Reduce Global Plastic Pollution

 Our oceans are drowning in a sea of plastic waste.

Based on the history of innovation, plastic production has become a symbol of modern living. But at this point, it's getting out of control and becoming a threat to our planet. Behind the convenience of single-use plastics and disposable packaging, there is the distressing reality of plastic waste.  The impact of global plastic pollution drives an urgent need for real change in our approach to plastic consumption and disposal. Otherwise, millions of tonnes of plastic will be mismanaged and pollute the environment around the world.

Global Plastic Waste Pollution

Plastic poses an escalating crisis due to waste pollution. Over 400 million metric tonnes of plastic waste are generated globally each year. To put this into perspective, it is equivalent to the weight of the entire human population, or more than 1,000 Empire State buildings. 

Despite the impacts on the climate, plastic packaging still has high demand on the market. People depend on plastic packaging to extend the shelf life of foods or to reduce food waste. But every piece of plastic packaging being thrown away contributes to the increasing levels of plastic waste in our natural environment. In fact, 46% of plastic waste comes from packaging, such as bottles, pots, tubs, and trays, or wrappings such as plastic shopping bags, bubble wrap and shrink wrap.

Besides plastic packaging, the widespread use of single-use plastics is also the main issue with plastic pollution, as half of all plastic is produced for single-use purposes. The versatility and affordability of plastic for various applications make it a favourable source for creating single-use items. However, these attributes result in a significant impact of excessive waste. One million plastic bottles are sold every minute, and a staggering 40 billion plastic spoons, forks, and knives are used and thrown away every year.

Living up to its name: single-use plastic is designed for short periods with an average usable lifespan of 15 minutes. After disposal, it can take up to 500 years to degrade. Over time, larger plastic items break down into microplastics and nanoplastics. These tiny particles contaminate soil, water and air; enter the food chain and pose risks to both wildlife and humans, and disrupt ecosystems.

Recycling is promising, but according to Our World in Data, only 9% of plastic waste is recycled worldwide. Half of the world’s plastic still ends up in landfills. Another fifth is not recycled, incinerated, or kept in sealed landfills, putting it at risk of being leaked into rivers, lakes, and the ocean.

Ocean Pollution from Plastic Waste 

The enormous use of plastic has led to significant environmental consequences. With the high amount of waste and low recycling rate, plastic waste worldwide is either not collected, improperly disposed of, or ends up as litter. Litter doesn't stay on the land. Instead, rainwater and wind become agents that transport plastic waste into nearby streams and rivers through drainage systems. Lightweight items, such as bags, straws, cotton buds, and wrappers are easily carried by the wind, causing them to reach coastal areas or enter the river before ultimately making their way into the ocean. There are an estimated 51 trillion plastic particles floating on the surface of the ocean, which together weigh 269,000 tonnes: the equivalent to the weight of 1,345 adult blue whales.