The Ocean's Plastic Problem: A Human-Made Disaster

Humans produce more than 400 million tons of plastic waste every year, and it's thought that around 14 million tons of this enters the ocean. There are now an estimated 170 trillion particles of plastic in the ocean, and this number is expected to grow. By 2050, it's predicted that there will be up to 950 million tons of ocean plastic, and some scientists have warned that there will be more plastic in the sea than fish.

Plastic production is projected to keep going up

Many scientists have warned that by this time, there will be more plastic in the sea than fish (by weight). This is because only a small proportion of plastic is disposed of incorrectly, and an even smaller part of that enters waterways. However, this does not mean the ocean plastic pollution problem is small – over 1 million metric tons is still a massive amount of pollution.

The constant flow of plastic production is simply too much for existing waste management and recycling infrastructure. For example, humans use an estimated 5 trillion plastic bags every year, and less than 1% of them are recycled.

There are now an estimated 170 trillion particles of plastic in the ocean, with a further 33 billion pounds of plastic entering the marine environment every year.

Less than 0.5% of plastic ends up in the ocean

Less than 0.5% of the 400 million tons of plastic produced each year 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. However, this does not mean that the ocean plastic pollution problem is small. Over 1 million metric tons of plastic is still a massive amount of pollution.

It is thought that around 14 million tons of plastic enter our oceans each year, with some estimates putting the figure at 33 billion pounds. By 2050, it is predicted that there will be up to 950 million tons of ocean plastic. Many scientists have warned that by this time, there will be more plastic in the sea than fish (by weight).

The constant flow of plastic production is simply too much for existing waste management and recycling infrastructure. Humans use an estimated 5 trillion plastic bags every year, and less than 1% of them are recycled.

There could be 10,000 times more plastic sitting on the sea bed

Humans produce more than 400 million tons of plastic waste every year, according to the United Nations. Less than 0.5% of this ends up in the ocean, but that still amounts to over 1 million metric tons of plastic pollution.

There are an estimated 75 to 199 million tons of plastic waste currently in our oceans, with a further 33 billion pounds of plastic entering the marine environment every year. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation predicts that there will be up to 950 million tons of ocean plastic by 2050.

Many scientists have warned that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the sea than fish (by weight). It is thought that around 14 million tons of plastic enter our oceans each year, and there could be 10,000 times more plastic sitting on the sea bed.

The true extent of plastic waste in our seas may never be known, but current estimates suggest that action must be taken now.

Humans use an estimated 5 trillion plastic bags every year

It is estimated that there are currently 75 to 199 million tons of plastic waste in our oceans, with 33 billion pounds of plastic entering the marine environment every year. This is projected to increase, with some sources predicting that there will be up to 950 million tons of ocean plastic by 2050. By that time, many scientists have warned that there will be more plastic in the sea than fish (by weight).

The true extent of plastic waste in our seas may never be known, but current estimates suggest that we must act now to address this issue. Plastic production is expected to grow over the next decade, despite the known adverse effects. This constant flow of plastic production is simply too much for existing waste management and recycling infrastructure.

While only a small proportion of plastic is disposed of incorrectly, and an even smaller part of that enters waterways, the problem of ocean plastic pollution is significant. The impact of plastic pollution on the marine environment and the creatures that inhabit it cannot be overstated.

There is an estimated 75 to 199 million tons of plastic waste currently in our oceans

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation predicts that there will be up to 950 million tons of ocean plastic by 2050. This is a shocking figure, and it's no wonder that many scientists have warned that by then, there will be more plastic in the sea than fish (by weight).

The problem is that plastic production is expected to grow over the next decade, even though we know its adverse effects. We use an estimated 5 trillion plastic bags every year, and less than 1% of them are recycled. This constant flow of plastic production is simply too much for existing waste management and recycling infrastructure.

We must find ways to reduce our plastic waste and improve our recycling systems if we want to prevent our oceans from becoming even more polluted with plastic.

Frequently asked questions