Fact checking popular claims and myths

Plastic Mythbusters

Fact checking claims on plastic pollution


Plastic pollution is a global problem. Every year millions of tonnes of plastic waste leak into aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, polluting lakes, rivers, the soil, oceans and air. Plastic pollution can impact biodiversity, alter habitats and natural processes, and reduce ecosystems’ ability to adapt to stress factors such as climate change. In turn, plastic pollution can affect human economies and people’s livelihoods, health, and well-being.

Plastic Mythbusters is a quiz to fact check popular claims, myths and misconceptions concerning plastic pollution in the environment and how to solve it. The Plastic Mythbusters are part of the Coastal Pollution Toolbox and the Microplastic Compendium. The quiz was developed in 2023 in partnership with the University of Strathclyde, and media experts

The path to a global plastics treaty


The world is on an ambitious timeline to tackle plastic pollution. In the spring of 2022, delegates from countries around the world made a historic decision at the United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA) in Nairobi, Kenya, to negotiate an international and legally binding instrument to tackle plastic pollution and finalize it within just three years.


Please read more on the path towards an international agreement on plastic pollution in our article.

The path to a global plastics treaty

From viral myths to a science-based discussion


Landing Page MB Update

Landing page of Plastic Mythbusters, background image by Nuture on iStock

Plastic Mythbusters aims at catalysing wider discussions of popular plastics related myths which regularly feature in media, public and policy discussions about the topic. Our aim is to summarize the scientific evidence, enhance wider understanding on the topic and create awareness of the challenges in combating this complex problem, especially when scientific evidence is still emerging.



A fact or a myth?


Please click on a statement to learn more from our experts.