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The Plastic Pollution Crisis: Causes, Impacts and Solutions

With an estimated 14 million tonnes of plastic making its way into the ocean every year 1, plastic pollution is one of the most significant environmental problems of our time. Not only is it a continuous threat to marine and coastal life, but it is also a danger to global ecosystems, economies and even human health.

What Are the Main Causes of Ocean Pollution?
Unsurprisingly, the majority of plastic rubbish that ends up in the ocean comes from the land, through sources such as littering, illegal dumping or poor waste management. One of the most common forms of ocean waste stems from the food industry, through containers, packaging and plastic bags 2 that are not biodegradable.

Because ocean waste is not as visible to us in our daily lives, it is easier to ignore. However, a sobering statistic reveals that if things continue the way they are now, by 2050, the weight of plastic rubbish in the ocean will outweigh all the fish in the sea 3.

How Does Ocean Pollution Impact the Earth?
Plastic pollution affects all of us, not just the creatures who live in the oceans and seas. When plastic is disposed of in the ocean, it either breaks down into microplastics or combines to form large patches of garbage which float offshore and continuously accumulate more rubbish. The largest of these is the Great Pacific garbage patch, which covers an unbelievable 1.6 million square kilometres, an area three times the size of France 4. This floating rubbish causes immense damage to ocean life, killing an estimated 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine animals every year 5.

Although they are not as visible as larger pieces of plastic, microplastics pose a potentially greater threat due to their ability to infiltrate water systems, soil and living organisms. Studies in 2020 showed that microplastics were detected in the blood of 80% of human test subjects 6, and it is unknown what, if any, long term effects may result from this.

What Are Others Doing to Help?
Around the world, individuals and governments are developing innovative solutions to solving the plastic pollution crisis. Here are two examples of leading clean-up ventures happening currently:

    - Seabin: This Australian-based company 7 created a device that is essentially a floating rubbish bin, removing floating debris, plastic and microplastic from marinas and coastal areas. The newest version of the Seabin can filter 1.3 million litres of water per day and provides key data on the type and quantity of rubbish that is polluting an area.

    - The Ocean Cleanup: This Dutch non-profit organisation 4 is at the forefront of developing solutions to remove plastic waste from our bodies of water, including passive floating barriers and autonomous vessels which can collect or capture it effectively. Their technologies are currently being tested on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
What Can You Do to Help?
    - Stop using single-use plastic: 90% of the plastics we use in our lifetime are single-use 8, such as plastic bags, lids or containers. By purchasing reusable items instead, you can dramatically reduce the amount of disposable plastic you consume and encourage businesses to stop using them as well.

    - Recycle plastics correctly: The majority of people in the UK recycle their plastic, but it is often not done correctly. Read our article here for a quick guide on what can and cannot be recycled.

    - Organise or participate in a beach clean-up: The Marine Conservation Society 9 has an informative website which allows you to either find a beach clean near you or organise one yourself. If you are looking for a team building or volunteering exercise for your company, this organisation also provides an expert-led day of beach cleaning, surveying and other activities.

    - Stop using products with microplastics: Nearly 9 out of 10 products from major cosmetics brands contain microplastics in them 10, while fast fashion companies sell clothes with synthetic fibres that break down quickly in the wash and release large amounts of microplastics. This website 11 allows you to check your products for microplastics and search from a list of zero plastics brands to replace them with.

References:
1.) iucn.org/marine-plastic-pollution
2.) cleanwater.org/problem-marine-plastic-pollution
3.) oceanliteracy.unesco.org/plastic-pollution-ocean/
4.) theoceancleanup.com/great-pacific-garbage-patch/
5.) oceanblueproject.org/the-effects-of-plastic-p-on-seabirds/
6.) theseacleaners.org/microplastics-in-human-blood-and-lungs-the-urgent-need-for-scientific-research/
7.) seabin.io/
8.) conserve-energy-future.com/causes-effects-solutions-of-plastic-pollution.php
9.) mcsuk.org/what-you-can-do/join-a-beach-clean/
10.) plasticsoupfoundation.org/almost-9-in-10-products-from-major-cosmetics-brands-contain-microplastics/
11.) beatthemicrobead.org/guide-to-microplastics/

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First published on 21/04/23

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