Our Impact

Fidra Timeline

Photo by: Fidra

2024

Apr 23

EU adopts regulation to prevent plastic pellet pollution from some sources

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.

2023

Aug 05

The EU adopts restrictions on intentionally-added microplastic to products

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.

2022

Oct 27

Senior Project Manager Dr Clare Cavers wins Award

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.

Sep 22

EU legislation proposed to ban infill on sports pitches

Sep 06

PFASfree shortlisted for Nature of Scotland Award

Fidra's project to end PFAS pollution through citizen science, business engagement and legislative change makes the Nature of of Scotland Award shortlist

Mar 01

Fidra host Best Fishes workshop

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

2021

Nov 02

Cop26

Fidra highlight the interrelated issues of climate change and plastic waste and chemical pollution at Cop26 in Glasgow

Nov 01

Retailers’ receipts go bisphenol free

Major UK major supermarkets offer bisphenol free receipts and supports call for a ban on bisphenols in thermal paper

Jul 19

Fidra publish report assessing alternatives to polystyrene fish boxes

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

May 10

12 Key Asks for the UK chemical strategy

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

2020

Jul 20

PFAS bead test

‘Help us find the PFAS’ in food packaging launched to identify what food packaging could contained PFAS

Jun 15

Fidra gives evidence to UK Select Committee Environment Audit Committee (EAC) on environmental impacts of chemical flame retardants

Feb 10

First Best Fishes workshop with British Retail Consortia

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

Jan 06

EU legislation

Legislation banning the use of one bisphenol, bisphenol A, was enacted this year due to the risks posed to unborn babies of shopworkers

2019

Oct 14

Scotland banned the sale and manufacture of plastic-stemmed cotton buds

Mar 11

Local steering group on takeaway packaging set up in North Berwick

Feb 18

Artificial Pitch Guidelines launched

Working in partnership with Kommunernes International Miljøorganisation (KIMO) we publish guidelines to promote alternative materials and practical microplastic mitigation options

Feb 11

First Great Global Nurdle Hunt

52 nurdle hunts take place in 34 countries, with nurdles being found on 84% of beaches

2018

Dec 01

Phase-out of PFAS stain-resistant clothing

Major retailers including Tesco, M&S and H&M phase out PFAS-based stain resistance from school uniforms and all clothing

Nov 12

Plastic policy in Scotland

Scottish Government convenes its first plastic pellet steering group, with a two-year mandate to develop a ‘supply chain approach’

2017

Dec 11

UN recognition

Cotton bud project was showcased in a UN environment report: 25 Innovative and Inspiring Solutions to Combat Plastic Marine Litter in the Mediterranean

Dec 01

Nature Scotland Award

For the Great Nurdle Hunt

Nov 13

Best Fishes Project begins

Identifying significant environmental impacts of Scottish salmon aquaculture

Sep 18

Research paper published on the success of driving corporate change to remove plastic-stemmed cotton buds in the UK and Europe

Click on the image to read our research paper.

Sep 04

PFAS on school uniforms

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

2016

Mar 14

The Good Buddy List

Ten major retailers commit to remove plastic-stemmed cotton buds from shelves

Jan 04

Polystyrene & compostable packaging

Fidra research the use and disposal of expanded polystyrene in takeaway food and drinks packaging

2015

Mar 16

Industry breakthrough – The Cotton Bud Project

Connecting and building relationships with industry sees Johnson & Johnson commit to replacing plastic-stem cotton buds with paper

2014

Oct 06

Microbeads project investment

Fidra support Fauna and Flora International (FFI) to remove microbeads from domestic products

Sep 01

Cotton Bud Project

Research begins to identify the scale and impacts of plastic-stemmed cotton buds on the environment

Aug 04

Scottish Marine Litter Strategy

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

2013

Sep 02

The Great Nurdle Hunt launched

Call for citizen scientists to collect data on nurdles lost from the plastic industry during production, transport, and use to make plastic products

Mar 04

Fidra founded

Fidra shine a light on environmental issues using the best available science to deliver pragmatic solutions in collaboration with governments, industry and the public

2012

Jul 16

Nurdles and cotton bud stems found on East Lothian beaches

Dr Gait and trustees recognise the need to tackle this preventable form of pollution and gather volunteers to scope the problem

Mar 19

Environmental health impact of marine plastics and chemical pollution recognised

Alerce Trust catalyse marine plastics projects

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