the fastest growing category of plastic use. In Australia <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/3f275bb3-218f-4a3d-ae1d-424ff4cc52cd/files/australian-plastics-recycling-survey-report-2017-18.pdf">less than 10%</a> of this plastic packaging is recycled, compared with 70% for paper and cardboard packaging. Of the <a href="http://www.sita.com.au/media/publications/02342_Plastics_Identification_Code.pdf">seven categories of plastic</a>, recycling of water bottles (PET) and milk bottles (HDPA) is most effective, yet recycling rates remain relatively low, around 30%. Other hard plastics (PVC, PS) and soft or flexible plastics, such as clingfilm and plastic bags, present significant challenges for recyclers. In the case of soft plastics, although recycling options are available, the use of additives known as plasticisers – used to make the hard plastic soft and malleable – often make products <a href="https://www.packagingcovenant.org.au/documents/item/2179">recycled out of soft plastics</a> weak, non-durable, and unable to be recycled further. <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-cant-recycle-our-way-to-zero-waste-78598">Some researchers</a> argue recycling actually represents a <a href="http://www.greenlifestylemag.com.au/features/2936/disposable-drink-bottles-plastic-vs-glass-vs-aluminium">downgrading process</a>, as plastic packaging is not always recycled into new packaging, owing to contamination or diminished quality. Even where single-use plastic packaging can be effectively recycled, it often isn’t. The more single-use plastics that are produced, the higher the chance they will enter the ocean and other environments where their <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2017-02-27/plastic-and-plastic-waste-explained/8301316">plasticiser chemicals leach out</a>, harming wildlife populations and the humans who depend on them. Zero Waste Europe recently updated its <a href="https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/your-environment/recycling-and-reuse/warr-strategy/the-waste-hierarchy">Waste Hierarchy</a> to emphasise avoiding packaging in the first instance, and to encourage reuse over recycling. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/299986/original/file-20191103-88399-1hlgzdg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/299986/original/file-20191103-88399-1hlgzdg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> The zero waste hierarchy for a circular economy. <a href="https://zerowasteeurope.eu/2019/05/a-zero-waste-hierarchy-for-europe/" class="source">Zero Waste Europe</a> Getting reuse right For a reusable product to be more environmentally sustainable than a single-use product, it must promote the use of less energy and resources in our daily routines. Although the uptake of products such as reusable cups and shopping bags have increased, these types of reusable items have attracted criticism. If used correctly, these products represent a positive change. However, <a href="https://theconversation.com/heres-how-many-times-you-actually-need-to-reuse-your-shopping-bags-101097">some research suggests</a> these products can be less sustainable than the single-use items they are replacing if people treat them like disposable items and do not reuse them enough. For example, if you regularly buy new reusable bags at the supermarket, that potentially has a greater environmental impact than using “single-use” plastic bags. To really reduce plastic packaging, we need to find ways to alter the routines that involve plastic packaging, rather than directly substituting individual products (such as reusable bags for single-use ones). Developing new reusable packaging systems Redesigning ubiquitous plastic packaging means understanding why it is so useful. For food packaging, its functions might include: <ol> <li> allowing food to travel from producer to consumer while maintaining its freshness and form </li> <li> enabling the food to be kept on a shelf for an extended period of time without becoming inedible </li> <li> allowing the brand to display various nutritional information, branding and other product claims. </li> </ol> So how might these functions be met without disposable plastic packaging? <a href="https://loopstore.com/how-it-works">TerraCycle Loop</a>, the business model that Woolworths has announced it will partner with, is currently also trialling services in the United States and France. They have partnered with postal services and large food and personal care brands including Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Clorox, Nestlé, Mars, Coca-Cola, and PepsiCo. Customers order products online, from ice-cream to juice and shampoo, with a small container deposit. These items are delivered to their house, and collected again with the next delivery. The containers are washed and taken back to the manufacturers for refill. The major participating brands have all redesigned their packaging to participate in the program. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/299987/original/file-20191103-88403-1n63f5v.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/299987/original/file-20191103-88403-1n63f5v.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> TerraCycle Loop reusable packaging. <a href="https://loopstore.com/how-it-works" class="source">TerraCycle Loop</a> This model works because it is not replacing products one-for-one, but creating a new product system to allow people to easily integrate reuse into their daily routines. We can examine the function of single use plastic packaging in takeaway food in a similar way. The purpose of takeaway food packaging is to let us enjoy a meal at home or on the move without having to cook it ourselves or sit in a restaurant. So how might these functions be achieved without disposable packaging? Australian company <a href="https://returnr.org/">RETURNR</a> has addressed this with a system in which cafes partner with food delivery services. Customers buy food in a RETURNR container, pay a deposit with the cost of their meal, and then return the container to any cafe in the network. The Kickstarter campaign <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zeroco/zero-co-win-the-war-on-waste-at-your-place">Zero Co</a>, is offering a similar model for a resuse service that covers kitchen, laundry and bathroom products. Making reuse <a href="https://www.uts.edu.au/research-and-teaching/our-research/institute-sustainable-futures/news/developing-alternatives">easy and convenient</a> is crucial to the success of these systems. If Australia is to meet our national packaging targets, we need to prioritise the elimination of unnecessary packaging. Although recycling is likely to remain crucial to keeping plastic waste out of landfill in the near future, it should only be pursued when options higher up the waste hierarchy – such as reuse – have been ruled out.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/126339/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rachael-wakefield-rann-321286">Rachael Wakefield-Rann</a>, Research Consultant, Institute for Sustainable Futures, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936">University of Technology Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jenni-downes-12549">Jenni Downes</a>, Research Fellow, BehaviourWorks Australia (Monash Sustainable Development Institute), <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nick-florin-160370">Nick Florin</a>, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936">University of Technology Sydney</a> This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/recycling-plastic-bottles-is-good-but-reusing-them-is-better-126339">original article</a>.

Technology

Brace yourself! Retailers face fines of up to $50,000 as new plastic bag ban starts

Victorian retailers who supply single-use plastic bags to customers could be fined $49,500 per offence under new state laws that come into effect from tomorrow. The plastic bag ban impacts retail outlets in the entire state, which includes supermarkets, fashion stores, fast-food outlets, convenience stores as well as individual businesses who face fines of $9,900 per offence. The new law makes it illegal for any retailer to “lightweight plastic shopping bags with handles with a thickness of 35 microns or less at any part of the bag, including degradable, biodegradable and compostable bags,” according to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/retailers-face-fines-of-50000-as-victorias-plastic-bag-ban-kicks-in-on-november-1/news-story/db6e33ffdd5c8768ab75ec31afc9ae8e" target="_blank">news.com.au</a>. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3avG2YHhoO/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3avG2YHhoO/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">👍 Don't forget your reusable bag @vicmarket #reusablebags #VICbagban #melbourne #retail #shopping #plasticbagban #national_retail_association</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/vicbagban/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> VIC bag ban</a> (@vicbagban) on Oct 9, 2019 at 5:34pm PDT </div> </blockquote> In a statement that announced the legislation to parliament, Victorian Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said that the ban is a much-needed step towards protecting the state’s nature from plastic pollution. “Plastic pollution is a significant environmental problem — the actions we take now will help ensure Victoria has a clean and bright future,” Ms D’Ambrosio said. “The feedback on this one was clear. Victorians want to do more to protect the environment from the damage litter causes and are overwhelmingly supportive of banning single-use plastic shopping bags. “We’ve been working closely with businesses to plan for the ban ahead of November and we’ll continue to look at ways we can reduce other types of plastic pollution across Victoria.” The National Retail Association has partnered with the Victorian Government to educate business owners about the ban. They said that thousands of businesses have made the switch to sustainable bags. “Overwhelmingly retailers are embracing this policy,” NRA chief executive Dominique Lamb said in a statement. “We know that consumers are very supportive, and most businesses have already moved to implement more sustainable options well ahead of Friday’s deadline.”

News

Woolworths’ new move to counter criticism over plastic bag ban

Woolworths has quietly introduced paper bags at selected stores as an alternative to plastic reusable ones. Speaking to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/supermarket-chain-woolworths-trials-20-cent-paper-bags-at-21-stores/news-story/03e34ba6095a1a4444128f92cd5f374f" target="_blank">news.com.au</a>, a spokeswoman from Woolworths said the trial is currently being conducted in 21 stores. They are priced at 20 cents each, are reusable and recyclable – although they are priced higher than the 15 cent reusable plastic bags available in every store around the country. “The vast majority of our customers bring their own bags to shop, but we know there are occasions when they forget or visit our stores unplanned,” said the spokeswoman. “Some customers have told us they would like the option of a paper bag when this happens. “We’re trialling paper bags in around 20 stores to test customer demand and will closely monitor feedback as we do.” The spokeswoman revealed that the plastic bags will still be available for customers to purchase. The paper bags are made from 80 per cent recycled and 20 per cent virgin paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). They are also recyclable. After news broke that the supermarket giant will be offering paper bags, shoppers took to social media to voice their thoughts. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> Wow, they used to have paper bags in the 70s. — Shane (@sgt_rawk) <a href="https://twitter.com/sgt_rawk/status/1184691130970992640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">17 October 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en-gb"> Good luck to those waiting for a tram/bus home and it rains. — VelvetTeaLeaf (@VelvetTeaLeaf) <a href="https://twitter.com/VelvetTeaLeaf/status/1184687847627874304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">17 October 2019</a></blockquote> “Everything old is new again. We had this before and we changed to plastic bags to save the trees,” wrote on user on Facebook. “Back to the 50s, 40s, 60s, we go,” said another.

Food & Wine

Tea drinkers at risk of ingesting billions of plastic particles

A single tea bag may leave billions of microplastic particles in your cup, a new study has found. Research published by the American Chemical Society’s journal Environmental Science & Technology discovered that one plastic tea bag released about 11.6 billion microplastic and 3.1 billion nanoplastic particles into brewing water – thousands of times higher than those previously recorded in other foods. “We were very, very surprised,” Dr Nathalie Tufenkji, a professor of chemical engineering at McGill University and co-author of the study, told <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/5948570/plastic-teabags-microplastics-in-tea/">Global News</a>. “We thought [plastic teabags] maybe release a couple of hundred [plastic] particles, maybe a few thousand. So we were really shocked when we saw they’re releasing billions of particles into a cup of tea.” The study, which analysed four different commercial teas in plastic packaging, found that the teabags shed two different types of plastic particles that are invisible to the naked eye: polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and nylon. The McGill University researchers said it is not known whether the ingestion of micro- and nanoplastics could have adverse effects on human’s health. In its first report on the health risks of plastic in tap and bottled water released last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) said microplastics “don’t appear to pose a health risk at current levels”. However, the WHO said the findings were based on “limited information” and called for more research on the matter. Researcher Laura Hernandez told <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49845940">BBC</a> shoppers should avoid plastic packaging instead of specific brands. Some tea manufacturers are moving away from paper in favour of plastic mesh to create a pyramid shape, which was claimed as helping the tea leaves infuse better. Many teabags on the market also use polypropylene as a sealant, preventing the bag from breaking in the cup. “We encourage consumers to choose loose teas that is sold without packaging or other teas that come in paper teabags,” said Hernandez. “There is really no need to package tea in plastic, which at the end of the day becomes single-use plastic, which is contributing to you not just ingesting plastic but to the environmental burden of plastic.” Last year, a study of 250 water bottles from nine different countries revealed that microplastics were found in nearly all major brands. Sherri Mason, a professor of chemistry at the State University of New York at Fredonia and the research’s leader said the study is not about “pointing fingers” at certain brands. “It’s really showing that this is everywhere, that plastic has become such a pervasive material in our society, and it’s pervading water — all of these products that we consume at a very basic level,” she told <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-43388870">BBC</a>. <a href="https://wwf.panda.org/our_work/markets/?348375/Plastic-ingestion-by-humans-could-equate-to-eating-a-credit-card-a-week">A study released by the University of Newcastle</a> in June suggested that the average person consumes 5 grams of plastic every week, or about a credit card’s weight.

Food & Wine

Shopping centre wins praise over genius plastic shopping bag hack

A shopping centre in Canberra has received praise for its “great” initiative that helps shoppers carry their groceries without having to get or purchase a new plastic shopping bag. Westfield Woden has installed a reusable bag wall where shoppers can take or leave reusable carriers. The wall, which was erected in between the shopping centre’s Coles and Woolworths, was created by Westfield Woden’s centre management in collaboration with MMD, Damsel and Sprout and Allira’s Inklings. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B0kOsoOgr7l/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B0kOsoOgr7l/" target="_blank">A post shared by 👋 Hi! So nice to meet you! (@damselandsprout)</a> on Jul 30, 2019 at 8:29pm PDT </div> </blockquote> Community members have expressed support for the new wall, with many sharing positive feedback on social media sites. “Great idea! Please keep it going,” one commented. “Love this concept! More shopping centres should have them,” another added. “I think it could be a solution to some of the 'reusable' plastic bags from Coles and Woolies!” one said. “The banning of single use plastic bags and commercialisation of the legislated ‘approved plastic’ reusable carrier means that we have all accumulated way too many grocery bags and can’t even gift them away fast enough!” one wrote. The initiative came after the ACT banned some single-use, lightweight plastic bags in November 2011. According to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6307607/help-at-hand-if-you-forget-your-plastic-shopping-bags/?fbclid=IwAR0qunD3q_9yTCDEfLsY4nuUEj5obVLcbrOJ0Tq2sXCv_B8FXyVB6iliGAc" target="_blank">Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate</a>, the volume of plastic bag waste going to landfill has declined by about one-third since the ban took effect.

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Coles cleans house by "trashing" entire product line

“Check your receipts”: Shopper issues Woolworths plastic bag warning

Jane Fonda on more plastic surgery: “I’m not going to cut myself up anymore”

"Get with the program guys": Coles shopper not happy with plastic bag overload

ALDI, Coles and Woolies under the microscope for too much plastic packaging

Recycling plastic bottles is good but reusing them is better

Brace yourself! Retailers face fines of up to $50,000 as new plastic bag ban starts

Woolworths’ new move to counter criticism over plastic bag ban

Tea drinkers at risk of ingesting billions of plastic particles

Shopping centre wins praise over genius plastic shopping bag hack

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