BBC Inside Science How can we reduce the impact of plastic on the environment?
Aug 7, 2025
Mark Miodownik, a Professor of Materials & Society at University College London, discusses an intriguing citizen science project aimed at gathering data on potty training to reduce plastic waste from nappies. He emphasizes the environmental impact of disposable diapers and argues for earlier toilet training. The podcast also features insights on innovative solutions for plastic pollution, including the cleanup efforts after the X-Press Pearl disaster, and explores potential safer alternatives to conventional plastics.
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Plastics Contain Many Harmful Chemicals
- Over 16,000 chemicals are found in plastics, with more than a quarter posing health and environmental hazards.
- Safer plastics require removing or replacing harmful chemicals and designing plastics for easier recycling and reuse.
Reduce Plastic Use and Reuse
- To reduce plastic impact, use less plastic, reuse existing plastic, and explore bio-based production methods.
- Changing societal behavior around single-use plastics like water bottles makes the biggest environmental difference.
Culture Drives Plastic Waste
- Our culture of disposability drives excessive single-use plastic consumption.
- Plastic is crucial for many products, but we don't need to rely on it for things like bottled water.