Plastic waste in cities, in the landscape, in rivers, on beaches, and eventually in the oceans – the presence of plastics in the environment is immediately and negatively visible. Entry pathways into the environment and environmental impacts of plastic are diverse and not always easy to identify. The entry pathways are primarily land-based and include the entire production and distribution chain of plastics, as well as waste management and consumer behavior. The environmental impact is particularly easy to detect in aquatic ecosystems – both in the form of dying marine animals and birds, marine food containing primary and secondary microplastics and in the form of human and ecotoxic substances in water bodies and sewage.

Within the research focus, twenty joint research projects are funded, which investigate sources and develop and test transdisciplinary solutions. The results of the projects will be presented in a webinar series. The participation in the webinars is free of charge; registration in advance is required. All webinars will be organized in German.

The webinar series is organized by Ecologic Institute within the framework of the accompanying research project "PlastikNet". The focus of PlastikNet is on networking the content of the collaborative projects, as well as the synthesis across the collaborative projects.

Overview of the webinars

Webinar #17: Ecotoxicology – Is Microplastics Harmful?

More information can be found here soon.

Webinar #16: From plastic prevention to reducing plastic inputs to the environment – Regulatory options at the national level

18 May 2022 | 10:00 - 11:30 AM

Presentations and video recordings can be found on the event page.

Webinar #15: Opportunities and Limits of a Plastic Emissions Budget

4 April 2022 | 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Presentations and video recordings can be found on the event page.

Webinar #14: Where do we stand in the fight against global plastic pollution? Plastic policy(ies) between national and international level

15 March 2022 | 2:00 - 3:30 PM

Presentations and video recordings can be found on the event page.

Webinar #13: Microplastics in wastewater – Input pathways, regulation and recommendations for action

1 March 2022 | 10:00 - 11:30 AM

Presentations and video recordings can be found on the event page.

Webinar #12: Challenges in measuring microplastics in stormwater and combined wastewater

28 February 2022 | 3:00 - 4:30 PM

Presentations and video recordings can be found on the event page.

Webinar #11: Plastics in Soils

25 January 2022, 10:00 - 11:30 AM

Presentations and video recordings can be found on the event page.

Webinar #10: Science to Explore: Insights into and results from the Citizen Science project "Plastic Pirates"

13 January 2022, 10:00-11:30 AM

Presentations and video recordings can be found on the event page.

Webinar #9: Microplastics in Wastewater Treatment Plants – Measurement, results, classification

14 December 2021, 10:00-11:30 AM

Presentations and video recordings can be found on the event page.

Webinar #8: Microplastics in the North and Baltic Seas – Origins, risks and recommendations for action for policy makers, industry and civil society

8 December 2021, 10:00-11:30 AM

Presentations and video recordings can be found on the event page.

Webinar #7: Biodegradability – Niche or solution?

25 November 2021, 2:00-3:30 PM

Presentations and video recordings can be found on the event page.

Webinar #6: Sustainable Plastic Packaging – Sort, change, avoid – What works?

8 November 2021

Presentations and video recordings can be found on the event page.

Webinar #5: Modeling Microplastics in River Basins – Approaches for a better understanding of the whole system

7 September 2021

Click here to access the event page. At the request of the speakers, we will not be publishing the presentations.

Webinar #4: Plastic Emissions in the Textile Industry

26 August 2021

Presentations and video recordings can be found on the event page.

Webinar #3: Microplastics in Reservoirs and Impoundments

29 July 2021

Presentations and video recordings can be found on the event page.

Webinar #2: Monomer Recycling: Alternative to Closing the Recyclable Material Loop – Technical and environmental considerations

5 July 2021

Presentations and video recordings can be found on the event page.

Webinar #1: Tire Abrasion in the Environment – New findings from three years of research

21 June 2021

Presentations and video recordings can be found on the event page.