News

The amount of plastic in the world's oceans has reached a level that scientists describe as a 'red alert'. This is according to the third edition of the UN World Ocean Assessment, published in June 2026 and compiled by nearly 600 experts from 86 countries. At the same time, a separate 15-year study has shown for the first time that plastic pollution is decimating an entire bird population. In other words, plastic doesn't just kill individual animals.

Samenwerkende Kinderopvang is the first childcare organisation in the Netherlands to introduce large-scale diaper recycling. More than 230 childcare centres, together using 3.5 million plastic-containing diapers a year, are switching to the diaper service provided by Belgian brand Woosh. The partnership was announced on 17 September at the KindVak trade fair in Den Bosch.

Nanoplastics can disrupt placental function during pregnancy by dysregulating the immune system. The longer and more intense the exposure, the greater the likelihood of an inflammatory response. This is the conclusion of new research into polystyrene nanoplastics, published in the scientific journal Journal of Nanoparticle Research.

McDonald’s may no longer provide disposable cups to customers eating or drinking on its premises. This is the result of an enforcement request submitted by Fair Resource Foundation to the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT), the Dutch government agency responsible for enforcing environmental legislation. The inspectorate found that the fast-food chain had been violating the rules for years — and was even charging customers extra for the disposable cups it should not have been providing in the first place.

Three government officials, three interventions, one result: the regulator responsible for the deposit return system is repeatedly given less scope to take action against beverage producers that fail to meet their statutory collection target. This is according to an investigation by NOS based on documents obtained under the Dutch Open Government Act (Wet open overheid, Woo), which gives citizens and journalists the right to access government documents.

Plastic blood bags release microplastics into blood during storage. The longer the blood is stored, the more microplastics are released. Heat and movement also increase their release. This is according to new research on PVC blood bags, published in the scientific journal Environment & Health.

New research by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) shows that PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) were detected in all breast milk samples analysed. The study, which included 1,629 women from across the Netherlands, shows that four PFAS compounds are the most commonly found. In addition, PFAS concentrations in 18% of the breast milk samples exceed the health-based guidance value.

Civil society groups call on the EU to close critical regulatory gaps and protect public health.

French investigative journalism platform Disclose has published an investigation revealing that chemical company INEOS recently received more than €300 million in French government subsidies.