Plastic

Combatting Global Plastic Pollution

Infobrief

A critical look at the entire plastics cycle is also of crucial importance from a feminist perspective, because the plastic problem cannot simply be reduced to consumer use patterns or to harmful microplastics in cosmetic products. On the contrary, every stage of the plastics cycle reflects different gender-specific experiences and exposures.

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Who’s Ready to Fight Plastic Pollution?

Commentary

A global meeting in November to address the problem by establishing a legally binding agreement did not meet the moment. When the International Negotiating Committee convenes again next year, delegates’ ambitions will need to match the scale and scope of the problem.

By Alexandra Caterbow and Olga Speranskaya

Overexposed

Analysis

Women are more affected than men by plastics. Biological reasons are part of the problem: their bodies react in different ways to toxins, and the hygiene products that women use are often contaminated. But alternatives do exist.

By Johanna Hausmann

Eine Deponie voller Plastikmüll in Ayutthayas Bang Ban District

Thailand’s Plastic Waste Conundrum

Analysis

Despite the Thai government’s ban of four more types of single-use plastics in 2022, up to 250,000 tonnes of imported plastic waste from other nations continues to flow into the country annually through the international plastic waste trade. Thailand is trying to stay the course with further efforts to mitigate plastic pollution, but there are still challenges in waste sorting and collection on the ground.

By Pratch Rujivanarom

Plastics, gender and the environment

Study

Findings of a literature study on the lifecycle of plastics and its impacts on women and men, from production to litter.

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Unpacked!

Book

Specifically developed and designed for a young international audience, the digital book "Unpacked! Plastic, Waste, & Me" answers 70 questions about plastic in colorful infographics and six true stories. Book designer and author Gesine Grotrian and a team of experts from the Heinrich Böll Foundation together with an advisory board of young people from all over the world have created an exciting non-fiction book for young people aged 12 and over.

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