Latest news with #Codes
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Science
- Los Angeles Times
Plastic bag bans seem to work, at least when it comes to shoreline pollution
Researchers find that nationwide policies to ban plastic bags may be paying off, with fewer showing up during coastal cleanups. Ever since their invention in 1959, plastic bags have become synonymous with shopping. For many people, it's difficult to imagine a quick grocery run without the crinkle of a plastic bag, and even harder to believe that using an alternative could make a meaningful difference in reducing plastic pollution — but a new national study suggests that, in many places, it already has. A 2021 global survey found that plastic bags accounted for 14% of 12 million marine litter items gathered during beach cleanups — making them by far the most common type of trash in the study. They're lightweight, rarely recycled, and easily caught and transported by winds, making them especially likely to end up in waterways, where they can persist for decades. This combination of durability and disposability has made plastic bags one of the most stubborn contributors to environmental pollution, particularly along coastlines. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that instituting regulations on plastic bag usage — where California has long been a national leader — has had a real effect on how often such waste shows up on and near beaches. In a study published Thursday in Science, researchers Anna Papp of Columbia University and Kimberly Oremus of the University of Delaware found that local and state plastic bag policies enacted from 2016 to 2023, including bans and fees, reduced by as much as 47% the share of waste consisting of plastic bags that is collected during shoreline cleanups. (California's state-wide rules requiring a $0.10 charge of reusable bags was passed in 2014, and went into effect two years later — though industry watchers largely say while the law was well-intended, its implementation has been ineffective.) The findings offer clear evidence that legislation can be used to curb plastic pollution — a growing concern as global waste generation is projected to more than triple by the end of the century . As of 2025, more than 100 countries have enacted national or local regulations on plastic bags, and 175 nations are negotiating what could become the world's first legally binding United Nations treaty to end plastics pollution, so such data may prove essential in determining what environmental policy strategies actually work. In the study, researchers analyzed information from more than 45,000 beach cleanups conducted between January 2016 and December 2023 that is in a database maintained by the Ocean Conservancy, an environmental advocacy nonprofit. The researchers then cross-referenced the data with 182 local bag policies enacted over the same time period in ZIP Codes that had shoreline cleanups, and then applied a series of statistical methods to isolate the effects of these policies. They found that plastic-bag litter dropped significantly in areas with bag laws, even as the national share of plastic bags found during cleanups increased to 6.7% in 2023 from 4.5% in 2016. No similar decline was observed for other types of plastic litter, including plastic straws, bottles, caps and containers, suggesting that the effects were specific to the target policies and not coincidental due to general trends in plastic usages. Perhaps even more striking, the study found evidence suggesting that the structure of a given bag policy — whether it imposes a full ban, partial ban or a fee — played a crucial role in how much plastic waste it actually reduced. Full bans prohibit all single-use plastic bags at checkout, while partial bans primarily target thin, single-use plastic bags, often allowing for thicker plastic bags to remain in circulation as so-called reusables. Fees, meanwhile, charge customers a small amount for each bag they take at checkout. Although the study found that there were relative decreases in plastic litter as a result of both bans and fees, the magnitude of the decrease was larger for fee-based policies compared with full bans and especially partial bans, which were least effective. This suggests that how a policy is designed may matter as much as whether it exists at all — a key insight for lawmakers hoping to craft effective environmental legislation. California's history of efforts to curb plastic waste serve as a prime example of this finding. With the passing of Senate Bill 270 in 2014, which barred the use of single-use plastic shopping bags in many retail settings, California became the first U.S. state to enact a plastic bag ban. Although this ban initially reduced plastic bag litter, it only prohibited the use of bags thinner than 2.25 millimeters, permitting grocery stores and large retailers to charge for thicker plastic bags and ultimately leading to an unexpected jump in plastic bag waste. This is reflected by California's 2021 Disposal Facility-Based Waste Characterization study , overseen by CalRecycle, which reported that plastic bag waste rose to 231,072 tons in 2021 from 157,385 tons in 2014 — a nearly 47% increase. 'It was a nasty loophole,' said Meredith McCarthy, the senior director of community outreach and partnerships at Heal the Bay, a Santa Monica-based nonprofit that organizes coastal cleanups and advocates for plastic reduction policies. 'I think a lot of people were thinking: 'Wait, we banned it? And now we use more? How is that possible?'' Even so, McCarthy, who's spent 20 years monitoring trends in plastic pollution on Los Angeles beaches, said that even this imperfect policy has helped implement a noticeable change. 'It's almost rare now to find a plastic bag,' McCarthy said. The study also found evidence that plastic bag laws may reduce harm to marine life: in areas with bag policies, there was a 30% to 37% reduction in entangled animals relative to areas without such laws. Although the researchers caution that these findings are imprecise, in part because of the fact that we don't fully understand how wildlife interacts with plastic bags compared with other shoreline litter, the results do point to a potential environmental benefit of regulating single-use plastics. In September, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1053 , banning all single-use plastic bags statewide. In theory, starting Jan. 1, 2026, such bags will disappear entirely from checkout lines altogether — meaning customers in California will need to use a reusable bag, pay for a paper bag, or hand carry their purchase. California's new ban won't solve the plastic problem overnight, but this research shows that the right kind of policy — one with stricter laws and fewer loopholes — can make a measurable difference. Want proof? Just head to your nearest beach.
Business Recorder
10-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
TDAP organises workshop on market analysis tools
LAHORE: Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Women Entrepreneur Division, in collaboration with the Women Resource Centre and Incubators (WRCI), successfully organized a hands-on training workshop on 'Market Analysis Tools – Trade Map' on 30th May 2025 in Lahore. This initiative is part of TDAP's focused effort to strengthen the export readiness of women entrepreneurs by equipping them with practical tools to analyze global markets. The workshop centered around the International Trade Centre's (ITC) Trade Map, a key platform for market intelligence, competitor analysis, and strategic export planning. Mahina Ghalib, Deputy Director, TDAP, facilitated the session and led an in-depth exploration of Harmonized System (HS) Codes, Trade Map functionalities, and data interpretation techniques. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Motor Ombudsman updates Codes of Practice
The Motor Ombudsman has revised its four Motor Industry Codes of Practice to align with recent changes in the UK automotive landscape, including the growing role of electric vehicles (EVs), self-driving technology and new retail models. The updates take immediate effect. Code of Practice The changes follow a consultation with Motor Ombudsman-accredited businesses and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI). The revised Codes reflect developments in legislation, consumer expectations and the increasing complexity of vehicles and vehicle ownership. The Motor Ombudsman said the refresh addresses the 'changing face of the UK's automotive landscape' and ensures the Codes remain a 'key driving force in the self-regulation' of the industry. Bill Fennell, Chief Ombudsman and Managing Director, noted the changes will help ensure that guidance 'keeps pace with technological advancements and innovation' as the industry moves away from the internal combustion engine. The new provisions include clauses covering: Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and self-driving features; Roadside assistance and service plans; Paint, perforation and manufacturer base warranties; The sale of insurance products such as alloy wheel and Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) insurance; Training requirements for technicians working on alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs); Vehicle sales under manufacturer agency models. According to a statement, more than 7,500 UK vehicle retailers and repairers, 46 manufacturers and 21 warranty providers are currently signed up to the Codes. These participants have received online training and tailored resources to support the implementation of the updated requirements. "Motor Ombudsman updates Codes of Practice" was originally created and published by Motor Finance Online, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Scoop
23-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
ASA 2024 Annual Report: Strengthening Consumer Protections With Effective Ad Self-Regulation
Press Release – Advertising Standards Authority Industry have risen to the challenge with the adoption of two new Codes in 2024, working with us as we rolled out new ad protections for children, and for all New Zealanders under the Food and Beverage Code, ASA Chief Executive Hilary Souter said. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) today released its 2024 Annual Report, detailing the extensive work undertaken to strengthen consumer protections and support industry awareness and compliance with the Advertising Codes. Highlights from our report include: We received 1628 complaints. Following triage, we considered 1312 formal complaints about 206 ads 100 ads were accepted for review by the Complaints Board, of these 62% were requested to be removed or amended The industry compliance rate with decisions was 99% Enhanced protection for children and vulnerable audiences with the launch of the new Children's Advertising Code, and Food and Beverage Advertising Code Investment in industry education and training, with 20+ education and compliance resources published, and a suite of free webinars to support industry adoption of the new Codes The five most complained about ads from 2024 ASA Chief Executive Hilary Souter said, 'Industry support is the foundation of the ASA self-regulatory process, with a collective purpose to uphold high standards of responsible advertising in New Zealand. Industry have risen to the challenge with the adoption of two new Codes in 2024, working with us as we rolled out new ad protections for children, and for all New Zealanders under the Food and Beverage Code. We thank the industry for their continued support of our process, as we work together on making every ad a responsible ad. We are also grateful to the consumers and wider community who engage with our work – whether it be through our complaints process or our public consultations, consumer input is crucial to the effective operation of the ASA. We look forward to continuing our work together in 2025.'
Scoop
23-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
ASA 2024 Annual Report: Strengthening Consumer Protections With Effective Ad Self-Regulation
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) today released its 2024 Annual Report, detailing the extensive work undertaken to strengthen consumer protections and support industry awareness and compliance with the Advertising Codes. Highlights from our report include: We received 1628 complaints. Following triage, we considered 1312 formal complaints about 206 ads 100 ads were accepted for review by the Complaints Board, of these 62% were requested to be removed or amended The industry compliance rate with decisions was 99% Enhanced protection for children and vulnerable audiences with the launch of the new Children's Advertising Code, and Food and Beverage Advertising Code Investment in industry education and training, with 20+ education and compliance resources published, and a suite of free webinars to support industry adoption of the new Codes The five most complained about ads from 2024 ASA Chief Executive Hilary Souter said, 'Industry support is the foundation of the ASA self-regulatory process, with a collective purpose to uphold high standards of responsible advertising in New Zealand. Industry have risen to the challenge with the adoption of two new Codes in 2024, working with us as we rolled out new ad protections for children, and for all New Zealanders under the Food and Beverage Code. We thank the industry for their continued support of our process, as we work together on making every ad a responsible ad. We are also grateful to the consumers and wider community who engage with our work – whether it be through our complaints process or our public consultations, consumer input is crucial to the effective operation of the ASA. We look forward to continuing our work together in 2025.'
