Plastic Pollution in the Oceans
The oceans represent 71% of the Earth's surface and 97% of the planet's water resources. They are so vast and deep that, until recently, it was assumed that, no matter how much garbage and chemicals humans poured into them, the effects would be negligible. However, the scenario is somewhat different.
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The plastic accumulated in our oceans and on our beaches has become a global crisis. The plastic accumulated in our oceans and on our beaches has become a global crisis.
"We are transforming our beautiful Ocean into a plastic soup."
- Ocean Unite
Billions of kilograms of plastic are found on about 40% of the world's ocean surfaces. At the current rate, plastic is expected to surpass all fish in the sea by 2050.
Plastic is everywhere.
It is a remarkable substance that surrounds our food and houses our technology, has contributed to advances in healthcare and for many uses has multiple advantages. However, disposable consumer goods end up - often after a single, fleeting use - in landfills, destroying our landscapes, and polluting our oceans.
Unfortunately, the plastic is so long-lasting that the EPA - Environmental Protection Agency - reports that "every piece of plastic ever made still exists". All five of the largest ocean spins on Earth are flooded with plastic pollution. The largest was dubbed the "Great Pacific Garbage Spot".
In the first decade of this century, we produced more plastic than all the plastic in history until the year 2000. And every year, billions of pounds of plastic end up reaching the world's oceans. Studies estimate that there are now 15-51 trillion pieces of plastic in the world's oceans - from Ecuador to the poles, from the Arctic ice sheets to the bottom of the sea.
Plastic waste that floats on the surface of the ocean represents only 1% of all plastic waste dumped in the sea; the other 99% are submerged.
The plastic even reached the deepest pit of the ocean, with a single-use plastic bag found at 10,898 m
Photo by Magnus Larsson
This includes the billions of small pieces of plastic, called microspheres, which are often added to products such as toothpaste, facial wash products and abrasive cleaners, and are small enough to pass easily through water filtration systems and sewage treatment to end up polluting the ocean.
Without any intervention, the annual flow of plastic into the ocean will triple in 2040, to 29 million tons per year. Current government and industrial commitments are likely to reduce this figure by just 7 percent.
Biodegradable plastics (particularly those made from plants) are promising alternatives to conventional plastics under the right conditions, but these conditions are not usually found in the natural environment, and especially in the Ocean. They are also energy-intensive and expensive, and have the potential to aggravate the waste problem, encouraging people to think that it is okay to throw it away instead of considering it as a valuable resource. Furthermore, even under ideal conditions, biodegradability does not resolve critical issues such as entanglement or ingestion by marine animals.
Biodegradable plastics alter the carbon and nitrogen cycles in marine sediments, which can affect the carbon sequestration of coastal ecosystems and compromise their ability to mitigate against climate change as their production increases.
What are the impacts of plastics on wildlife?
Plastic pollution has a direct and devastating effect on wildlife. Thousands of birds and sea turtles, seals and other marine mammals are killed every year after ingesting plastic or being entangled in it. Species such as Hawaiian monk seals and Pacific sea turtles are among about 700 species that feed on and are caught in plastic litters.
Sea turtles can mistake floating plastic garbage for food - jellyfish. By ingesting the plastic, they can suffocate, suffer internal injuries and die - or starve to death because they think they are full of plastic. Investigations indicate that half of sea turtles around the world have ingested plastic. In addition, new studies have found that plastic pollution is so widespread on many beaches that it affects its reproduction.
Hundreds of thousands of seabirds eat plastic every year. It is estimated that 60% of all species of seabirds have eaten pieces of plastic, and that number is expected to increase to 99% by 2050. Dead seabirds are often found with a stomach full of plastic, reflecting how the amount of waste in our oceans has increased rapidly over the past 40 years.
Marine mammals ingest and are entangled in plastic. Large amounts of plastic waste have been found in the habitat of critically endangered Hawaiian monk seals, including in areas that serve as hatchery nurseries. Entanglement in plastic debris also leads to injuries and mortality of the steller sea lion, a critically endangered species. Dead whales are often found with bellies full of plastic.
Photo by Rich Carey
Photo by Pancaketom
Photo by Ian Dyball
What is the solution?
The most effective way to have less plastic in the ocean is to use less plastic in the first place.
According to Ocean Unite , urgent and coordinated action is needed to reverse the increasing amounts of plastic pollution that seeps into the ocean. A recent analysis found that the implementation of all viable interventions using current knowledge and technologies could reduce plastic pollution by 78% compared to a scenario of "maintaining the current state". This would require major changes to the plastic system, resulting in 11% less raw plastic to be produced by 2040.
Containing the entry of plastics into the oceans will require a combination of approaches, including limiting the use of plastic, replacing plastic with other materials where appropriate, improving and expanding collection, infrastructure and waste management, and expanding recycling, particularly in countries where most plastic originates.
There are governments and organizations working to reduce the presence of microplastics and plastic bags around the world. However, even if society banned all plastic bags, for example, that would represent only about 1% of total plastic production.
We have to make the transition from a linear economy (produce, use, dispose) to a circular economy where resources, such as plastic, are used, recovered and reused over and over again, instead of directing them directly to the landfill or to The ocean.
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What can I do?
We all also need to take personal responsibility and significantly limit our use of plastic.
1. REUSABLE BOTTLES
Instead of buying plastic bottles, you choose to use reusable stainless steel or glass bottles.
2. REUSABLE OR EDIBLE STRAWS
Plastic straws are another tool that you must replace, you can choose between stainless steel, bamboo and edible ones .
3. S ACOS OF CLOTH
Instead of buying a plastic bag every time you go shopping, always have one or more cloth bags with you . These fold up, do not weigh in the wallet and, today, there are already thousands of funny models to make pandan with clothes.
4. NETWORK OR ORGANZA BAGS
When we go shopping, plastic is everywhere. For fruit and vegetables, carry net or organza bags . Another option is to use the paper bags that some stores already have. Buy bulk coffee instead of capsules, and dried tea leaves instead of sachets (which also contain plastic).
5. ECOLOGICAL DETERGENTS
In house cleaning, instead of using wipes, opt for environmentally friendly detergents . In addition, you can also use ingredients you have at home that give great cleaning solutions, such as vinegar, lemon and baking soda.
6. SOLID FORMULAS
As for personal hygiene, it replaces products packaged in plastic containers with shampoos, shower gels, deodorants and solid toothpastes . When it comes to your toothbrush, choose one made of bamboo or recycled materials.
7. AVOID COSMETICS WITH MICROSPHERES
Opt for reusable cotton disks to remove make-up, natural sponges to exfoliate and bamboo and cotton swabs .
8. PAPER, HYGIENIC DRESSINGS AND DIAPERS
Look for toilet paper brands with paper packaging and exchange common sanitary towels for menstrual cups or washable cloth patches. It does the same with diapers, there are already several reusable ones.
Tips Saber Viver
Here are some of the stores that sell eco-friendly alternatives for everyday products: Mind the Trash , Zero Plastic , Green Footprint , Skin Alchemy , Organii and Bio Bazaar .