Plastic is incredibly useful and practical – and everywhere. Our modern life depends on it. Strong, light and adaptable, it’s in everything from household goods, medical equipment and bank notes, to ...

Despite global concerns over the accumulation of plastic waste, the drive to produce new plastics shows no signs of slowing down. According to OECD data, the world’s annual plastic production ...

Planet or Plastic? is National Geographic’s multiyear effort to raise awareness about the global plastic trash crisis. Come to this page often to learn more, and find out what you can do to ...

Final negotiations for the first-ever United Nations treaty on plastic pollution are due to take place at the end of November. The latest treaty draft states two major objectives: to end plastic ...

On Tuesday, Australia takes another step towards reshaping its throw-away society. A range of single-use plastic, including straws, cutlery and micro beads in shampoo, will be banned in its most ...

Plastic surgery is often associated with cosmetic procedures like nose jobs or liposuctions. And while these are an important aspect of what plastic surgeons do, they're not the only focus. These ...

Scientists have developed a "self-digesting plastic", which, they say, could help reduce pollution. Polyurethane is used in everything from phone cases to trainers, but is tricky to recycle and ...

This story is part of Planet or Plastic?—our multiyear effort to raise awareness about the global plastic waste crisis. Learn what you can do to reduce your own single-use plastics. Read this ...

A rising tide of plastic waste is choking our oceans, threatening fragile ecosystems and killing sea life. While plastic has revolutionised our way of life since it was invented in the 1950s, the ...

You see photos of plastic pollution in the ocean, but it can be hard to connect that to the plastic you're buying and using every day. Here are three ways the plastic you throw away can end up in the ...

Plastic is a really useful man-made material that has transformed our lives, but what happens after we throw it away is causing a big problem for our planet. Plastic waste can last for hundreds of ...