[ [link removed] ]Whale shark about to swallow a plastic bag floating in the ocean
John, this is so cool: Scientists in Germany have just
discovered another type of fungi that can survive exclusively by devouring
plastic waste! Plastic that would otherwise remain on the planet forever.
Around 91% of plastic globally isn't recycled and every minute another
truckload gets dumped into the environment, suffocating life on Earth and
spreading disease and pollutants across shores. But fantastic fungi could
change that.
Some species of fungi can consume as much as half of the plastic waste in
a matter of few weeks!
But weather conditions and other environmental factors can significantly
impact their use and effectiveness. Scientists need to do lot more
research and make technological improvements to turn these natural,
biological wonders into another powerful weapon to help end the global
plastics crisis. And we can help!
Retired NASA scientist Dr Cullings is working with an innovative nonprofit
to isolate and safely reproduce plastic-eating fungi for use on a global
scale. With all of us chipping in, they can expand their incredible
research into new environments and we can step up our campaigning to push
corporations and governments to act. Let's cut plastic waste in half — can
you chip in?
[ [link removed] ]I'll donate
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$4
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Fungi, like mushrooms and yeast, are nature’s cleanup crew. The enzymes
they produce can break down pollutants and clean up everything from oil
spills to toxic pesticides.
Nearly all the plastic ever created still exists in some form today,
and production keeps increasing. Plastic entering the ocean is expected to
triple by 2040 if left unchecked. That's why scientists are researching
how to use these crafty microbes to break down all types of plastics and
to make it possible to better recycle and reuse plastics — and so far it’s
working.
We could actually start to make a dent in the world's plastic waste!
But more research is needed to do this on a big enough scale. Ocean Blue
Project and Dr Cullings have been at the forefront of using fungi to clean
up environmental disasters. They have big ambitions in the fight against
plastic waste, but lab equipment, field materials, and research are
expensive — and they rely on donations to do this work.
This pioneering research could be one of the bold solutions we’ve all been
waiting for and could give us another powerful weapon as we push forward
in our campaigns to hold corporations and governments accountable for
their role in creating this global crisis and demand change. All of this
is only possible because of you and our incredible Ekō community. Can you
be one of the first 5000 donors?
[ [link removed] ]I'll donate
$3[ [link removed] ]I'll
donate
$4
[ [link removed] ]I'll donate
$5[ [link removed] ]I'll
donate
$9[ [link removed] ]I'll
donate another amount
Trials for industrial-scale use of plastic-eating fungi are already
underway. We have a chance to be at the forefront of this remarkable
research and help rid the world of plastic waste — but we know there is so
much more to do if we want to solve the plastics crisis for good, like
reducing plastic production!
That's why our campaigning to pressure corporations and governments for
lasting solutions that put people and the planet over profits are so
important right now. And you donation will help power this and other
amazing campaigns. Working side-by-side we can cut plastic waste in half —
are you in?
Thanks for all that you do,
Yasmin and the team at Ekō
---------------------------------
More information:
[ [link removed] ]Scientists discover plastic-eating fungi that could help clean up
world’s oceans. The Independent, 09 August 2024
[ [link removed] ]Fungus breaks down ocean plastic. Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea
Research, 03 June 2024
[ [link removed] ]Preliminary Survey of Fungal Communities Across a Plastics/No Plastics
Transition on an Oregon Beach. Ocean Blue Project (BioRxiv
pre-publication, in peer review), 23 January 2024.
[ [link removed] ]Plastic-eating fungi thriving in manmade ‘plastisphere’ offer exciting
possibilities for tackling global waste. Kew Gardens, 18 May 2023.
[ [link removed] ]Plastic-eating backyard fungi discovery boosts hopes for a solution to
the recycling crisis. ABC, 14 April 2023
Ekō is a worldwide movement of people like you, working together to hold corporations accountable for their actions and forge a new, sustainable path for our global economy.
Please help keep Ekō strong by chipping in $3. [link removed]
