Innovative Solutions to Protect Ecosystems from Plastic Pollution

Over the 70 years our dependence on plastic has extremely arisen and reached levels that are very difficult to control. Despite its harmful effects on the environment, the production of plastic has not stopped and, what’s more, it is said to have increased. Whether one is talking about terrestrial habitats or marine life, the impact of plastic on our ecosystem is deeply concerning. Thankfully, we have more and more innovative solutions to reduce and eliminate the danger.

The role of community-driven efforts is of high value. Whether these are local clean-up events, workshops, educational programmes or campaigns, engaging citizens and fostering the sense of environmental responsibility can result in positive and long-lasting effects.

A solution which is gaining more and more interest is bioremediation. It uses microorganisms (such as bacteria, yeast or fungi) to degrade organic contaminants in soil, groundwater, sludge and even solids. These microorganisms break down the contaminants by using them as a source of energy and produce non-toxic products like water or carbon dioxide. The most frequent instances of the use of bioremediation concerning our ecosystem are soil contamination and cleaning up oil spills.

Another solution is biodegradable packaging which has started to be used by a vast majority of companies in Europe. Good Start Packaging is a B Corp on a mission to inspire people to be more conscious and responsible for their use of plastic. They help foodservice operators by providing sustainable packaging solutions. Their products are made from renewable materials like plant fiber, bamboo and corn and can become soil after 2-6 months if composted.

Find more innovations and initiatives on our “Green Portal”