Of mice and men ... Microplastic particles that are exposed to fresh water or saltwater for several weeks are more likely to be absorbed by mouse cells growing in the laboratory, suggesting that environmental microplastics may be able to enter cells more easily than we thought. Studies investigating the potential effects of ingested microplastics in animals often use clean – or “pristine” – microplastic particles. Yet these don’t fully resemble the particles found in nature, which can become coated with debris from the environment. More details in this article: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2262297-microplastics-left-in-water-are-more-easily-absorbed-by-mouse-cells/?

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union could produce enough batteries by 2025 to power its fast-growing fleet of electric vehicles without relying on imported cells, European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic said on Tuesday. As part of its plan to become climate neutral by 2050, the EU wants to boost local production of the building blocks for green industries - including hydrogen fuel to make low-carbon steel and batteries to power clean vehicles. “I am confident that by 2025, the EU will be able to produce enough battery cells to meet the needs of…

Cross-border frictions prevent economies of scale in tackling plastic pollution.Trade facilitation can help increase the “three Rs” – reduce, re-use and recycle.Governments and firms must collaborate to scale the circular economy at a global level. Action on plastic pollution has been slowed considerably during the COVID-19 pandemic – but there’s a new emerging angle that could help rebuild momentum for the transition to a greener and more circular society. Governments at the World Trade Organization (WTO) are also showing increased interest in tackling plastics pollution. In a world of global value chains and integrated markets, there…