Plastic Pollution Crisis

Plastic pollution is everywhere

Every day, 1.3 million kg of plastic ends up in our oceans. Seven times more, around 10 million kg, ends up in nature and rivers on a daily basis. Global plastic production only keeps rising, and waste management and recycling can't keep up. If we don't act now, there could be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050.

But it's not just the ocean. Plastic has been found in all ecosystems, from ocean and coast to mountains, cities and rural areas. Recently, researchers even discovered plastic particles in Antarctic snow. The same properties that make plastic so interesting (durability, resistance to degradation,..), make it nearly impossible to break down in nature. So far, it just breaks down into smaller plastic particles, called microplastics. This widespread plastic pollution makes its way into the food chain, affecting animals and humans world wide.

The science is clear: unless the plastics value chain is transformed in the next two decades, the compounding risks for marine species, ecosystems, our climate, our economy, and our communities will become unmanageable. There is no time to waste.

The rise of plastic production

We use plastic every day of our lives. It is wrapped around the food we eat or part of the clothes we wear, but you can also find it in soap, toothpaste, make-up and cigarette filters. It is everywhere. It wasn't always like this though. According to the UN Environment Programme, widespread use of plastic only started in the 1950’s, and was still quite limited.

It all changed when plastic production doubled between 1970 and 1980, rising from 35 million tonnes to 70 million tonnes. Over the next twenty years this tripled, landing at 213 million tonnes in 2000. Then it doubled again with a production of about 460 million tonnes in 2019.

This remarkable rise is in large part due to the increased use of single-use plastics. About half of the plastic produced nowadays is used just once and then thrown away. On top of that, 98% of single-use plastics are produced from “virgin” plastic. This means it is made from fossil fuels, which also generates greenhouse gas emissions.

From product to waste

Plastic is one of the most widely used materials in the world, and for good reason: the durability of plastic is remarkable. So what are these millions of tonnes of plastic used for?

We can all see them wrapped around food, drinks, cosmetics, clothes, cleaning products, school supplies,... almost anything you find in a store. This packaging makes up 44% of global plastic usage!

Besides the packaging, lot’s of products are made of plastic as well. Think of toys, the inside of a car, microwaves, synthetic clothes & shoes, plastic kitchen utensils, office chairs, phone cases, vinyl floors,…

As useful as all of these products and packagings might be, at some point they are no longer of use, and they turn into waste. What happens then?

From waste to plastic pollution

When disposing of plastic, a lot of people think it will be recycled. Sadly, only 9% of all the plastics produced since the 1950s have been recycled.

The complexity and variety of products and packaging, make recycling plastics a difficult task. Many plastics are contaminated by consumer use and/or contain additives, colourants, and fillers. The relatively low price of oil and gas, makes produces favor virgin materials. This means that even today only 14 to 18 percent of plastics are being recycled worldwide. Also keep in mind that plastic cannot be recycled over and over again.

In the end, around 80% of global plastic waste is either landfilled or ends up as unregulated waste, for example in unofficial landfills in nature. The rest is incinerated in energy recovery facilities, or burnt in open fires.

These numbers are very different all around the world, and some countries have much better waste management systems than others. Still, this is a global crisis.

Consequences of plastic pollution in nature

Macro-, micro- and nano-plastic pollution

Once a piece of macroplastic, like a bottle, a bag or a shoe, ends up in the environment, it is exposed to elements like sunlight, wind and waves. When left for a long time, plastic will break down into smaller and smaller pieces. The particles smaller than 5mm are called microplastics, and particles from 1 - 1000 nanometer are called nanoplastics. Because of how tiny they are, they can easily travel through water and air, and end up in the food chain.

So when plastic ends up in nature, it will eventually make it's way back into our human lives through food, drinks and even the air we breathe. Researchers of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam found plastic particles in the blood of 17 out of 22 people they tested. Scientists even found plastic particles in the placentas of expecting mothers.

Harming plants & wildlife

Plastic pollution has a huge negative impact on nature and biodiversity. Wildlife can become entangled in and immobilized by larger pieces, while smaller pieces may be mistaken for food by cattle, birds and aquatic animals (dolphins, turtles, fish,...).

The result: severe health issues leading to pain, suffering and often the death of the animals.

When plastic particles leak into the soil and water, they also cause problems for biodiversity and entire ecosystems. For example, the microplastic that float in the ocean contribute to ocean acidification which disrupts the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean and in turn adds to climate change. All of which can likely result in torrential downpours, flooding and the loss of most seals, birds, whales, fish, and food supply for 3 billion people. In other words: we can only slow down climate change and stop biodiversity loss if we address the plastic pollution crisis.

Causing human health issues

You may not be aware, but as human we eat plastic, according to the University of Vienna. It's difficult to notice the effects as regular individuals, but it's hard to imagine that the presence of plastic in our water, food and air wouldn't have a negative impact on our health.

Recently, scientific research found that the presence of plastic particles in our bodies can be linked to diseases such as Parkinson's, infertility, cancer and the disruption of our hormones. The United Nations recognize the danger of plastic pollution as well, calling them a silent menace that is threatening the environment and human health.

Let's solve this problem together

The scale of plastic pollution and its consequences can be dazzling. Yet, every single piece of plastic we prevent from entering the environment or we clean up, matters. Plastics do not disappear, but just disintegrate into harmful microplastics. Plastic pollution is costly to remove, and effective solutions to remove microplastics or even nanoplastics from the environment or our bodies do not yet exist. That’s why preventing pollution is so important. Acting today is not just the right thing to do for our generation's children and grandchildren, but also the most impactful decision.

According to Breaking the Plastic Wave, the leading global model for stopping plastic pollution in oceans, we still have a window of opportunity right now. Integrated system change can reduce plastic pollution by 80% in 2040 compared to business as usual, preventing 195 billion kg leakage and saving society 70 billion USD.

Breaking the Plastic Wave is also the basis for our Clean River Model. The Clean River Model is our answer for making rivers plastic-free by preventing and cleaning up plastic pollution.