Plastic pollution is often seen as a global issue—and it is. But according to the “A local-to-global emissions inventory of macroplastic pollution” article, the study shows us something even more critical: it’s also a very local issue. The new inventory doesn’t just highlight the global scope of plastic emissions; it zooms in on specific hotspots where plastic waste is being mismanaged. From crowded urban centres to remote rural areas, the data reveals where waste is leaking out of the system and ending up in our environment.