Worst case: It gets dumped into nature. In the US we recycle only 9% of the plastic we use. And because nothing multiplies impact like collaboration, ReSource: Plastic connects companies, stakeholders, and governments so they can share discoveries and investments. Cutting back or even banning single-use straws would certainly help keep them out of our oceans. All these things get used and, eventually, thrown out. WWF has created an “activation hub,” called ReSource: Plastic, to close that “how” gap. Reduce, reuse, recycle. These plastics come in many different forms. Simon is a materials scientist who has worked with some of the world’s biggest corporations to find planet-friendly packaging solutions. They can come from large plastics breaking down, or can be produced as small plastics such as microbeads, which can be found in products such as toothpaste and face wash. View an expanded version of the infographic that appears above from NOAA's Marine Debris program website. They can come from a variety of land and ocean-based sources; enter the water in many ways; and impact the ocean and Great Lakes. “We all agree wholeheartedly: Plastic doesn’t belong in nature, and we need to stop it from ending up there.”. It places added pressure on ocean ecosystems that are already stressed by the impact of human activity. 30 113% increase by 2040 Fact Sheet: Plastics in the Ocean The billions upon billions of items of plastic waste choking our oceans, lakes, and rivers and piling up on land is more than unsightly and harmful to plants and wildlife. Globally, policies regulating waste disposal and recycling vary wildly—where they exist at all. The world wakes up, and we have the opportunity to drive change.”. “As a conservation organization seeing the urgency and direct impacts on our ecosystems, we know that’s just not enough. Can you count them all? For $10/month, get World Wildlife in print, 1250 24th Street, N.W. One company’s efforts are great, but 100 of the world’s biggest companies together could prevent roughly 10 million metric tons of plastic waste. If 300 million metric tonnes of plastic waste are produced each year and 8 million metric tonnes end up in the ocean, this would mean that about 2.67% of plastic waste ends up in the ocean. Billions of pounds of plastic can be found in swirling convergences that make up about 40 percent of the world's ocean surfaces. “It's reached this public-awareness tipping point,” says Sheila Bonini, senior vice president of private sector engagement at WWF. Governments can also help by streamlining and standardizing recycling rules. There are many ways to keep plastic out of the ocean! Get involved and participate in local cleanups in your area. Most of the time plastic is thrown in the garbage. The story had everything: a kid on a mission against the corporate world, a gut-wrenching video of a sea turtle with a straw stuck in its nose, an easy-to-understand and ubiquitous problem. But we don’t know what to do with all this plastic once we’re finished with it. Yellow text in the above graphic shows sources of plastic that eventually end up in the ocean. While photodegradable plastics (plastics capable of being broken down by light) may break down from its first state (or created state), these plastics never completely degrade, but actually divide into tiny pieces called microplastics. View our inclusive approach to conservation, Ask government leaders to establish a global, legally binding agreement to stop plastics from leaking into our oceans. But would it be enough? In the US, even though we collect almost 100% of the most common type of plastic, polyethylene terephthalate, or PET (your standard soda bottle), only about 30% is recycled. Microfibers, shed from synthetic clothing or fishing nets, are another problematic form of microplastic. Of all the plastic ever made, half was made in the past 15 years. While it’s tough to say exactly how much plastic is in the ocean, scientists think about 8 million metric tons of plastic entered the ocean in 2010. That means plastic can stick around indefinitely, wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems. Advocate for change. There are opportunities at every point in the plastic life cycle: We can make plastic from renewable resources, manufacture goods that are recyclable and require less plastic, consume less, and make sure as much plastic is recycled as possible. Washington, DC 20037. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “Sometimes an issue can go on for a long time and nothing happens; then, suddenly, boom! Marine litter, especially plastic, is killing Florida's sea turtles and manatees, and costing millions in lost tourist dollars and cleanup. “We benefit from more scale; it helps us achieve our vision.”. Plastics are the most common form of marine debris. Yet little is being done collectively to fix the problem. Every minute, about a dump-truck load of plastic goes into the oceans, sullying beaches, … “The problem is that as a population we have continued to innovate and create new ways to use plastic—to the point that we are dependent on plastic in our everyday lives,” says Simon. In many ways these plastic ends into the ocean. Orange text shows ways that these plastics move into the ocean. Support companies that are working to solve the plastics crisis. We also had a clear resolution requiring hardly any sacrifice: To save the environment, we just had to stop using plastic straws. How many plastic things can you see? But microplastics also include bits of what were once larger items. According to a report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in partnership with the World Economic Forum, plastic in the ocean will outweigh fish by 2050. “Today science tells us that the majority of plastic waste ending up in oceans is coming from land, specifically due to limited or nonexistent waste management,” says Simon. When the sink is flooding, you don’t start with the mop; you start by turning off the tap. Giving up plastic straws is a great start, but there’s so much more plastic that we consume. It’s a monumental task. If this waste isn’t properly disposed of or managed, it can end up in the ocean.