The role of plastics is well-documented in the literature reflecting on its impact on a global economy, planetary and human health. However, there is an urgent need for additional studies analysing their carbon emissions and ways to handle them. This short communication discusses the measures needed to understand and mitigate plastics' carbon footprint while paving a path toward cleaner, sustainable and circular plastic industry. It advances the field by synthesising critical data on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across plastic production stages-from fossil fuel extraction to end-of-life waste. It highlights the industry's outsised climate impact and identifies key leverage points for mitigation, such as transitioning to renewable energy in cracking processes and scaling circular economy models. By mapping emissions hotspots and proposing actionable policy and technological interventions, the study bridges gaps between academic research, industry practices, and climate policy, accelerating the push toward a low-carbon plastic economy.

Rooftop rainwater harvesting systems and blue-green infrastructure are becoming important resilience alternatives for urban climate adaptation. This study sheds light on the largely unreported physicochemical and microbiological quality of private roof-harvested rainwater (RHRW). We aimed to identify the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of RHRW, explore potential correlations between them and assess probable health risks associated with recreational interactions of children with the water. RHRW was collected from cisterns and ponds located in an inner courtyard in Hanover, Germany. Physicochemical parameters were measured on site and samples were collected once a month in two campaigns in 2020 and 2021. Escherichia coli concentrations ranged from 1 × 10° to 24.1 × 10² MPN/100 mL, Enterococci from 1 × 10° to 19.7 × 10² MPN/100 mL, Salmonella from 1 × 10² to 39 × 10³ CFU/100 mL and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from 1 × 10° to 3 × 10³ MPN/100 mL. Correlation analysis indicated potential relationships between bacteria, oxygen, and water temperature. The results of the health risk assessment indicated a potential risk of gastrointestinal illnesses due to exposure to Enterococci and Salmonella spp. present in the cisterns and ponds, highlighting the need for appropriate regulations and guidelines for RHRW aimed for non-potable uses. Blue-green infrastructure, when effectively managed and maintained, can offer benefits both by enhancing urban climate resilience and promoting citizens well-being.

The composition of plastic and multilayer packaging waste was assessed in the mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) streams of the Kaunas (Lithuania), Daugavpils (Latvia) and Tallinn (Estonia) municipalities. For the analysis of samples in the mixed MSW streams, the authors used manual sorting and a visual recognition method. Composition analysis of plastic and multilayer packaging waste from separately collected waste of multi-family and single-family households was performed in the Kaunas and Tallinn municipalities. For the analysis of samples in the separately collected waste streams, the research group combined manual sorting and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy methods. The findings reveal that the percentage distribution of plastic and multilayer packaging waste within the municipal solid waste (MSW) stream is relatively consistent across the municipalities of Kaunas, Daugavpils and Tallinn, comprising 40.16%, 36.83% and 35.09%, respectively. However, a notable variation emerges when examining separately collected plastic and multilayer packaging waste streams. In this category, the proportion of plastic and multilayer packaging within the total separately collected packaging waste stream ranges from 62.05% to 74.7% for multi-family residential buildings and from 44.66% to 56.89% for single-family residential buildings. The authors provided further insights for the enhanced recycling potential of different plastic materials through improved sorting.