How Plastic Pollution is Killing Our Oceans and What You Can Do About It

By Fiona Stump, Sept 29, 2023

Plastic pollution is one of the most serious threats to the health and biodiversity of our oceans. Every year, millions of tons of plastic waste end up in the ocean, where they break down into smaller pieces, harm marine life, and disrupt ecosystems. In this blog post, we will explore the causes, consequences, and solutions of plastic pollution in the ocean, and how you can make a difference.

What Causes Plastic Pollution in the Ocean?

Plastic pollution in the ocean comes from various sources, but mainly from land-based activities. According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), about 80% of ocean plastic originates from land¹. Some of the main causes are:

• Littering: When people discard plastic items such as bottles, bags, straws, cups, and wrappers on the streets, beaches, or parks, they can be carried by wind or rain into storm drains, rivers, and eventually the ocean.
• Poor waste management: In many parts of the world, especially in developing countries, there is a lack of adequate infrastructure and systems to collect, sort, recycle, or dispose of plastic waste properly. As a result, much of the plastic waste ends up in open dumps, landfills, or incinerators, where they can leak or escape into the environment.
• Industrial fishing: About 20% of ocean plastic comes from fishing activities². Fishing nets, lines, ropes, buoys, and other gear are often lost or abandoned at sea, where they entangle or trap marine animals and damage coral reefs.
• Manufacturing processes: Some plastics and microplastics are intentionally or unintentionally released into the waterways during the production of plastic products or materials. For example, synthetic fibers from clothing can shed during washing and enter the wastewater system. Plastic pellets or nurdles, which are used to make plastic products, can also spill or leak during transportation or handling.

What are the Consequences of Plastic Pollution in the Ocean?

Plastic pollution in the ocean has devastating impacts on marine life and ecosystems. Some of the consequences are:

• Ingestion: Many marine animals mistake plastic for food and ingest it. This can cause internal injuries, blockages, starvation, malnutrition, and death. Scientists estimate that more than half of the world’s sea turtles and nearly every seabird have eaten plastic in their lifetimes³.
• Entanglement: Plastic debris can also wrap around or hook onto marine animals and restrict their movement, growth, feeding, breathing, reproduction, and escape from predators. This can lead to injuries, infections, drowning, suffocation, and death. For example, more than 300,000 whales and dolphins die every year from entanglement in fishing gear⁴.
• Habitat degradation: Plastic pollution can also damage or destroy marine habitats such as coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, and kelp forests. Plastic debris can smother, scrape, cut, or break these habitats and reduce their ability to provide shelter, food, and nursery grounds for marine life.
• Chemical contamination: Plastic pollution can also introduce harmful chemicals into the ocean. Some plastics contain toxic additives such as bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, or flame retardants that can leach out into the water. Other plastics can absorb and concentrate pollutants such as pesticides, heavy metals, or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from the surrounding environment. These chemicals can then be transferred to marine animals that ingest or come into contact with plastic debris, and potentially affect their health, behavior, growth, and reproduction.
• Human health risks: Plastic pollution in the ocean can also pose risks to human health. Some of the chemicals associated with plastic debris can accumulate in the tissues of fish and shellfish that humans consume, and potentially cause adverse effects such as cancer, hormonal disruption, or neurological damage. Moreover, plastic debris can also act as a vector for pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites that can infect humans through contact or ingestion.

What are the Solutions to Plastic Pollution in the Ocean?

Plastic pollution in the ocean is a complex and global problem that requires collective action from all stakeholders: governments, businesses, NGOs, and individuals. Some of the solutions are:

• Reduce your use of single-use plastics: The easiest and most effective way to prevent plastic pollution is to reduce your consumption of disposable plastic items such as bags, bottles, straws, cups, utensils, and wrappers. You can do this by refusing any single-use plastics that you do not need, and by purchasing and carrying reusable alternatives such as cloth bags, metal bottles, bamboo straws, ceramic cups, wooden spoons, and beeswax wraps.
• Support legislation to curb plastic production and waste: You can also support policies and regulations that aim to reduce plastic production, improve waste management, and make plastic producers responsible for the waste they generate. For example, you can sign petitions, join campaigns, or contact your representatives to advocate for bans or taxes on single-use plastics, extended producer responsibility schemes, or zero-waste goals.
• Recycle and dispose of your plastic waste properly: If you do use plastic products, make sure to recycle or dispose of them properly. You can do this by sorting your plastic waste according to the local recycling guidelines, cleaning and drying them before putting them in the recycling bin, and avoiding contaminating them with other materials. You can also check if there are any drop-off points or collection programs for hard-to-recycle plastics such as film, foam, or electronics in your area.
• Participate in or organize a cleanup of your local beach or waterway: You can also help remove plastics from the ocean and prevent them from getting there in the first place by participating in or organizing a cleanup of your local beach or waterway. You can do this by joining an existing cleanup event such as the International Coastal Cleanup⁵ or the World Cleanup Day⁶, or by creating your own event with your friends, family, or community. You can also use apps such as Marine Debris Tracker⁷ or Clean Swell to record and share your cleanup data.

Conclusion

Plastic pollution in the ocean is a serious and urgent issue that affects not only marine life and ecosystems, but also human health and well-being. However, there are many solutions that we can implement to tackle this problem, from reducing our plastic use, to supporting legislation, to recycling and disposing of our plastic waste properly, to participating in or organizing cleanups. By taking these actions, we can make a positive difference for our oceans and our planet.