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.

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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.

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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.

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Doris Knoblauch

News

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A long way to go

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Publication:Article

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Year 2023

Publication:Article

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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!

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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

Further Links

Website of the Research Focus Plastics in the Environment

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Funding: European Commission, Directorate-General Research & Innovation (DG Research & Innovation), International

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