Our Impact
Fidra Timeline
This regulation includes mandatory minimum requirements for companies throughout the nurdle supply chain to prevent nurdle loss to the environment. The passing of this vote is an important step forward in preventing some sources of nurdle pollution in the EU. However gaps in the new regulation remain.
Artificial pitch infill is an intentionally-added microplastic and is included in this regulation. This regulation marks a crucial first step in stemming the plastic pollution problem at some of its sources and can pave the way for more comprehensive and ambitious regulations.
Dr Clare Cavers presented Scottish Women’s Award for Achievements in Civil Service for her work representing Scottish Environment Link as part of Fidra’s project on Scottish salmon farming.
Fidra’s project to end PFAS pollution through citizen science, business engagement and legislative change makes the Nature of of Scotland Award shortlist
Workshop participants agree that data needs to be communicated more effectively across the sector. This identifies the continued demand for a sustainable dashboard to improve supply chain transparency
Fidra highlight the interrelated issues of climate change and plastic waste and chemical pollution at Cop26 in Glasgow
Major UK supermarkets offer bisphenol free receipts and supports call for a ban on bisphenols in thermal paper
We worked with TAUW (an environmental consultancy) to compare alternative to EPS fish boxes, and set users on a road to better boxes. Read the report
Fidra play a key role in the call to the UK government to address management synthetic chemical use following the UK’s departure from the EU
‘Help us find the PFAS’ in food packaging launched to identify what food packaging could contained PFAS
The meeting focuses on the importance of transparency throughout the industry, with an onus on supermarkets to discuss how they could improve their processes and be more transparent
Legislation banning the use of one bisphenol, bisphenol A, was enacted this year due to the risks posed to unborn babies of shopworkers
Working in partnership with Kommunernes International Miljøorganisation (KIMO) we publish guidelines to promote alternative materials and practical microplastic mitigation options
52 nurdle hunts take place in 34 countries, with nurdles being found on 84% of beaches
Major retailers including Tesco, M&S and H&M phase out PFAS-based stain resistance from school uniforms and all clothing
Scottish Government convenes its first plastic pellet steering group, with a two-year mandate to develop a ‘supply chain approach’
Cotton bud project was showcased in a UN environment report: 25 Innovative and Inspiring Solutions to Combat Plastic Marine Litter in the Mediterranean
For the Great Nurdle Hunt
Identifying significant environmental impacts of Scottish salmon aquaculture
Click on the image to read our research paper.
Fidra research use of PFAS to create ‘stain-resistant’ school uniforms, joining the POPFREE collaborative research project to find non-fluorinated alternatives that maintain technical requirements with a reduced environmental footprint
Ten major retailers commit to remove plastic-stemmed cotton buds from shelves
Fidra research the use and disposal of expanded polystyrene in takeaway food and drinks packaging
Connecting and building relationships with industry sees Johnson & Johnson commit to replacing plastic-stem cotton buds with paper
Fidra support Fauna and Flora International (FFI) to remove microbeads from domestic products
Research begins to identify the scale and impacts of plastic-stemmed cotton buds on the environment
Scottish Government launch a strategy to develop measures to minimise the amount of marine litter entering the marine and coastal environment. Fidra join the Steering Group advocating further action on cotton buds and nurdles
Call for citizen scientists to collect data on nurdles lost from the plastic industry during production, transport, and use to make plastic products
Fidra shine a light on environmental issues using the best available science to deliver pragmatic solutions in collaboration with governments, industry and the public
Dr Gait and trustees recognise the need to tackle this preventable form of pollution and gather volunteers to scope the problem
Alerce Trust catalyse marine plastics projects