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Journalist Resource September 17, 2024

How To Investigate Plastic in the Ocean

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ocean pollution
Image by Rich Carey/Shutterstock.

The ocean is filled with items that do not belong there. It is estimated that one million plastic bottles are purchased every minute worldwide and 75 to 199 million tons of plastic are currently in ocean waters.

In April, during the last Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) to advance a global plastics treaty, a team from the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) found that fossil fuel lobbyists outnumbered national delegations, scientists, and Indigenous peoples at the treaty negotiations. 

Investigating lobbying efforts on plastic requires a thorough understanding of both the political and corporate landscapes surrounding plastic production, regulation, and environmental impact. Journalists need to employ a combination of research, data analysis, and source-building. There are many ways to approach an investigation on plastic:  

1. Identify key stakeholders

  • Plastic manufacturers and industry associations: Identify major players in the plastic industry, such as manufacturers of single-use plastics, petrochemical companies, and trade associations. 
  • Environmental advocacy groups: Research groups advocating against plastic use or for stricter regulations, such as Plastic Pollution Coalition, Greenpeace, and Oceana.
  • Legislators and regulators: Identify lawmakers and government agencies involved in drafting or enforcing plastic regulations (e.g., EPA, UNEP, and EU Parliament).
  • Stakeholders that will be a part of the INC-5 negotiation: The Scientist Coalition, the High Ambition Coalition, and the Business Coalition

2. Research lobbying efforts

  • Government lobbying databases: In many countries, lobbying efforts must be reported. Journalists can use databases such as:
  • Freedom of information requests: In many countries, journalists can file requests to access internal government records, communications, and meeting logs that reveal the influence of lobbying on specific legislation.

3. Investigate companies

  • Corporate environmental reports: Many companies produce reports on their environmental impact. Investigating discrepancies between these reports and lobbying efforts to weaken plastic regulations can reveal contradictions or hidden agendas.
  • Trade agreements: Investigate how global trade agreements, such as those between the U.S. and developing countries, influence plastic production and recycling, and whether these agreements were influenced by lobbyists.
  • Third-party research: Compare industry-sponsored research on plastic waste with independent scientific research to identify biased or misleading claims used in lobbying efforts.

After journalists have adopted these approaches, they can follow bills and policies related to plastic, especially those that propose bans or restrictions on plastic use and compare the outcomes of these bills with known lobbying efforts by industry players.

Data and mapping tools

Research databases

Experts on plastic and plastic pollution 

While reporting on plastic, it is important to build a network of sources. Industry insiders, consultants, regulators and activists can provide insights into the industry and lobbying strategies. Below we have compiled a list of academics and research institutions that can collaborate with journalists: 

Register for our upcoming webinar “How To Investigate Plastic in the Ocean” on September 26, 2024, at 2:00pm CEST, organized in partnership with GRID-Arendal.