Bronte Wells
Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that poses a threat to wildlife, the climate, and human health. With over 430 million tons of plastic produced annually, much of which ends up in landfills and oceans, it is essential to address this crisis through systemic change and individual efforts. While governments and organizations are taking steps to reduce plastic pollution, such as the US EPA's National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution, the UN's global treaty negotiations, and the adoption of biodegradable plastics, individual actions also play a significant role. These include reducing plastic use, reusing and recycling plastic products, and supporting businesses that strive to minimize single-use plastic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current global plastic production | 430-460 million tonnes per year |
| Percentage of plastic pollution originating on land | 80% |
| Percentage of plastic recycled in the US | 9% |
| Percentage of plastic waste in the US that ends up in landfill | 70% |
| Percentage of Americans who feel positive about a global agreement to stop plastic pollution | 82% |
| Date by which the United Nations Environmental Assembly agreed to negotiate a global treaty to end plastic pollution | 2025 |
| WWF's vision for no plastic in nature by | 2030 |
| Number of comment letters received by EPA for the "Draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution" | 92,000 |
| Date the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act was passed | December 2020 |
| Examples of individual actions to reduce plastic pollution | Using reusable bags for grocery shopping, buying locally sourced and seasonal food options, lobbying governments and businesses |
| Industries adopting naturally decomposing plastics | Injection moulding |
| Organisations attempting to clean up plastic pollution | WWF, NOAA Marine Debris Division, IUCN |
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What You'll Learn
Reduce plastic use
The first step towards tackling plastic pollution is to reduce plastic use. Here are some ways to reduce plastic pollution by cutting down on plastic consumption:
Avoid single-use plastics: Single-use plastics, such as grocery bags, plastic wrap, disposable cutlery, straws, and coffee cup lids, are used once and then discarded. These items contribute significantly to plastic pollution. Instead, opt for reusable alternatives like cloth bags, containers, and metal or bamboo straws.
Support legislation and initiatives: Get involved in your community by supporting policies and initiatives that aim to reduce single-use plastic items. This includes advocating for regulations, taxes, or bans on unnecessary single-use plastic products. Many places around the world have successfully implemented such measures, and your support can help expand these efforts.
Recycle and reuse: When using single-use plastics or other plastics that can be recycled, always remember to recycle them properly. Currently, only 9% of plastic is recycled globally. Recycling helps keep plastics out of the ocean and reduces the demand for "new" plastic. Additionally, consider reusing plastic items whenever possible instead of immediately disposing of them.
Avoid products with plastic microbeads: Tiny plastic particles called microbeads, found in some face scrubs, toothpastes, and body washes, contribute to ocean plastic pollution. Avoid purchasing products containing microbeads by checking ingredient labels for "polyethylene" and "polypropylene." Opt for natural alternatives or microbead-free products instead.
Reduce, reuse, and shift to sustainable sources: It is important to reduce our overall plastic consumption and reuse plastic items whenever possible. Additionally, when we do need plastic, we should shift to sustainable sources and opt for biodegradable or plant-based plastics. This helps reduce the environmental impact of plastic production and disposal.
By following these steps and making conscious choices, we can all play a part in reducing plastic pollution and keeping our planet cleaner and healthier.
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Reuse and recycle
The issue is that plastic is often used for short-lived products, which soon become waste. Half of all plastic produced is for throwaway items, such as grocery bags, plastic wrap, disposable cutlery, straws, and coffee cup lids. These single-use plastic products are a major contributor to the plastic pollution crisis.
To combat this, individuals can make an effort to reduce their plastic use. For example, bringing your own bags to the grocery store and striving to purchase locally sourced and seasonal food options that require less plastic packaging. If plastic products can no longer be used, they should be recycled or disposed of properly.
On an industrial scale, the circular economy is a key concept in reducing plastic pollution. This involves keeping plastic in the economy at its highest value for as long as possible. This can be achieved through reuse and refill schemes, as well as improving the collection and recycling of plastic waste. Governments can encourage this through tax breaks, subsidies, and other fiscal incentives for businesses that reduce unnecessary plastics and promote reusable products.
The WWF has a vision of "No Plastic in Nature by 2030", which involves reducing, redesigning, and reusing plastic materials. They advocate for a legally binding global treaty on plastic pollution by 2025, which would ensure nations address the crisis of plastic waste.
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Encourage government action
Governments around the world are taking action to combat plastic pollution, recognising the harm it causes to human health and the environment. The United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA) in March 2022 saw countries, including the United States, adopt a resolution on plastic pollution. This resolution set in motion a process to negotiate a global agreement on plastic pollution, with the aim of concluding by the end of 2024. The US government is actively participating in these negotiations through the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES).
At the domestic level, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the "National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution," outlining opportunities for action by government agencies, businesses, non-profits, and communities. This strategy aligns with the White House's 2024 Report: Mobilizing Federal Action on Plastic Pollution, demonstrating a commitment to addressing the issue at the federal level. The strategy focuses on six key objectives:
- Reduce Pollution from Plastic Production
- Innovate Material and Product Design
- Decrease Waste Generation
- Improve Waste Management
- Improve Capture and Removal of Plastic Pollution
- Minimize Loadings and Impacts to Waterways and the Ocean
The EPA's strategy also aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with plastic products and mitigate public health impacts in communities disproportionately affected by pollution. Furthermore, the US government supports the End Plastic Pollution International Collaborative (EPPIC), which promotes global collaboration and innovation to tackle plastic pollution.
Other countries and governing bodies are also taking action. For example, Costa Rica banned the importation and distribution of polystyrene in 2021, and Maine became the first US state to ban polystyrene food containers. The European Union (EU) has implemented a strategy to ban single-use plastics, create a reuse system, and establish a market for recycled plastics, aiming for a "circular" plastics economy.
These initiatives demonstrate a growing recognition of the importance of government action in addressing plastic pollution. By implementing policies, regulations, and international collaborations, governments are working towards reducing plastic waste and protecting the environment.
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Support businesses reducing plastic
Supporting businesses that are actively reducing their plastic consumption is one of the most effective ways to reduce plastic pollution. While individual behaviour changes are important, they are insufficient to stop ocean plastic pollution. Therefore, it is essential to support businesses that are making efforts to reduce their plastic consumption and incentivize those that are not.
One way to support these businesses is to advocate for better policies and legislation that promote plastic reduction and provide alternatives. For example, the #BanPlasticsKE campaign in Kenya, started by photojournalist James Wakibia in 2015, called on the Kenyan government to ban plastic bags. This campaign gained support from the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Natural Resources, Judi Wakhungu, and contributed to Jakarta's plastic bag ban in 2019. Similarly, the Plastic Free July campaign, which began in 2011 in Western Australia, has grown to millions of participants across 170 countries, challenging people to avoid using any plastic during the month of July.
Another way to support businesses reducing plastic consumption is to encourage the use of alternatives. This can be done by refusing single-use plastics and purchasing reusable versions of those products, such as reusable grocery bags, bottles, utensils, and coffee cups. It is also important to let businesses know that you would like them to offer alternatives to single-use plastic items.
Additionally, supporting businesses that use recycled plastic and recycling efforts is crucial. Currently, only 9% of plastic is recycled worldwide, and recycling helps keep plastics out of the ocean and reduces the amount of "new" plastic in circulation. By supporting businesses that use recycled plastic, we can increase the demand for recycled materials and encourage more businesses to adopt sustainable practices.
Finally, it is important to recognize that some industries, such as healthcare, rely heavily on single-use plastics for personal protective equipment (PPE). In these cases, we can support businesses by advocating for the development and use of alternative materials, such as using sugar cane to create plastic bags, and promoting sustainable sourcing and design practices.
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Clean up the ocean
Plastic pollution in the ocean has become a global crisis. It is estimated that 8 million metric tons of plastic entered the ocean in 2010, and this problem continues to grow. The future of plastics in our ocean will be determined by how we handle plastics on land.
To clean up the ocean, we must first focus on preventing plastic from entering our oceans in the first place. This involves reducing plastic usage, reusing and recycling plastic items, and properly disposing of plastic waste. People in high-income countries consume the most plastic, but their effective waste management systems keep plastic out of the natural environment. It is important to improve waste management in other countries to prevent plastic pollution from entering the ocean.
Another strategy is to participate in cleanup efforts. Organizations like Ocean Conservancy and NOAA's Marine Debris Program work with volunteers to pick up trash from beaches and understand how plastic enters the ocean. By joining these efforts, individuals can directly contribute to removing plastic from the ocean and preventing it from causing harm to marine life.
Additionally, it is crucial to address the root causes of plastic pollution. This includes pressuring companies that produce plastic consumer goods to better control their runoff and lobbying governments to implement policies that reduce plastic production and promote sustainable alternatives. Governments can also play a role by running public awareness campaigns, offering incentives for recycling, introducing levies, or banning certain plastic products.
Finally, we must recognize that plastic pollution in the ocean is a complex issue that requires a global effort. By combining individual actions, such as reducing plastic usage, with corporate and governmental initiatives, we can collectively work towards cleaning up the ocean and mitigating the harmful impacts of plastic pollution on marine life and ecosystems.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic pollution has a wide range of impacts on the environment, wildlife, and human health. It contributes to biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, and climate change. Plastic waste can lead to the ingestion, suffocation, and entanglement of wildlife, including birds, whales, fish, and turtles. It also releases harmful chemicals into the soil and water, affecting human health and food and water safety.
Individuals can make a difference by reducing their plastic use, reusing and recycling plastic products, and avoiding single-use plastics. Supporting businesses that reduce single-use plastics and contacting companies that use unnecessary plastic packaging are also effective ways to contribute.
Governments and organizations are working towards reducing plastic pollution through various initiatives. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has made plastic pollution a focus of its World Environment Day campaign. The US EPA has developed a "National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution," aiming to reduce and recover plastics. The WWF is advocating for a global treaty to end plastic pollution by 2025 and envisions a world with "No Plastic in Nature" by 2030.
Cleaning up existing plastic pollution requires collective efforts on a global scale. Organizations are working to remove plastic waste from oceans, but it's essential to address the root causes on land. This includes improving waste management infrastructure, encouraging innovation in product design, and promoting circular economy solutions like reuse and recycling.
Specific strategies to reduce plastic pollution include implementing taxes on single-use plastic products, providing incentives for reusable alternatives, improving waste management systems, and advocating for global regulations and standards to ensure proper plastic waste management, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Education and awareness campaigns are also crucial in encouraging behavioural changes to reduce plastic consumption and proper waste disposal.
