The Ocean's Plastic Pollution Crisis: A Global Emergency

Plastic pollution in the ocean is a pressing issue. Plastic waste makes up 80% of all marine pollution, with around 8 to 10 million metric tons of plastic entering the ocean each year. This is the result of littering, improper manufacturing processes, and industrial fishing. The problem is growing, with the fossil fuel industry planning to increase plastic production by 40% over the next decade. While only a small proportion of plastic is incorrectly disposed of, and an even smaller amount enters the ocean, the amount of plastic pollution in the ocean is still a crisis.

Plastic waste makes up 80% of all marine pollution

However, not all plastic waste in the ocean is an effect of littering. Many plastics and microplastics are the product of improper manufacturing processes, and about 20% of the ocean’s plastic pollution comes from industrial fishing.

The problem is growing into a crisis. The fossil fuel industry plans to increase plastic production by 40% over the next decade. In the first decade of this century, we made more plastic than all the plastic in history up to the year 2000. And every year, billions of pounds of more plastic end up in the world's oceans. Studies estimate there are now 15–51 trillion pieces of plastic in the world's oceans — from the equator to the poles, from Arctic ice sheets to the sea floor. Not one square mile of surface ocean anywhere on earth is free of plastic pollution.

Quantifying the amount of plastic in the ocean is difficult because it could mean anything from giant fishing nets to tiny nanoplastic particles, which are undetectable to the naked eye. The International Union for Conservation of Nature estimates that 14 million tons of plastic enter our seas annually. That’s equivalent to the weight of five blue whales entering our environment every hour. On top of this, new research from CSIRO and the University of Toronto estimates that up to 11 million tonnes of plastic pollution is sitting on the ocean floor.

The majority of plastic pollution in the ocean is caused by littering

However, not all plastic waste in the ocean is an effect of littering. Many plastics and microplastics are the product of improper manufacturing processes, and about 20% of the ocean’s plastic pollution comes from industrial fishing. In addition, plastic usage and waste management infrastructures differ all over the world. Only 9% of plastic gets recycled, and about 22% of plastic waste worldwide is either not collected, improperly disposed of, or ends up as litter.

The problem of plastic pollution in the ocean is growing into a crisis. In the first decade of this century, we made more plastic than all the plastic in history up to the year 2000. And every year, billions of pounds of more plastic end up in the world's oceans. Studies estimate there are now 15–51 trillion pieces of plastic in the world's oceans — from the equator to the poles, from Arctic ice sheets to the sea floor. Not one square mile of surface ocean anywhere on earth is free of plastic pollution.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is one of the most famous examples of ocean pollution. This monolith of ocean pollution is made up of all kinds of marine debris and contains 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic, covering an area twice the size of Texas.

20% of the ocean's plastic pollution comes from industrial fishing

It is difficult to quantify the amount of plastic in the ocean as it can range from giant fishing nets to tiny nanoplastic particles, which are invisible to the naked eye. However, it is estimated that 80% of all marine pollution is made up of plastic waste, with around 8 to 10 million metric tons of plastic ending up in the ocean each year.

The majority of plastic pollution in the ocean is caused by littering, with people using disposable plastic items such as food wrappings, plastic bags, razors, and bottles, and not disposing of them properly. This causes them to end up in the waterways and eventually in the ocean. However, not all plastic waste in the ocean is a result of littering. Many plastics and microplastics are the product of improper manufacturing processes, and about 20% of the ocean's plastic pollution comes from industrial fishing.

The problem of plastic pollution in the ocean is growing into a crisis. In the first decade of this century, we made more plastic than all the plastic in history up to the year 2000. And every year, billions of pounds of plastic end up in the world's oceans. Studies estimate that there are now 15-51 trillion pieces of plastic in the world's oceans, from the equator to the poles, and from the Arctic ice sheets to the sea floor. Not one square mile of surface ocean anywhere on earth is free of plastic pollution.

The fossil fuel industry plans to increase plastic production by 40% over the next decade, which will only contribute to the growing problem of plastic pollution in the ocean. One of the most famous examples of ocean plastic pollution is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is made up of all kinds of marine debris and contains 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic, covering an area twice the size of Texas.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature estimates that 14 million tons of plastic enter our seas annually

The majority of plastic pollution in the ocean is caused by littering. We buy or use disposable plastic items (such as food wrappings, plastic bags, razors, and bottles) and do not dispose of them properly, which causes them to end up in the waterways and eventually in the ocean. However, not all plastic waste in the ocean is a result of littering. Many plastics and microplastics are the product of improper manufacturing processes, and about 20% of the ocean's plastic pollution comes from industrial fishing.

Despite the huge amount of plastic entering our seas each year, less than 0.5% of the 400 million tons of plastic produced annually ends up in the ocean. This is because only a small proportion of plastic is disposed of incorrectly, and an even smaller part of that enters waterways. Nevertheless, the problem of ocean plastic pollution is still a crisis. Studies estimate that there are now 15-51 trillion pieces of plastic in the world's oceans, from the equator to the poles, and from the Arctic ice sheets to the sea floor. Not one square mile of surface ocean anywhere on Earth is free of plastic pollution.

One of the most famous examples of ocean plastic pollution is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This monolith of ocean pollution is made up of all kinds of marine debris and contains 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic, covering an area twice the size of Texas. On top of this, new research from CSIRO and the University of Toronto estimates that up to 11 million tonnes of plastic pollution are sitting on the ocean floor.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is made up of 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a famous example of ocean pollution. It is made up of 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic, covering an area twice the size of Texas. The patch is a monolith of marine debris, containing all kinds of plastic pollution.

Plastic waste makes up 80% of all marine pollution and around 8 to 10 million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year. This figure is difficult to quantify, as it could mean anything from giant fishing nets to tiny nanoplastic particles, which are undetectable to the naked eye. However, the International Union for Conservation of Nature estimates that 14 million tons of plastic enter our seas annually. That’s equivalent to the weight of five blue whales entering our environment every hour.

Most ocean-bound plastic has a land-based origin, with the majority caused by littering. We buy or use disposable plastic items (such as food wrappings, plastic bags, razors, and bottles) and do not dispose of them properly, which causes them to end up in the waterways and eventually in the ocean. However, not all plastic waste in the ocean is a result of littering. Many plastics and microplastics are the product of improper manufacturing processes, and about 20% of the ocean’s plastic pollution comes from industrial fishing.

The problem of plastic pollution in the ocean is growing into a crisis. In the first decade of this century, we made more plastic than all the plastic in history up to the year 2000. And every year, billions of pounds of more plastic end up in the world's oceans. Studies estimate that there are now 15–51 trillion pieces of plastic in the world's oceans, from the equator to the poles, and from the Arctic ice sheets to the sea floor.

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