Plastic
Is plastic the nuclear threat of the 21st century?
Counsellors around the country are reporting a big rise in the number of people reporting plastic-related guilt and anxiety. Audio
Are plastics a threat to human health?
Dr John Peterson 'Pete' Myers is a US environmental scientist acknowledged as a pioneer of research looking at how plastics in food packaging and in the environment could be affecting health. He's the… Audio
Question of the Day for 16 September 2019
How could supermarkets reduce the amount of plastic they use? Audio
The growing threat to the Pacific from micro-plastic waste
The man who first discovered the Great Pacific Garbage Patch reports on his latest findings about the enormous and growing quantity of plastic waste. Audio
Following The Recycling Bag
We've been looking into how New Zealand's waste and recycling is being dealt with over the last few weeks on Nights. Tonight we have a special interview with the Prime Minister's chief science… Audio
The End of Plastic As We Know It
Karyn speaks with Phil Jones at the Sustainable Business Network about how we can reduce our plastic use. Audio
Environmentalists with a plastic passion
Meet the man who is swimming through the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in an effort to draw the world's attention to the amount of plastic in the ocean. Audio
Dr Florian Graichen - Tackling plastic waste
Dr Florian Graichen is Science Leader, Biopolymers and Chemicals, at Scion in Rotorua. Scion is a Crown research institute that specialises in research and technology development for the forestry and… Audio
The Waiuku company making fence posts from used plastic
Waiuku-based company Future Post blends granulated soft plastics with chipped up milk bottles to produce sturdy recyclable fence posts. Audio, Gallery
Plasticrust. A whole new kind of plastic pollution
A new generation of never-before-seen plastic pollution has been discovered on the shoreline of the volcanic island of Madeira. Scientists are calling it 'plasticrust' as it forms a grey-blue crust on… Audio
How does microplastic get into the sea?
Nanogirl, Emma and her friends from Breens Intermediate visit ESR in Christchurch where they meet expert Olga Pantos and find out all about microplastics. Video, Audio
People ingesting plastics: Call for urgent action
A new study has found that the global average of microplastic ingestion could be as high as five grams a week per person, which is the equivalent of eating a teaspoon of plastic - or a credit card -…
Sir Ranulph Fiennes: 'I am a lifelong fan and devotee of Sir Ed'
Sir Ranulph Fiennes, named by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's greatest living explorer, is in New Zealand next month to speak at the Himalayan Trust Gala dinner in Auckland. He talks to… Audio
Drowning in plastic
In an attempt to reduce ocean plastic pollution, the UK government is introducing tougher restrictions on single use plastics, such as straws, cotton buds and plastic stirrers. Should we do the same… Audio
Rob McCallum: The Kiwi who led the voyage to the deepest part of the ocean
New Zealander Rob McCallum led the team behind American Victor Vescovo's record breaking descent to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. Audio
Watershed moment for plastics
International complications around recycling mean certaintypes of plastic are likely to soon be unviable - and could put landfill under pressure. Audio
NZ's high plastic consumption
The good and bad of pollution in New Zealand. The country rated best for air quality and we do very well for green space in our cities. However New Zealand came second to last in the list of countries… Audio
The plastic ties that bind
Nikki Mandow delves into the economic mysteries behind the guilt-assuaging plastic packaging recycling bins, which mysteriously disappeared from supermarkets late last year. And she asks, should we… Audio
Wastescape: a vision of our plastic future?
'Wastescape' is a giant immersive art installation using thousands of used plastic milk bottles to spark conversations about New Zealand's relationship with food and waste. Its creator British artist… Audio