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 partnership with the University of Strathclyde, and media experts. The first version was published with eight fact checks in 2023. To reflect the evolving state of the science, all of them were revised and updated in November 2024. Three additional fact checks were added until April 2025.
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 legally binding instrument to tackle plastic pollution and finalize it within just three years. This ambitious plan did not work out. The negotiations haven’t been completed and are still ongoing.
Please read more on the path towards an international agreement on plastic pollution in our article 'The path to a global plastics treaty'.
The path to a global plastics treaty
From viral myths to a science-based discussion
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.
