You be the judge: should my girlfriend stop trying to make our lives plastic-free?
Amy is worried about microplastics. Melanie says she can’t bin everything. Whose argument is toxic? You decide
April 2026
The Filter US
‘The perfect food storage finally exists’: I tried the new Anydeli plastic-free containers
The Filter US
Plastic detox: six kitchen upgrades to rid your food of microplastics and Pfas
March 2026
TV review
The Plastic Detox review – a film so terrifying you will want to change your life immediately
The Filter US
The six best plastic-free cutting boards in the US for 2026, tested
February 2026
The Filter US
The seven best non-toxic cooking pans in the US, tested in a food lab
From Our Place to Caraway, we tested 13 nonstick pans free of harmful Pfas chemicals. Here’s how well they stand up to high heat and everyday cooking
August 2025
The Filter
Ditch your dish sponge, take a packed lunch: 33 easy plastic-free kitchen swaps
Plastic is a growing concern, so it’s time to cut back. Here’s how, from tips on reducing our use to ideas for more sustainable products
June 2024
Seascape: the state of our oceans
Kelp help? How Scotland’s seaweed growers are aiming to revolutionise what we buy
Farmed kelp could produce plastic substitutes, beauty products and food supplements. Just steer clear of seaweed chocolate
June 2023
Curb bottled water ads and tax shrink-wrap to cut UK pollution, says report
Exclusive: Big water brands forecast to grow with UK on track to use 2.8bn bottles a year by 2026, finds research
April 2023
The Guardian picture essay
‘People want to be green’: the rise of Devon eco-bedmaker Naturalmat
Recently B Corp certified, Naturalmat is the first bed and mattress firm to achieve the ethical status in the UK. We visited to see how it minimises the impact of production and supports local people
February 2023
US beach town bans balloons to save the ocean
Experts say more cities should join the growing legislative trend to reduce trash, save birds and protect against wildfires
September 2022
Money hacks
‘Bring a bag and use refills’: how to cut down on plastic waste
An average household throws out 3,400 plastic items a year – here’s how to shrink that and save
March 2022
Observer business profile
‘I am a hypocrite’: Iceland boss Richard Walker on the retailer’s struggle to go green
The man in charge of the discount chain his father founded is battling to cut its heavy use of plastic, because ‘sustainability cannot only be for the rich’
February 2022
DfE did nothing to help schools ditch plastics, say campaigners
Damian Hinds challenged schools to ditch disposable plastics by 2022 but goal is still long way off
October 2021
Green light
‘The cusp of a reuse revolution’: startups take the waste out of takeout
More than 70% of Americans report ordering takeout or delivery one to three times a week – resulting in hundreds of billions of single-use products
September 2021
New Zealand is not as clean or green as we think – plastic waste is polluting our land
Lizzy Carmine
Ignorance about plastic recycling has tricked us into guilt-free consumption – decision makers have to give us sustainable options
July 2021
Coles bins Stikeez and minis for good following criticism of plastic promotions
Environmental campaigners welcome announcement saying ‘the vast majority of the toys were either littered or dumped in landfill’
May 2021
Call for G7 Cornwall summit to forge global plastic pollution treaty
Nestlé and UK supermarkets sign open letter calling for G7 nations to show leadership this June
February 2021
Down the tubes: should you brush your teeth with toothpaste tablets?
Toothpaste tablets are marketed as a plastic-free, more portable oral care solution – James Shackell bites down in search of a better brush
December 2020
The upside
All that glitters: UK retailers shift away from plastic Christmas
Manufacturers and shops remove millions of pieces of single-use plastic from their ranges
