{"id":64834,"date":"2024-09-03T15:42:43","date_gmt":"2024-09-03T03:42:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/?page_id=64834"},"modified":"2026-04-08T20:58:42","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T08:58:42","slug":"tackling-plastic-pollution","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/explore\/tackling-plastic-pollution\/","title":{"rendered":"Tackling plastic pollution"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignfull has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile is-pattern-p4-page-header is-style-parallax\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-white-background-color has-background\" id=\"h-tackling-plastic-pollution\">Tackling plastic pollution<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:1.25rem\">Plastic pollution is everywhere &#8211; on beaches and oceans, in drinking water and rain. Now, with microplastics, plastic is even inside our bodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:1.25rem\">We need to tackle plastic pollution. We need a Global Plastics Treaty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-cta\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/action.greenpeace.org.nz\/petition\/plastic-global-treaty?utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=campaign-plastics&amp;utm_campaign=Plastics\">Sign the petition<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1272\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2018\/04\/d9e47d1b-gp0strjagtreated.jpg\" alt=\"\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 601px) 50vw, 100vw\" srcset=\"\" class=\"wp-image-72 size-full\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Plastic is Everywhere\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/slWDujSBgVo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-is-plastic-such-a-big-problem\"><strong>Why is plastic such a big problem?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the last 70 years, 8.3 billion metric tonnes of plastic has been produced globally. That&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unep.org\/interactives\/beat-plastic-pollution\/\">400m tonnes<\/a> of waste every year. A million plastic bottles every minute. And in Aotearoa, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/video\/plastic-free-july-a-billion-single-use-plastic-bottles-fill-eden-park\/\">one billion bottles are sold every year<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Around half of the plastic produced is items that will be thrown away after a single use. Only 9% of all plastic products have ever been recycled, with the rest either incinerated or released into the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many countries, including New Zealand, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/the-devastation-of-new-zealands-plastic-waste-exports-on-developing-countries\/\">export plastic waste<\/a> to places like Malaysia and Thailand, where it becomes a problem for other people. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/press-release\/new-zealand-exporting-plastic-waste-to-developing-nations-at-an-alarming-rate\/\">Greenpeace investigation<\/a> documented instances where this plastic waste was being illegally dumped and incinerated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s worse, the production of plastic is ever-increasing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-greenpeace-doing-to-stop-plastic-pollution\"><strong>What is Greenpeace doing to stop plastic pollution?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Tackling plastic pollution is a priority for Greenpeace and our supporters &#8211; globally and here in Aotearoa.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u25cf <strong>Together we got microbeads and plastic bags banned<\/strong>. Over the past 6 years, New Zealand has banned microbeads and some single-use plastic items &#8211; like <a href=\"http:\/\/environment.govt.nz\/what-you-can-do\/campaigns\/single-use-plastic-bags-banned\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">shopping bags<\/a>, produce bags and takeaway containers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u25cf <strong>We\u2019re now calling for a ban on single-use plastic bottles.<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/video\/plastic-free-july-a-billion-single-use-plastic-bottles-fill-eden-park\/\">One billion single-use plastic bottles are sold in Aotearoa every year<\/a>. Over 100,000 people have joined<a href=\"https:\/\/petition.act.greenpeace.org.nz\/plastics-banbottles\"> the call to ban the bottle.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u25cf <strong>We&#8217;re pushing for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/why-we-need-a-strong-global-plastics-treaty\/\">Global Plastics Treaty<\/a>.<\/strong> This will help Governments to cooperate &amp; regulate the production of plastic. A strong global treaty could <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/why-greenpeace-is-calling-on-governments-to-cut-plastic-production-by-at-least-75-by-2040\/\">cut plastic production by at least 75%<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"935\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/11\/d2a4965d-gp0styakf_medium_res_with_credit_line-1024x935.jpg\" alt=\"\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 1600px) calc((1320px - 24px) \/ 2),(min-width: 1200px) calc((1140px - 24px) \/ 2),(min-width: 992px) calc((960px - 24px) \/ 2),(min-width: 768px) calc((720px - 24px) \/ 2),(min-width: 601px) calc((540px - 24px) \/ 2),(min-width: 577px) calc((540px - 24px) \/ 1), calc(100vw - 24px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/11\/d2a4965d-gp0styakf_medium_res_with_credit_line.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/11\/d2a4965d-gp0styakf_medium_res_with_credit_line-600x548.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/11\/d2a4965d-gp0styakf_medium_res_with_credit_line-1024x935.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/11\/d2a4965d-gp0styakf_medium_res_with_credit_line-768x701.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/11\/d2a4965d-gp0styakf_medium_res_with_credit_line-372x340.jpg 372w\" class=\"wp-image-61616 size-full\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-test-your-knowledge-on-plastic-pollution\">Test your knowledge on plastic pollution<\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"typeform-widget\" data-url=\"https:\/\/form.typeform.com\/to\/QgyLJKGS?typeform-medium=embed-snippet#sfid=web&amp;actionid=gpnz.plastics.QgyLJKGS.quiz&amp;name=null\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 550px;\"><\/div> <script> (function() { var qs,js,q,s,d=document, gi=d.getElementById, ce=d.createElement, gt=d.getElementsByTagName, id=\"typef_orm\", b=\"https:\/\/embed.typeform.com\/\"; if(!gi.call(d,id)) { js=ce.call(d,\"script\"); js.id=id; js.src=b+\"embed.js\"; q=gt.call(d,\"script\")[0]; q.parentNode.insertBefore(js,q) } })() <\/script>\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-query actions-list p4-query-loop is-custom-layout-actions-list is-custom-layout-grid is-layout-grid wp-container-core-query-is-layout-29f43435 wp-block-query-is-layout-grid\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"join-the-campaign\">Join the campaign<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"margin-top:24px;margin-bottom:32px\">It is only through collective action that we can tackle the plastic problem. Use your voice, join us today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-post-template is-layout-flow wp-block-post-template-is-layout-flow\"><li class=\"wp-block-post post-50887 p4_action type-p4_action status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-greenpeace tag-plastics action-type-petition\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"931\" height=\"669\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2022\/02\/1fda9d39-ag-oetition.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image wp-stateless-item\" alt=\"\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2022\/02\/1fda9d39-ag-oetition.jpg 931w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2022\/02\/1fda9d39-ag-oetition-600x431.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2022\/02\/1fda9d39-ag-oetition-768x552.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2022\/02\/1fda9d39-ag-oetition-473x340.jpg 473w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 931px) 100vw, 931px\" data-image-size=\"post-thumbnail\" data-stateless-media-bucket=\"planet4-aotearoa-stateless\" data-stateless-media-name=\"2022\/02\/1fda9d39-ag-oetition.jpg\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n                <div class=\"wp-block-group group-stretched-link is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-terms\">Greenpeace<\/div>\n                <h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/petition\/petition-global-plastics-treaty\/\" target=\"_self\" >PETITION: Demand a Global Plastics Treaty<\/a><\/h3>\n                <div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Call on the NZ Government to stand firm and support a strong global plastics treaty. <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n                \n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group read-more-nav is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/petition\/petition-global-plastics-treaty\/\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-small\" aria-label=\"Take action\">Take Action<\/a><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-15237 p4_action type-p4_action status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-greenpeace tag-plastics action-type-petition\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/f6b777d6-cb8d-4144-82a2-456b2bc8e97a.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image wp-stateless-item\" alt=\"\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" data-image-size=\"post-thumbnail\" data-stateless-media-bucket=\"planet4-new-zealand-stateless\" data-stateless-media-name=\"f6b777d6-cb8d-4144-82a2-456b2bc8e97a.jpg\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n                <div class=\"wp-block-group group-stretched-link is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-terms\">Greenpeace<\/div>\n                <h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/petition\/petition-ban-single-use-plastic-bottles\/\" target=\"_self\" >PETITION: Ban Single-use Plastic Bottles<\/a><\/h3>\n                <div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Call on the NZ Government to ban unnecessary single-use plastic bottles* in NZ, and to incentivise reusable and refillable alternatives. <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n                \n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group read-more-nav is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/petition\/petition-ban-single-use-plastic-bottles\/\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-small\" aria-label=\"Take action\">Take Action<\/a><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-52060 p4_action type-p4_action status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-greenpeace action-type-donation\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2020\/04\/d1493c84-gp04gyu_pressmedia.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image wp-stateless-item\" alt=\"A photo of the Rainbow Warrior arriving in Wellington\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2020\/04\/d1493c84-gp04gyu_pressmedia.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2020\/04\/d1493c84-gp04gyu_pressmedia-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2020\/04\/d1493c84-gp04gyu_pressmedia-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2020\/04\/d1493c84-gp04gyu_pressmedia-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2020\/04\/d1493c84-gp04gyu_pressmedia-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2020\/04\/d1493c84-gp04gyu_pressmedia-510x287.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" data-image-size=\"post-thumbnail\" data-stateless-media-bucket=\"planet4-new-zealand-stateless\" data-stateless-media-name=\"2020\/04\/d1493c84-gp04gyu_pressmedia.jpg\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n                <div class=\"wp-block-group group-stretched-link is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-terms\">Greenpeace<\/div>\n                <h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/donation\/donate-to-greenpeace\/\" target=\"_self\" >Donate to Greenpeace<\/a><\/h3>\n                <div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Take action for environmental protection. Please make a donation today. Greenpeace exists because this fragile earth deserves a voice. It needs solutions. It needs change. It needs action. <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n                \n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group read-more-nav is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/donation\/donate-to-greenpeace\/\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-small\" aria-label=\"Take action\">Donate<\/a><\/div>\n\n<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons carousel-controls is-horizontal is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-044bd602 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons load-more-actions-container is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-secondary\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\">Load more<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull block has-beige-100-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"h-the-6-key-problems-of-plastic-pollution\">The 6 key problems of plastic pollution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:24px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">The effects of plastic waste are widespread and deeply concerning. Find out more about the 6 key problems of plastic pollution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group group-stretched-link is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center is-style-chevron\" id=\"h-1-microplastics\" style=\"font-size:1rem\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/six-key-problems-with-plastic-pollution\/#Microplastics\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/six-key-problems-with-plastic-pollution\/#Microplastics\">1. Microplastics<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group group-stretched-link is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center is-style-chevron\" id=\"h-2-human-health-risks\" style=\"font-size:1rem\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/six-key-problems-with-plastic-pollution\/#HumanHealth\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/six-key-problems-with-plastic-pollution\/#HumanHealth\">2. Human health risks<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group group-stretched-link is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center is-style-chevron\" id=\"h-3-social-injustice\" style=\"font-size:1rem\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/six-key-problems-with-plastic-pollution\/#Injustice\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/six-key-problems-with-plastic-pollution\/#Injustice\">3. Social injustice<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group group-stretched-link is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center is-style-chevron\" id=\"h-4-wildlife-harm\" style=\"font-size:1rem\">4. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/six-key-problems-with-plastic-pollution\/#Wildlife\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/six-key-problems-with-plastic-pollution\/#Wildlife\">Wildlife harm<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group group-stretched-link is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center is-style-chevron\" id=\"h-5-plastic-in-the-ocean\" style=\"font-size:1rem\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/six-key-problems-with-plastic-pollution\/#Oceans\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/six-key-problems-with-plastic-pollution\/#Oceans\">5. Plastic in the ocean<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group group-stretched-link is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center is-style-chevron\" id=\"h-6-a-climate-problem\" style=\"font-size:1rem\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/six-key-problems-with-plastic-pollution\/#ClimateChange\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/six-key-problems-with-plastic-pollution\/#ClimateChange\">6. A climate problem<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/six-key-problems-with-plastic-pollution\/\">Find out more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-the-solutions-to-the-plastic-crisis-nbsp\"><strong>What are the solutions to the plastic crisis?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The truth is,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/every-single-piece-of-plastic-ever-made-still-exists-heres-the-story\/\"> plastic hasn\u2019t been here long.<\/a> Plastic was invented after World War Two and it\u2019s only in the last 20 years that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/why-greenpeace-is-calling-on-governments-to-cut-plastic-production-by-at-least-75-by-2040\/\">global plastic production has doubled<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While this can feel overwhelming, it also means we can turn it around. And it\u2019s not on shoppers to try and do it alone \u2013<a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/plastic-free-july-is-a-waste-of-time-if-the-onus-is-only-on-consumers\/\"> we know that by acting together we can achieve a lot!&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Together, we can push companies towards circular design for all products and packaging. We can support councils using more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/comprehensive-container-return-scheme-needed-to-address-plastic-waste-crisis\/\">reuse &amp; refill systems.<\/a> We can back our Government to negotiate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/why-we-need-a-strong-global-plastics-treaty\/\">a global approach to regulating corporate plastic production<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-cta\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"#join-the-campaign\">Take action<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Plastic Free July sees a billion single-use plastic bottles fill Eden Park\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bQiUxItqNAI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This CGI video shows Auckland\u2019s iconic Eden Park stadium filled with around a billion plastic bottles &#8211; the number sold in New Zealand every year<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-beige-100-background-color has-background is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3e97b092 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-recycling-is-not-the-answer\">Why recycling is not the answer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Only 9% of plastic ever created has been recycled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The remaining 91% ends up in landfills, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=4q4vbNEwjzc\">shipped to countries like Malaysia<\/a>. Some of it is burnt, releasing toxic chemicals. Some ends up in the oceans and forests. Some becomes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/microplastics-are-in-the-air-we-breathe-and-in-earths-atmosphere-and-they-affect-the-climate\/\">microplastics<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Besides this, the process for recycling plastic reduces the quality of the plastic. Most products can only be recycled once or twice before they too become trash in landfills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The reality is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/join-the-movement-to-support-the-reuse-revolution\/\">we need to shift from \u2018throwaway\u2019 mode towards choosing reuse instead.<\/a> Together we can push companies to commit to a path towards <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/the-many-solutions-to-the-plastic-crisis\/#CircularEconomies\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/the-many-solutions-to-the-plastic-crisis\/#CircularEconomies\">circular design<\/a> for all products and packaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-cta\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/the-many-solutions-to-the-plastic-crisis\/#CircularEconomies\">What is circular design?<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/4-false-solutions-that-wont-solve-the-plastic-pollution-crisis\/\">More on false solutions<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<section class=\"block accordion-block wp-block-planet4-blocks-accordion is-style-light\"><header><h2 class=\"page-section-header\">Plastic questions answered<\/h2><\/header><div class=\"accordion-content\"><div class=\"accordion-headline\" name=\"How is plastic made?\">How is plastic made?<\/div><div class=\"panel panel-hidden\"><p class=\"accordion-text\">Most plastics are manufactured from chemicals derived from natural gas and petroleum. There are thousands of these chemical ingredients, used to make plastic products translucent, rigid, pliable, coloured, and so on.<br><br>These enable plastics to have many different uses such as packaging, electrical, or construction.\u00a0<br><br>When plastic products break into tiny microplastics they become hazardous materials. They release chemical additives into natural systems, with a wide range of harmful risks.<br><br>For example,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mpi.govt.nz\/food-safety-home\/safe-levels-of-chemicals-in-food\/pfas-how-these-manufactured-chemicals-can-get-in-food\/\">\u00a0PFAS (Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances)<\/a>\u00a0are a group of synthetic chemicals. They\u2019ve been used in everyday household products for decades.<br><br>PFAS do not degrade easily,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/article\/2024\/may\/25\/what-are-pfas-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-forever-chemicals-surrounding-us-every-day\">\u00a0with some taking over 1,000 years to break down<\/a>. This is how they get the name \u2018forever chemicals\u2019.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/2024\/mar\/14\/plastic-sandwich-bags-pfas-chemicals\">\u00a0A 2024 US report found<\/a>\u00a0most popular plastic sandwich bags contained toxic forever chemicals.<\/p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary accordion-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/three-reasons-why-plastics-wont-save-the-oil-industry\/\">Find out more<\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"accordion-content\"><div class=\"accordion-headline\" name=\"How does plastic end up in the ocean?\">How does plastic end up in the ocean?<\/div><div class=\"panel panel-hidden\"><p class=\"accordion-text\">About a fifth of marine litter is made up of fishing gear and other materials lost at sea by accident, industrial losses, or illegal dumping. And we know that roughly 80% of litter in the seas comes from land from the world\u2019s rivers.<\/p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary accordion-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/how-does-plastic-end-up-in-the-ocean\/\">More on plastic &amp; the ocean<\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"accordion-content\"><div class=\"accordion-headline\" name=\"Where does our recycling go in NZ?\">Where does our recycling go in NZ?<\/div><div class=\"panel panel-hidden\"><p class=\"accordion-text\">Between January 2018 and March 2021, New Zealand exported 98,000 tonnes of plastic waste offshore. More than 46,000 tonnes of this was shipped to Malaysia and Thailand.<br><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=4q4vbNEwjzc\">Watch: The truth behind New Zealand\u2019s plastic waste exports<\/a><\/p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary accordion-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/action.greenpeace.org.nz\/petition\/new-zealand-ban-plastic-waste-exports?utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=campaign-plastics&amp;utm_campaign=Plastics\">Stop plastic waste exports<\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"accordion-content\"><div class=\"accordion-headline\" name=\"Why are microplastics dangerous?\">Why are microplastics dangerous?<\/div><div class=\"panel panel-hidden\"><p class=\"accordion-text\">Microplastics are tiny fragments of plastic that shed from larger bits of plastic. They\u2019re small enough to be transported by wind, and often are too small to be filtered out by water treatment.<br><br>Estimates show trillions of microplastic particles are floating on the ocean\u2019s surfaces soil Rivers etc? Such tiny pieces of plastic can be harmful when they enter ecosystems and they endanger human and animal health.\u00a0<br><br>As animals consume microplastics, they inadvertently ingest these pollutants, which can disrupt their endocrine systems, cause reproductive issues, weaken immune systems, and potentially lead to long-term health problems.<\/p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary accordion-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/microplastics-are-in-the-air-we-breathe-and-in-earths-atmosphere-and-they-affect-the-climate\/\">More on microplastics<\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"accordion-content\"><div class=\"accordion-headline\" name=\"How common are microplastics in Aotearoa New Zealand?\">How common are microplastics in Aotearoa New Zealand?<\/div><div class=\"panel panel-hidden\"><p class=\"accordion-text\">Ever-increasing global plastics production means plastics pollution in Aotearoa is also always growing.<br><br><strong>2021:<\/strong>\u00a0a University of Waikato study revealed<a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/press-release\/greenpeace-renews-call-to-ban-plastic-bottles-following-dangerous-levels-of-microplastics-discovered-around-bop-moana\/\">\u00a0\u201cextremely high levels\u201d of microplastics around Bay of Plenty moana<\/a>.<br><br><strong>2022:\u00a0<\/strong>Scientists at the University of Auckland calculated that wind and waves are helping send microplastics from the ocean to the atmosphere. They estimate it to be about the same as 3 million plastic bottles raining down on Aucklanders in one year.<br><br><strong>2023:<\/strong>\u00a0Researchers found that the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/plastic-pollution-in-some-nz-lakes-is-comparable-to-northern-hemisphere-lakes-in-highly-populated-areas-global-study-finds\/\">level of microplastic pollution in lakes<\/a>\u00a0in NZ is as high as those in the US or Europe. This is despite a much lower population. They found microplastic pollution was highest in Lake Rotorua.\u00a0<br><br><strong>2024:<\/strong>\u00a0A marine scientist found microplastics at all 10 sites she sampled in Lake Wanaka, far from our main population centres. They suggested one of the main sources could be the clothes worn by visitors.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"accordion-content\"><div class=\"accordion-headline\" name=\"What is greenwashing?\">What is greenwashing?<\/div><div class=\"panel panel-hidden\"><p class=\"accordion-text\">Greenwashing is the misleading promotion by companies about the environmental benefits of their products or practices. Many companies take on the language of sustainability, which sounds good,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/press-release\/coca-colas-latest-greenwashing-an-attempt-at-disguising-its-biggest-polluter-status\/\">\u00a0while they carry on polluting.<\/a><br><br>For example Coca-Cola boasts of new refillable plastic bottles and new glass bottles. Yet at the same time it<a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/coca-cola-greenwashes-sustainability-claims\/\">\u00a0increases its production of single-use bottles by billions each year.<\/a><br><br>This is why stronger regulations and a global treaty is needed. For decades tobacco corporations ignored the health risks of their products. It\u2019s an example that shows us that polluters will never change their profitable, polluting ways unless they are forced to.<\/p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary accordion-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/what-is-greenwashing\/\">Greenwashing in NZ<\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"accordion-content\"><div class=\"accordion-headline\" name=\"How can I spot greenwashing?\">How can I spot greenwashing?<\/div><div class=\"panel panel-hidden\"><p class=\"accordion-text\">It can be really hard to know when a company is greenwashing its brand. For example this statement by Coca-Cola acknowledges the plastic crisis and says its an important problem to tackle.\u00a0<br>\u00a0<br><em>\u201cOur sustainable packaging strategy aims to create systemic change through a circular economy for our packaging \u2026 We have a responsibility to help solve the global plastic waste crisis\u201d \u2013<\/em>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.coca-colacompany.com\/sustainability\/packaging-sustainability\">The Coca-Cola Company<\/a><br><br>In reality Coca-Cola\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.storyofstuff.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Story-of-Stuff_Bring-Back-Refill-Report.pdf\">has known reusable glass was the best packaging choice for the planet<\/a>\u00a0since the 1970s. Yet annually they increase their production of single use plastic, fueling the plastic and climate crises.<br><br>While it\u2019s hard to know, these three questions will help as a guide:<br><br><em>Who is saying it?<\/em><br><em>Is profit their top objective?<\/em><br><em>And whatever they\u2019re saying, what are they actually doing?\u00a0<\/em><\/p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary accordion-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/what-is-greenwashing\/#h-tips-to-spot-greenwashing\">Read more<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-white-color has-dark-green-800-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-45dc7bbe35cc92ff87988de56b13e02a is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fd729f6a wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4b2eccd6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-thumbnail is-resized caption-alignment-center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2024\/07\/fbf02a9f-care-for-planet-donate-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-64542\" style=\"width:auto;height:100px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2024\/07\/fbf02a9f-care-for-planet-donate-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2024\/07\/fbf02a9f-care-for-planet-donate-340x340.png 340w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2024\/07\/fbf02a9f-care-for-planet-donate.png 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-white-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-287c2ad990542158a47f43d45bce10ad\" id=\"h-support-our-work\">Support our work<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Plastic pollution might feel overwhelming. But by working together, we can end the age of plastic. Support our work through a regular donation or a one-off gift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-cta\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/action.greenpeace.org.nz\/appeal\/donate?utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=campaign-plastics&amp;utm_campaign=Plastics&amp;cam=701On00000FCpYTIA1\">Donate now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-query posts-list p4-query-loop is-custom-layout-carousel is-layout-flex wp-block-query-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3d213aab wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-more-on-plastic-pollution\">More on plastic pollution<\/h2>\n\n\n<li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item see-all-link wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"http:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/news-stories\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">See all stories<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"margin-top:24px;margin-bottom:36px\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-post-template is-layout-flow wp-block-post-template-is-layout-flow\"><li class=\"wp-block-post post-61138 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-greenpeace tag-climate tag-plastics p4-page-type-story\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/unbottling-the-truth-coca-colas-role-in-plastic-pollution\/\" target=\"_self\"  ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/09\/07e43141-coke_1920x1080_230418.png\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image wp-stateless-item\" alt=\"Unbottling the truth: Coca Cola&#8217;s role in plastic pollution\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/09\/07e43141-coke_1920x1080_230418.png 1920w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/09\/07e43141-coke_1920x1080_230418-600x338.png 600w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/09\/07e43141-coke_1920x1080_230418-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/09\/07e43141-coke_1920x1080_230418-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/09\/07e43141-coke_1920x1080_230418-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/09\/07e43141-coke_1920x1080_230418-510x287.png 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" data-image-size=\"post-thumbnail\" data-stateless-media-bucket=\"planet4-aotearoa-stateless\" data-stateless-media-name=\"2023\/09\/07e43141-coke_1920x1080_230418.png\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/\">Story<\/a><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-post_tag wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/tag\/climate\/\" rel=\"tag\">Climate Change<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\"> <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/tag\/plastics\/\" rel=\"tag\">Plastics<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/unbottling-the-truth-coca-colas-role-in-plastic-pollution\/\" target=\"_self\" >Unbottling the truth: Coca Cola&#8217;s role in plastic pollution<\/a><\/h3>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Coca-Cola\u2019s signature red bottles are becoming representative of environmental harm. The polluter sells more than 100 billion single-use plastic bottles each year with many ending up in landfill and the ocean. <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group posts-list-meta is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><span class='article-list-item-author'><a href='https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/author\/amorunga\/'>Aden Miles Morunga<\/a><\/span>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2023-09-26T15:47:02+13:00\">26 September 2023<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-61242 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-greenpeace tag-plastics p4-page-type-story\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/why-greenpeace-is-calling-on-governments-to-cut-plastic-production-by-at-least-75-by-2040\/\" target=\"_self\"  ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1199\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2021\/07\/f69d2ba1-8794b96e69264e739e19a93d69c93387.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image wp-stateless-item\" alt=\"Why Greenpeace is calling on governments to cut plastic production by at least 75% by 2040\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2021\/07\/f69d2ba1-8794b96e69264e739e19a93d69c93387.jpeg 1199w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2021\/07\/f69d2ba1-8794b96e69264e739e19a93d69c93387-600x400.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2021\/07\/f69d2ba1-8794b96e69264e739e19a93d69c93387-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2021\/07\/f69d2ba1-8794b96e69264e739e19a93d69c93387-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2021\/07\/f69d2ba1-8794b96e69264e739e19a93d69c93387-510x340.jpeg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1199px) 100vw, 1199px\" data-image-size=\"post-thumbnail\" data-stateless-media-bucket=\"planet4-aotearoa-stateless\" data-stateless-media-name=\"2021\/07\/f69d2ba1-8794b96e69264e739e19a93d69c93387.jpeg\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/\">Story<\/a><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-post_tag wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/tag\/plastics\/\" rel=\"tag\">Plastics<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/why-greenpeace-is-calling-on-governments-to-cut-plastic-production-by-at-least-75-by-2040\/\" target=\"_self\" >Why Greenpeace is calling on governments to cut plastic production by at least 75% by 2040<\/a><\/h3>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">The data is clear. Global plastic production doubled from 2000 to 2019, reaching 460 million tonnes (Mt) per year, and without action is anticipated to nearly triple by 2050. <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group posts-list-meta is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><span class='article-list-item-author'>Graham Forbes<\/span>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2023-10-10T09:09:20+13:00\">10 October 2023<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-60909 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-greenpeace tag-plastics p4-page-type-story\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/polar-bears-exposed-to-plastic-pollution-in-their-arctic-home\/\" target=\"_self\"  ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1653\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/09\/d63b43e9-polar-bear-family-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image wp-stateless-item\" alt=\"Polar bears exposed to plastic pollution in their Arctic home\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/09\/d63b43e9-polar-bear-family-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/09\/d63b43e9-polar-bear-family-600x387.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/09\/d63b43e9-polar-bear-family-1024x661.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/09\/d63b43e9-polar-bear-family-768x496.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/09\/d63b43e9-polar-bear-family-1536x992.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/09\/d63b43e9-polar-bear-family-2048x1322.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/09\/d63b43e9-polar-bear-family-510x329.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" data-image-size=\"post-thumbnail\" data-stateless-media-bucket=\"planet4-aotearoa-stateless\" data-stateless-media-name=\"2023\/09\/d63b43e9-polar-bear-family-scaled.jpg\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/\">Story<\/a><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-post_tag wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/tag\/plastics\/\" rel=\"tag\">Plastics<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/polar-bears-exposed-to-plastic-pollution-in-their-arctic-home\/\" target=\"_self\" >Polar bears exposed to plastic pollution in their Arctic home<\/a><\/h3>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Polar bears &#8211; the distinguished ambassadors of the Arctic. The largest bear species in the world, polar bears embody the stunning resilience of nature, gracefully navigating the icy landscapes they call home. Already under threat from rising temperatures and melting ice caps, these magnificent creatures face a new and alarming threat &#8211; plastic pollution invading&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group posts-list-meta is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><span class='article-list-item-author'><a href='https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/author\/jodougla\/'>Jo Douglas<\/a><\/span>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2023-09-04T09:52:21+12:00\">4 September 2023<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-60023 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-greenpeace tag-plastics tag-clean-energy p4-page-type-story\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/waste-energy-incineration-bad-idea\/\" target=\"_self\"  ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"787\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/06\/8b39f241-gp0kv5_medium_res.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image wp-stateless-item\" alt=\"Why is waste to energy incineration a bad idea for Aotearoa?\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/06\/8b39f241-gp0kv5_medium_res.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/06\/8b39f241-gp0kv5_medium_res-600x394.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/06\/8b39f241-gp0kv5_medium_res-1024x672.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/06\/8b39f241-gp0kv5_medium_res-768x504.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/06\/8b39f241-gp0kv5_medium_res-510x334.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-image-size=\"post-thumbnail\" data-stateless-media-bucket=\"planet4-aotearoa-stateless\" data-stateless-media-name=\"2023\/06\/8b39f241-gp0kv5_medium_res.jpg\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/\">Story<\/a><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-post_tag wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/tag\/plastics\/\" rel=\"tag\">Plastics<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\"> <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/tag\/clean-energy\/\" rel=\"tag\">Clean Energy<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/waste-energy-incineration-bad-idea\/\" target=\"_self\" >Why is waste to energy incineration a bad idea for Aotearoa?<\/a><\/h3>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">The dirty truth about waste to energy incineration is that it just doesn\u2019t stack up. <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group posts-list-meta is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><span class='article-list-item-author'><a href='https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/author\/mszabo\/'>Michael Szabo<\/a><\/span>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2023-06-01T10:05:34+12:00\">1 June 2023<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-6830 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-greenpeace tag-oceans tag-plastics tag-fishing p4-page-type-story\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/this-is-what-ghost-fishing-does-to-the-ocean\/\" target=\"_self\"  ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4134\" height=\"2326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2019\/11\/5497c71d-p6y9ey.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image wp-stateless-item\" alt=\"Ghost fishing gear is suffocating ocean life\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2019\/11\/5497c71d-p6y9ey.jpg 4134w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2019\/11\/5497c71d-p6y9ey-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2019\/11\/5497c71d-p6y9ey-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2019\/11\/5497c71d-p6y9ey-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2019\/11\/5497c71d-p6y9ey-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2019\/11\/5497c71d-p6y9ey-510x287.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 4134px) 100vw, 4134px\" data-image-size=\"post-thumbnail\" data-stateless-media-bucket=\"planet4-new-zealand-stateless\" data-stateless-media-name=\"2019\/11\/5497c71d-p6y9ey.jpg\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/\">Story<\/a><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-post_tag wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/tag\/oceans\/\" rel=\"tag\">Oceans<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\"> <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/tag\/plastics\/\" rel=\"tag\">Plastics<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\"> <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/tag\/fishing\/\" rel=\"tag\">Fishing<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/this-is-what-ghost-fishing-does-to-the-ocean\/\" target=\"_self\" >Ghost fishing gear is suffocating ocean life<\/a><\/h3>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">What is ghost fishing gear? And why is it such a big problem for our oceans? <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group posts-list-meta is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><span class='article-list-item-author'>Ellie Hooper<\/span>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2019-11-06T13:30:09+13:00\">6 November 2019<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-958 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-greenpeace tag-plastics p4-page-type-story\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/9-ways-to-reduce-your-plastic-use\/\" target=\"_self\"  ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"620\" height=\"382\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2018\/05\/ac9f0b6d-straws-for-blog.png\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image wp-stateless-item\" alt=\"9 ways to reduce your plastic use\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2018\/05\/ac9f0b6d-straws-for-blog.png 620w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2018\/05\/ac9f0b6d-straws-for-blog-300x185.png 300w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2018\/05\/ac9f0b6d-straws-for-blog-510x314.png 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" data-image-size=\"post-thumbnail\" data-stateless-media-bucket=\"p4-newzealand-production-content\" data-stateless-media-name=\"new-zealand\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/ac9f0b6d-straws-for-blog.png\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/\">Story<\/a><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-post_tag wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/tag\/plastics\/\" rel=\"tag\">Plastics<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/9-ways-to-reduce-your-plastic-use\/\" target=\"_self\" >9 ways to reduce your plastic use<\/a><\/h3>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">We\u2019ve all seen the headlines about the huge environmental problems caused by single-use plastics. Governments and corporations have a responsibility to take action \u2013 but what can we do to cut down our personal plastic footprints? Here\u2019s our 9 top tips: 1. Carry a reusable bottle Carrying a reusable bottle is a great way to&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group posts-list-meta is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><span class='article-list-item-author'>Alice Hunter<\/span>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2017-08-25T11:30:00+12:00\">25 August 2017<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-629 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-greenpeace tag-oceans tag-plastics p4-page-type-story\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/every-single-piece-of-plastic-ever-made-still-exists-heres-the-story\/\" target=\"_self\"  ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"391\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2018\/05\/133075_235297.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image wp-stateless-item\" alt=\"Every single piece of plastic ever made still exists. Here\u2019s the story\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2018\/05\/133075_235297.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2018\/05\/133075_235297-300x196.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2018\/05\/133075_235297-510x332.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" data-image-size=\"post-thumbnail\" data-stateless-media-bucket=\"p4-newzealand-production-content\" data-stateless-media-name=\"new-zealand\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/133075_235297.jpg\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/\">Story<\/a><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-post_tag wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/tag\/oceans\/\" rel=\"tag\">Oceans<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\"> <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/tag\/plastics\/\" rel=\"tag\">Plastics<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/every-single-piece-of-plastic-ever-made-still-exists-heres-the-story\/\" target=\"_self\" >Every single piece of plastic ever made still exists. Here\u2019s the story<\/a><\/h3>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">From the moment we wake up in the morning and brush our teeth, to when we watch TV at the end of the day, plastic is all around us. So much so that it can be hard to imagine leaving the supermarket without at least one item that isn\u2019t in a plastic container. <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group posts-list-meta is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><span class='article-list-item-author'>Diego Gonzaga<\/span>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2017-01-09T10:26:00+13:00\">9 January 2017<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-60629 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-greenpeace tag-plastics p4-page-type-story\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/plastic-pollution-in-some-nz-lakes-is-comparable-to-northern-hemisphere-lakes-in-highly-populated-areas-global-study-finds\/\" target=\"_self\"  ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/08\/ab8f0c0d-omer-faruk-bekdemir-5buxuwijf1q-unsplash.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image wp-stateless-item\" alt=\"Plastic pollution in some NZ lakes is comparable to northern hemisphere lakes in highly populated areas, global study finds\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/08\/ab8f0c0d-omer-faruk-bekdemir-5buxuwijf1q-unsplash.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/08\/ab8f0c0d-omer-faruk-bekdemir-5buxuwijf1q-unsplash-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/08\/ab8f0c0d-omer-faruk-bekdemir-5buxuwijf1q-unsplash-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/08\/ab8f0c0d-omer-faruk-bekdemir-5buxuwijf1q-unsplash-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/08\/ab8f0c0d-omer-faruk-bekdemir-5buxuwijf1q-unsplash-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/08\/ab8f0c0d-omer-faruk-bekdemir-5buxuwijf1q-unsplash-510x287.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" data-image-size=\"post-thumbnail\" data-stateless-media-bucket=\"planet4-aotearoa-stateless\" data-stateless-media-name=\"2023\/08\/ab8f0c0d-omer-faruk-bekdemir-5buxuwijf1q-unsplash.jpg\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/\">Story<\/a><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-post_tag wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/tag\/plastics\/\" rel=\"tag\">Plastics<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/plastic-pollution-in-some-nz-lakes-is-comparable-to-northern-hemisphere-lakes-in-highly-populated-areas-global-study-finds\/\" target=\"_self\" >Plastic pollution in some NZ lakes is comparable to northern hemisphere lakes in highly populated areas, global study finds<\/a><\/h3>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">The level of microplastic pollution in New Zealand lakes is comparable with those in the US or Europe, despite much lower population densities, according to our global analysis of plastic pollution in freshwater lakes and reservoirs. <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group posts-list-meta is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><span class='article-list-item-author'>Deniz \u00d6zkundakci, University of Waikato<\/span>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2023-08-03T13:49:07+12:00\">3 August 2023<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-63456 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-greenpeace tag-plastics tag-nuclear p4-page-type-story\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/4-false-solutions-that-wont-solve-the-plastic-pollution-crisis\/\" target=\"_self\"  ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2024\/04\/98c7595f-gp0su0avk_medium-res-1200px.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image wp-stateless-item\" alt=\"4 false solutions that won\u2019t solve the plastic pollution crisis\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2024\/04\/98c7595f-gp0su0avk_medium-res-1200px.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2024\/04\/98c7595f-gp0su0avk_medium-res-1200px-600x414.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2024\/04\/98c7595f-gp0su0avk_medium-res-1200px-1024x707.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2024\/04\/98c7595f-gp0su0avk_medium-res-1200px-768x530.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2024\/04\/98c7595f-gp0su0avk_medium-res-1200px-493x340.jpg 493w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-image-size=\"post-thumbnail\" data-stateless-media-bucket=\"planet4-aotearoa-stateless\" data-stateless-media-name=\"2024\/04\/98c7595f-gp0su0avk_medium-res-1200px.jpg\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/\">Story<\/a><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-post_tag wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/tag\/plastics\/\" rel=\"tag\">Plastics<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\"> <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/tag\/nuclear\/\" rel=\"tag\">Nuclear<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/4-false-solutions-that-wont-solve-the-plastic-pollution-crisis\/\" target=\"_self\" >4 false solutions that won\u2019t solve the plastic pollution crisis<\/a><\/h3>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Plastic pollution has managed to invade even the most remote areas of our environment and has also been reported in several tissues of the human body. <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group posts-list-meta is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><span class='article-list-item-author'>Mehdi Leman<\/span>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2024-04-27T07:54:00+12:00\">27 April 2024<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-59942 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-greenpeace tag-plastics p4-page-type-story\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/te-utu-o-te-haere-ki-te-hui-tiriti-whakakore-kirihau\/\" target=\"_self\"  ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/05\/a5186121-juressa_mg_0020.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image wp-stateless-item\" alt=\"What it takes to participate in Global Plastics Treaty negotiations\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/05\/a5186121-juressa_mg_0020.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/05\/a5186121-juressa_mg_0020-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/05\/a5186121-juressa_mg_0020-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/05\/a5186121-juressa_mg_0020-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/05\/a5186121-juressa_mg_0020-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/05\/a5186121-juressa_mg_0020-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" data-image-size=\"post-thumbnail\" data-stateless-media-bucket=\"planet4-aotearoa-stateless\" data-stateless-media-name=\"2023\/05\/a5186121-juressa_mg_0020.jpg\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/\">Story<\/a><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-post_tag wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/tag\/plastics\/\" rel=\"tag\">Plastics<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/te-utu-o-te-haere-ki-te-hui-tiriti-whakakore-kirihau\/\" target=\"_self\" >What it takes to participate in Global Plastics Treaty negotiations<\/a><\/h3>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">I attended the UN Global Plastics Treaty meeting in November last year as part of the Greenpeace delegation. I was able to observe, for example, the interventions that governments made, including our own government and those of our neighbouring countries. <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group posts-list-meta is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><span class='article-list-item-author'><a href='https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/author\/juressa\/'>Juressa Lee<\/a><\/span>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2023-05-27T10:42:17+12:00\">27 May 2023<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-59465 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-greenpeace tag-plastics p4-page-type-story\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/plastic-anxiety-during-pregnancy\/\" target=\"_self\"  ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2022\/11\/78db9dc4-gp0stqvnq.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image wp-stateless-item\" alt=\"Plastic made me anxious during my pregnancy and here&#8217;s what I did about it\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2022\/11\/78db9dc4-gp0stqvnq.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2022\/11\/78db9dc4-gp0stqvnq-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2022\/11\/78db9dc4-gp0stqvnq-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2022\/11\/78db9dc4-gp0stqvnq-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2022\/11\/78db9dc4-gp0stqvnq-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-image-size=\"post-thumbnail\" data-stateless-media-bucket=\"planet4-aotearoa-stateless\" data-stateless-media-name=\"2022\/11\/78db9dc4-gp0stqvnq.jpg\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/\">Story<\/a><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-post_tag wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/tag\/plastics\/\" rel=\"tag\">Plastics<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/plastic-anxiety-during-pregnancy\/\" target=\"_self\" >Plastic made me anxious during my pregnancy and here&#8217;s what I did about it<\/a><\/h3>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">I never thought the issue of plastic pollution and my pregnancy would be spoken in the same sentence, and yet they are. <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group posts-list-meta is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><span class='article-list-item-author'><a href='https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/author\/alarsson\/'>Amanda Larsson<\/a><\/span>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2023-05-04T11:22:32+12:00\">4 May 2023<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons carousel-controls is-horizontal is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-044bd602 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n\n\n<li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item see-all-link wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"http:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/news-stories\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">See all stories<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/div>\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-query posts-list p4-query-loop is-custom-layout-list is-layout-flow wp-block-query-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3d213aab wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-recent-news-on-plastics\">Recent news on plastics<\/h2>\n\n\n<li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item see-all-link wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"http:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/news-stories\/?tag=plastics\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">See all posts<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"margin-top:24px;margin-bottom:36px\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-post-template is-layout-flow wp-block-post-template-is-layout-flow\"><li class=\"wp-block-post post-76245 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-greenpeace tag-plastics p4-page-type-story\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/5-ways-to-detox-your-home-from-plastics\/\" target=\"_self\"  ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/05\/388876c6-gp1t7ucg.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image wp-stateless-item\" alt=\"5 ways to detox your home from plastics\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/05\/388876c6-gp1t7ucg.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/05\/388876c6-gp1t7ucg-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/05\/388876c6-gp1t7ucg-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/05\/388876c6-gp1t7ucg-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2023\/05\/388876c6-gp1t7ucg-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-image-size=\"post-thumbnail\" data-stateless-media-bucket=\"planet4-aotearoa-stateless\" data-stateless-media-name=\"2023\/05\/388876c6-gp1t7ucg.jpg\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/\">Story<\/a><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-post_tag wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/tag\/plastics\/\" rel=\"tag\">Plastics<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/5-ways-to-detox-your-home-from-plastics\/\" target=\"_self\" >5 ways to detox your home from plastics<\/a><\/h3>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Plastic is everywhere but\u00a0don&#8217;t panic! Here are five actionable ways to reclaim your home from the plastic tide. <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group posts-list-meta is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><span class='article-list-item-author'>Greenpeace<\/span>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-03-24T12:37:30+13:00\">24 March 2026<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-669 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-greenpeace tag-plastics tag-oceans p4-page-type-story\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/how-does-plastic-end-up-in-the-ocean\/\" target=\"_self\"  ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2018\/05\/GP0STPX0A_Web_size_with_credit_line-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image wp-stateless-item\" alt=\"How does plastic get into the ocean?\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" data-image-size=\"post-thumbnail\" data-stateless-media-bucket=\"p4-newzealand-production-content\" data-stateless-media-name=\"new-zealand\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/GP0STPX0A_Web_size_with_credit_line-300x225.jpg\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/\">Story<\/a><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-post_tag wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/tag\/plastics\/\" rel=\"tag\">Plastics<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\"> <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/tag\/oceans\/\" rel=\"tag\">Oceans<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/how-does-plastic-end-up-in-the-ocean\/\" target=\"_self\" >How does plastic get into the ocean?<\/a><\/h3>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">We&#8217;ve all seen plastic waste on the beach. But how does plastic get in the ocean in the first place? And why is plastic so deadly to sealife? <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group posts-list-meta is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><span class='article-list-item-author'><a href='https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/author\/jodougla\/'>Jo Douglas<\/a><\/span>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-02-26T16:37:56+13:00\">26 February 2026<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-74887 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-greenpeace tag-oceans tag-plastics p4-page-type-story\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/plastic-pollution-the-crisis-choking-the-oceans-and-marine-life\/\" target=\"_self\"  ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2022\/04\/6c9d5f0b-gp0str1t7.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image wp-stateless-item\" alt=\"Plastic pollution: The crisis choking the oceans and marine life\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2022\/04\/6c9d5f0b-gp0str1t7.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2022\/04\/6c9d5f0b-gp0str1t7-600x400.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2022\/04\/6c9d5f0b-gp0str1t7-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2022\/04\/6c9d5f0b-gp0str1t7-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-aotearoa-stateless\/2022\/04\/6c9d5f0b-gp0str1t7-510x340.jpeg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-image-size=\"post-thumbnail\" data-stateless-media-bucket=\"planet4-aotearoa-stateless\" data-stateless-media-name=\"2022\/04\/6c9d5f0b-gp0str1t7.jpeg\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/\">Story<\/a><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-post_tag wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/tag\/oceans\/\" rel=\"tag\">Oceans<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\"> <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/tag\/plastics\/\" rel=\"tag\">Plastics<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/plastic-pollution-the-crisis-choking-the-oceans-and-marine-life\/\" target=\"_self\" >Plastic pollution: The crisis choking the oceans and marine life<\/a><\/h3>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Plastic waste invades every corner of our planet, and threatens sea life. But there&#8217;s still hope for a future free from plastic pollution. <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group posts-list-meta is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><span class='article-list-item-author'><a href='https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/author\/shewlett\/'>Sam Hewlett<\/a><\/span>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-11-24T15:29:24+13:00\">24 November 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons carousel-controls is-horizontal is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-044bd602 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n\n\n<li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item see-all-link wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"http:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/news-stories\/?tag=plastics\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">See all posts<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Plastic pollution is a global problem, and plastic production is only increasing. Only 9% of all plastic has ever been recycled. Find out how we can break free from plastic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":99,"featured_media":72,"parent":4,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_planet4_optimize_post_is_variant":false,"_planet4_optimize_experiment_name":"","_planet4_optimize_variant_name":"","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"p4_hide_page_title_checkbox":"on","p4_title":"","p4_subtitle":"","p4_description":"","background_image_id":"","background_image":"","p4_button_title":"","p4_button_link":"","p4_button_link_checkbox":"","p4_og_title":"Tackling plastic pollution","p4_og_description":"Plastic pollution is everywhere - on beaches and oceans, in drinking water and rain. It's a global problem that requires a global solution.","p4_og_image":"","p4_og_image_id":"","p4_seo_canonical_url":"","p4_campaign_name":"Plastic Free Future","p4_local_project":"PLASTICS National Strategy","p4_basket_name":"Plastics","p4_department":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-64834","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.8 (Yoast SEO v26.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Tackling plastic pollution<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/explore\/tackling-plastic-pollution\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Tackling plastic pollution\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Plastic pollution is a global problem, and plastic production is only increasing. Only 9% of all plastic has ever been recycled. 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