December 2019: Swapping conventional plastics for bioplastics may have adverse effects on waste generation and further incentivise a culture of single use. Instead, new research recommends to rather reduce the general consumption of plastics and to only substitute plastic for bioplastics in food packaging. This could generate a waste stream that does not contribute to landfills and reduces the amount of non-recyclable plastics due to food contamination.

December 2019: An interdisciplinary and international coalition of scientists have declared a climate emergency and are calling on decision-makers to act on climate change. The paper sets out clear interventions and identifies energy, short-lived pollutants, nature, food, economy, and population size as primary domains for intervention.

December 2019: Developments in steam cracking and pressure technology now enable the production of ‘virgin’ quality plastics from recycled plastic waste. This could allow for plastic manufacturing sites to transition to plastic collection and refineries within the framework of their existing infrastructures.

December 2019: AI is projected to perform the majority of problem-solving tasks and analytical thinking in future work scenarios. These shifts emphasise the need for education systems and Human Resource Management (HRM) strategies to adapt and support the development of people’s feeling and empathetic skills in the workplace.