Ever Since the 1950s plastic production has been on the rise. It is being used to create multiple products that can be conveniently used and tonnes and tonnes of waste. This plastic based waste then, since not easily degradable, finds itself in landfills and quite popularly the oceans which are being used by humans as a trash can for plastic for more than a decade now. Many studies as we will discuss later on indicate that over the past 50 years the amount of plastic dumped in the oceans has steadily increased and the consequences are in front of us. From disrupted food chains to a large number of species under threat of extinction- our plastic wastage has given birth to many complexities that the marine ecosystem is now battling. 

To give you a clearer picture we have highlighted below some important statistics that shed true light on how much plastic is being produced. 

Important Statistics on Plastic Production

• About 300 million tonnes of plastic waste is produced on an annual basis 
• Plastic wastage is growing at a speedy rate of 9% yearly 
• Every year an average person consumes about 70,000 microplastics. This just goes to show how much plastic is present in our surroundings. 
• Plastic pollution takes the life of 1 million marine animals every year. Based on this one can easily visualize the amount of plastic that would be present in the oceans.
• 75% of all plastic that has been produced is now plain waste despite the recycling initiatives that emerged now and then. 
• Plastics usually take 500-1,000 years to properly decompose 
• 73% of all litter found on beaches globally constitutes plastic  

So, where do you think all of this plastic goes after you throw it away in the oceans? Reiterating the answer, it is mainly to the oceans. 

So, this is the mess that we are in currently. But how did this all start, what was the point of origin? 

Together let's trace the evolution of plastic in oceans! 

 

The evolution of plastic in our oceans

Over time numerous studies have been conducted to investigate the exact amount of plastic that can be found in our oceans. In the year 1957, the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) towed over 6.5 million nautical miles in the North Atlantic as well as some adjacent seas to discover more about plastic in the ocean. This particular study conducted by Thompson et al.14 highlighted that microplastics in the oceans had increased significantly from 1960 to 1970. Exponential growth in plastic was also observed from 1980 to 1990. 

But many people believe that the use of plastic for making products such as netting and fishing gear began and grew rapidly in 1950. It was around this period that this slowly-degrading material was made widely available at cheap prices in the market. Soon people began viewing plastic as a much cheaper, and easier to use material for production, and more and more products were made using it. Today, the extent to which this has grown is evident in our surroundings from our office essentials to bathroom cleaners, everything is made of plastic. You can use plastic for eating, for writing, for organising paper, for carrying your groceries and the list can go on and on! Therefore, the amount of plastic trash produced has increased and so has the amount of plastic in the oceans. 

Solution

We are sure that the above-mentioned text would have been rather troubling to those who truly care for the environment and wish to safeguard it. But like any other problem, gladly this one has a solution too. 

Even Though the damage that has been caused already is vast and statistical trends only show an increase in the severity of the situation, we still do have time if we take quick action and make joint efforts towards sustainability by limiting plastic usage. Reducing plastic production and its dumping off in oceans is not something that can be done overnight or through the efforts of one person. To bring about a significant change it is required that the entire global community joins hands and work towards a plastic-free future. 

Below are some roles and responsibilities that consumers, businesses, and governments can fulfil to play their respective parts! 

Consumers

• Switch from using plastic bags to fabric ones and swap plastic bags for reusable ones, made of cloth or fibre.
• Reduce your usage of single-use plastic items such as disposable plastic bottles, cups, cutlery, etc and use bamboo-based bottles or explore other sustainable options instead
• Start buying in bulk so that you can reduce the number of plastic wrappings used. If your local grocery store allows using your home-brought jars and bags to fill up groceries, definitely prioritise this option over the convenience brought by conventional methods
• Demand your local businesses to produce more sustainably and support/buy only from those who employ eco-friendly methods of production. Remember, as a consumer you have much more power in your hands than what you assume since a shift in consumer interest is always followed by shifts in selling methods to satisfy the demand

 

Producers or businesses 

• Employ sustainable production methods for example through conserving resources such as energy and water, having effective waste disposal strategies, etc
• Stop packaging your products in plastic
• Focus on producing durable products so that they have a greater life and consumers need to buy less and therefore eventually waste less

Government 

• Encourage, fund, and initiate conversations on sustainability in the corporate sector
• Incentivize Green practices in the business sector by offering financial and non-financial favours 
• Set legal limits to the amount of carbon footprint businesses are allowed to leave and strictly sanction any violations
• Penalise businesses that dump off their waste in oceans

We hope that this article has proven to be resourceful, helping you understand all about our plastic problem, right from where it started, and how we can end it! 

Together we can bring change so let's all work together and paint a sustainable future for ourselves and the generations to come.

Good luck!