Plastics in the Environment - Sources • Sinks • Solutions

Plastics in the Environment - Sources • Sinks • Solutions

Overview of the Joint Research Projects

Publication: Conference Paper
Citation: Ecologic Institute (ed.) 2018: BMBF Research Focus - Plastics in the Environment Sources • Sinks • Solutions - Overview of the Joint Research Projects.

With its comprehensive research programme, the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, BMBF) is funding 20 research projects which have the overall aim of noticeably decreasing the amount of plastics in the environment. To do so, scientists indentify, develop and implement possible solutions in cooperation with political, societal and economic actors.

The conference paper presents the aims of the overall research programme as well as the 20 research projects spanning a wide range of research areas such as Green Economy, Consumption, Recycling, Freshwater Ecosystems as well as Saltwater Ecosystems, and the accompanying research of PlastikNet.

The Overview of the Joint Research Projects of the BMBF Research Programme "Plastic in the Environment – Sources • Sinks • Solutions" is available for download.

Contact

Doris Knoblauch

Co-Coordinator Plastics

Coordinator Urban & Spatial Governance

Senior Fellow

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

Year 2024

Publication:Policy Brief

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

Primary Plastic Polymers: Urgently needed upstream reduction

Year 2024

Presentation:Speech

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

Plastics & the Environment – Why We Need a Plastics Treaty

13 March 2024
Doris Knoblauch

News

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

UN Negotiations on a Potential Plastics Agreement were Stuck in Nairobi

A long way to go

13 - 19 November 2023

Publication:Article

Plastics Treaty Text Must Center Ecosystems

Letter in Science

Year 2023

Publication:Article

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

Sharing Communication Insights of the Citizen Science Program Plastic Pirates

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

Year 2023

News

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

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

Strengthen the Independent Voice of Science

Support our participation in the global plastics negotiations!

22 April 2024

News

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

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

An important step

29 May - 2 June 2023

Publication:Book

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

Die Geisterstunde

Year 2023

Languages

German

English

Credits

Editing: Doris Knoblauch, Dr. Ulf Stein

Graphic Concept and Layout: Beáta Welk Vargová

Funding

Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany

Year

2018

Dimension

100 pp

Project

Scientific Coordination of Research Projects on "Plastics in the Environment – Sources • Sinks • Solutions" (PlastikNet)

Project ID

Table of contents

Click to show full table of contents

Keywords

Resource Conservation + Circular Economy

Water

microplastic

Germany

Download: Plastics in the Environment - Sources • Sinks • Solutions [pdf, 1.7 MB, English]

Attachments

Plastics in the Environment - Sources • Sinks • Solutions (1.74 MB)

Further Links

Website of the Research Focus Plastics in the Environment

PresentationSpeechFor the Oceans, Free and Clean

R. Andreas Kraemer, Ecologic Institut

Human-caused marine pollution presents an increasing threat to biological diversity. This kick-off event of the event series entitled "Biodiversity - local/global" depicts the dangers. In his presentation R. Andreas Kraemer, Founding Director and CEO of Ecologic... Read more

Speech:For the Oceans, Free and Clean

Date: 4 November 2013
Location: Berlin, Germany

EventConferencePlastic in the Environment – Kick-off Conference of the BMBF Research Programme

Auftaktkonferenz BMBF-Forschungsschwerpunkt "Plastik in der Umwelt", Foto: Stephan Röhl

With a big conference in Berlin on the 17 and 18 Oktober 2017, the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, BMBF) launched its new comprehensive research programme "Plastic in the Environment – Sources • Sinks •... Read more

Conference:Plastic in the Environment – Kick-off Conference of the BMBF Research Programme

Date: 17 - 18 October 2017
Location: Berlin, Germany

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

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

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

Date: 28 April 2017
Location: Berlin, Germany

EventDiscussionSwimming in Trash – Marine Pollution and its Effects on Marine Life – Kick-Off Event

The term "biodiversity," or biological diversity, is being increasingly brought into a wide array of social and political debates, not least of all because of the numerous species and ecosystems that are under threat and because of the current and future human... Read more

Discussion:Swimming in Trash – Marine Pollution and its Effects on Marine Life – Kick-Off Event

Date: 4 November 2013
Location: Berlin, Germany

ProjectFP 7 New Tools and Policy Options to Improve the Management of Marine Litter (CLEANSEA)

CLEANSEA is a research project that takes an interdisciplinary approach to studying marine litter. CLEANSEA assesses the state of marine litter in European seas, rivers and on beaches and its impact on biological, social and economic processes. It aims to develop new... Read more

New Tools and Policy Options to Improve the Management of Marine Litter (CLEANSEA)

Duration: Dec 2012 - Dec 2015
Funding: European Commission, Directorate-General Research & Innovation (DG Research & Innovation), International

PublicationArticleCleanSea Fosters Marine Litter Stakeholder Dialogue Across Europe

Krüger, Ina and Susanne Altvater 2015: "CleanSea Fosters Marine Litter Stakeholder Dialogue Across Europe". Coastal & Marine, Special The CleanSea Project: An interdisciplinary study of marine litter in the EU 24.1: 23. ... Read more

Krüger, Ina and Susanne Altvater 2015: "CleanSea Fosters Marine Litter Stakeholder Dialogue Across Europe". Coastal & Marine, Special The CleanSea Project: An interdisciplinary study of marine litter in the EU 24.1: 23.

EventDiscussionMarine Litter in the Baltic Sea: Challenges and Opportunities (CleanSea Discussion)

Dr. Ingo Sartorius, PlasticsEurope Deutschland

On 14 November 2013, a workshop on marine litter in the Baltic Sea took place at the Ecologic Institute's offices in Berlin. Susanne Altvater, a Fellow at Ecologic Institute, gave an introductory presentation on the topic and on the Clean Sea project in general to... Read more

Discussion:Marine Litter in the Baltic Sea: Challenges and Opportunities (CleanSea Discussion)

Date: 14 November 2013
Location: Berlin, Germany

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