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Mⓐrtin Wⓐgner

@martiwag.bsky.social

170 followers 130 following 39 posts

Plastics, people, planet. Hunting down toxic chemicals and #microplastics, sciencing for an ambitious #plasticstreaty.

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Mⓐrtin Wⓐgner @martiwag.bsky.social · Jul 9

Over the past few years, our PlastChem team has worked tirelessly to map the chemical complexity of #plastics. Today, we publish the findings in @nature.com. We hope this evidence propels the development of safer plastics to protect human health and environment. 1/4
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Mapping the chemical complexity of plastics - Nature

An inventory of 16,325 known plastic chemicals, including >4,200 hazardous compounds, supports the development of safer plastics.

www.nature.com

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Mⓐrtin Wⓐgner @martiwag.bsky.social · 1d

In case you are close to London, here is a half-day event on #microplastics on 18th of November. Organized by @nature.com.

natureconferences.streamgo.live/microplastic...

Microplastics: an emerging threat to human and planetary health

Microplastics (MPs), along with the chemicals they release, are pervasive and persistent contaminants in ecosystems worldwide. Increasingly, MPs are also being detected throughout the human body.Scien...

natureconferences.streamgo.live

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Reposted by Mⓐrtin Wⓐgner

Jen Iris Allan @jenirisallan.bsky.social · 2d

We make a similar argument here: that the UN won't be able to deliver ambitious plastics treaty. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

UN politics won’t deliver an ambitious plastics treaty

Negotiators again failed to finalize the text for a global plastics treaty in Geneva in August 2025. The talks exposed two harsh truths. Consensus on the treaty text, where no state formally objects, ...

www.science.org

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Mⓐrtin Wⓐgner @martiwag.bsky.social · 3d

„Obesity rates continue to rise globally, and the pressure exerted by food systems on planetary boundaries shows no signs of abating.“

Plastics are the key enabler of globalized food systems…

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)01201-2/

The EAT–Lancet Commission on healthy, sustainable, and just food systems

The global context has shifted dramatically since publication of the first EAT–Lancet Commission in 2019, with increased geopolitical instability, soaring food prices, and the COVID-19 pandemic exacer...

www.thelancet.com

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Mⓐrtin Wⓐgner @martiwag.bsky.social · 13d

The fabulous @anjakrieger.bsky.social has dropped a new episode of the Plastisphere podcast - this time with Jane Muncke and myself pondering over the issue of plastic chemicals and, well, capitalism. Enjoy! #plasticpollution #plasticstreaty

soundcloud.com/plastisphere...

Plastic Chemicals - A Toxic Relationship and How We Can Start Fixing It

In this episode, we’re taking a deep dive into plastic chemicals and their impacts on human and environmental health. You’ll learn why it’s not such a great idea to put plastic containers into your di

soundcloud.com

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Reposted by Mⓐrtin Wⓐgner

Magnus Løvold @magnuslovold.bsky.social · 16d

After the Geneva round of the #PlasticsTreaty talks ended without a deal, troubling questions are being raised about the role played by @unep.org Executive Director Inger Andersen — and an apparent bid to topple the Committee’s elected Chair medium.com/points-of-or...

Palace intrigues

The plastics treaty talks in Geneva ended without a deal. As negotiators weigh their options about the way forward, troubling questions are…

medium.com

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Mⓐrtin Wⓐgner @martiwag.bsky.social · 19d

Glad this finally comes to light! UNEP and its Exec Director Inger Anderson have played a questionable role throughout the INC process but even the prospect of them staging a coup against the Chair is deeply concerning. #plasticstreaty
https://medium.com/points-of-order/palace-intrigues-e158a369e296

Palace intrigues

The plastics treaty talks in Geneva ended without a deal. As negotiators weigh their options about the way forward, troubling questions are…

medium.com

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Reposted by Mⓐrtin Wⓐgner

Rebecca Altman, PhD @rebecca-altman.bsky.social · 19d

"...We are making & discarding so much plastic that it has become a substantial component of the global carbon cycle..." Aron Stubbins (The Plastics Center at Northeastern University) on Pang et al's piece on plastics & the marine carbon cycle in NatureSustainability

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Plastics in the marine carbon cycle - Nature Sustainability

Marine plastic pollution is a growing problem threatening ocean ecosystems. Now research explores how these plastics may be impacting the ocean’s ability to offset anthropogenic carbon emissions.

www.nature.com

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Reposted by Mⓐrtin Wⓐgner

Dr. Melanie Bergmann @melaniebergma18.bsky.social · 19d

🧪 ECHA has started a Call for Evidence for Substances in packaging/packaging waste.

🗓️ Open consultation deadline: 28.10.25

Please contribute papers and other evidence, as there will probably be many submissions with #ConflictsOfInterest.

➡️Details here: echa.europa.eu/cfe-substanc...

#plastic

Call for Evidence for Substances in packaging and packaging waste - ECHA

echa.europa.eu

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Reposted by Mⓐrtin Wⓐgner

Yale Environment 360 @yalee360.bsky.social · 27d

In a new interview, journalist Saabira Chaudhuri explains how the plastics industry persuaded consumers to embrace disposability — no matter the costs.

Inside the Plastics Industry Playbook: Delay, Deny, and Distract

In an interview with e360, Saabira Chaudhuri, author of a new book on the history of the plastics industry, discusses how petrochemical companies worldwide have molded consumers to embrace convenience...

e360.yale.edu

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Reposted by Mⓐrtin Wⓐgner

Elsa Devienne @elsadevienne.bsky.social · 23d

What can we learn from the pioneers who started the citizen science beach cleanup movement?
I wrote about the lessons we can learn from their plastics activism for the conversation.

The Conversation UK @uk.theconversation.com · 23d

In the 1980s, beach cleanups were envisaged as citizen science, aimed squarely at industrial pollution.

Meet the women who turned beach cleanups into a global movement – and what was forgotten along the way

In the 1980s, beach cleanups were envisaged as citizen science, aimed squarely at industrial pollution.

tcnv.link

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Mⓐrtin Wⓐgner @martiwag.bsky.social · Sep 7

The larger strategy has many names: disinformation playbook here, manufactured doubt in my field.
The result is always the same: scientists and science are being harmed by actors with vested interest and so are health and the environment. #plasticstreaty

Dr. Aaron Thierry @thierryaaron.bsky.social · Sep 7

"Five tactics used by industry to undermine science. The disinformation playbook tactics are employed by industry during the scientific process and the science-based decision-making process"

link.springer.com/article/10.1...

The disinformation playbook: how industry manipulates the science-policy process—and how to restore scientific integrity - Journal of Public Health Policy

For decades, corporate undermining of scientific consensus has eroded the scientific process worldwide. Guardrails for protecting science-informed processes, from peer review to regulatory decision ma...

link.springer.com

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Mⓐrtin Wⓐgner @martiwag.bsky.social · Sep 7

"Single-use plastic was never inevitable. It was a business decision," writes Saabira Chaudhuri. Good reminder of manufactured demand.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/06/o...

Opinion | Throwaway Plastic Has Corrupted Us

www.nytimes.com

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Mⓐrtin Wⓐgner @martiwag.bsky.social · Sep 4

Excellent reporting on endocrine disrupting chemicals in plastics. Some of them suggested for a global ban under a future #plasticstreaty.

Shannon Osaka @shannonosaka.bsky.social · Sep 4

For the last several months, I've been digging through endless scientific literature on what happens when pregnant mothers are exposed to plastic chemicals in their food, water, and everyday household products.

The result is this story.

I hope you'll take the time to read.
wapo.st/4g3ZoFc

The health risks from plastics almost nobody knows about

Researchers have linked phthalates, chemicals found in plastics, to premature birth, infertility and ADHD.

wapo.st

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Mⓐrtin Wⓐgner @martiwag.bsky.social · Sep 1

Baby steps are better than none… #plasticpollution

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Australian ban on fish-shaped plastic soy sauce dispensers a world first

South Australian law on single-use plastic packaging coming into force on 1 September will ban polyethylene containers known as shoyu-tai in Japan

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Mⓐrtin Wⓐgner

Anja Krieger @anjakrieger.bsky.social · Aug 26

Podcast alert 🔔 Our recap of the #plasticstreaty negotiations - with @arharrington1.bsky.social

m.soundcloud.com/plastisphere...

How [Not] to Make a Plastics Treaty - What really happened in Geneva?

Play How [Not] to Make a Plastics Treaty - What really happened in Geneva? by Plastisphere Podcast on desktop and mobile. Play over 320 million tracks for free on SoundCloud.

m.soundcloud.com

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Mⓐrtin Wⓐgner @martiwag.bsky.social · Aug 12

In the brutal heat in Geneva [and the #plasticstreaty negotiations], everybody seems in desperate need of some cooling down.

Mⓐrtin Wⓐgner @martiwag.bsky.social · Aug 8

Some hope needed for #plasticstreaty negotiations. This on is a piece of art I found at the UN premisses this morning.

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Mⓐrtin Wⓐgner @martiwag.bsky.social · Aug 7

Many winding paths unfold in the #plasticstreaty negotiations. This one leads to the Swiss Ceramic and Glass Museum right next to UN compound. Why not take a little break to contemplate other materials?

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Reposted by Mⓐrtin Wⓐgner

Rebecca Altman, PhD @rebecca-altman.bsky.social · Aug 7

Hi #INC5 — it’s 1925 calling — Did you know that in 1925, Bakelite ran this ad copy in the Sat. Evening Post: "Under water for six months -- and still alright." 4/25/1925
According to a 1931 US Tarriff Commission report, Bakelite Corp. spent $217,867 that year on advertising. #PlasticsTreaty

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Reposted by Mⓐrtin Wⓐgner

Anja Krieger @anjakrieger.bsky.social · Aug 7

Just a reminder #plasticpollution is not a new issue. Scientists found plastic in birds in the 1960s and described ocean plastics in the early 1970s, with reports in media like the NYTimes and Washington Post. The #plastics industry knew.

on.soundcloud.com/cjiLyn5fxSlU...

#inc52 #plasticstreaty

The Discovery of Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution seems to be a pretty new issue, right? In the past few years, the topic has been all over the media. But if you explore the history of science, it turns out that the problem really i

soundcloud.com

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Mⓐrtin Wⓐgner @martiwag.bsky.social · Aug 7

Multilateralismus ist anstrengend und frustrierend, das verstehe ich. Aber als einer der mehr als 60 WissenschaftlerInnen vor Ort in Genf finde ich derartige Aussagen nicht hilfreich. Die große Mehrheit der Länder verhandelt für eine starkes Plastikabkommen auf Basis wissenschaftlicher Erkenntnisse.

Mⓐrtin Wⓐgner @martiwag.bsky.social · Aug 6

This marvelous Sequoiadendron giganteum grows next to the UN building where the #plasticstreaty negotiations happen. Strong reminder that some things outlast us, not only plastics.

Mⓐrtin Wⓐgner @martiwag.bsky.social · Aug 5

Yes it does, this is why polycarbonate plastics are banned in many applications, such as baby bottles.

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Mⓐrtin Wⓐgner @martiwag.bsky.social · Aug 5

Noting the usual at INC meetings, unfortuately:

The water containers in the UN buildings are made of polycarbonate, that is Bisphenol A, one of the very chemicals of concern countries seek to ban in the #plasticstreaty.

Tap water is perfectly safe to drink in Geneva.

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Mⓐrtin Wⓐgner @martiwag.bsky.social · Aug 5

And so it begins (and hopefully ends without too much watering down). #plasticstreaty