By 2050, the world's oceans will contain more plastic than fish
One third of all plastic ends up in the world's ecosystems, but what can we do?
If we carry on producing plastic – and failing to dispose of it properly – at predicted rates, the plastic waste in the ocean will weigh more than all the world's fish by 2050, says a report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
By then, it predicts, we'll be making more than three times as much plastic as we did in 2014 and one third of it will end up in the world's ecosystems.
Why is this happening?
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Based on interviews with more than 180 experts in the field, the report found that most plastic packaging is used only once before being discarded. Eight million tons of it ends up in the ocean every year - or "five bags filled with plastic for every foot of coastline in the world", says Jenna Jambeck, of the University of Georgia.
What will the impact be?
A carelessly discarded bag can break down in the sea, especially in warmer waters, but the process releases toxic chemicals that may be digested by fish and end up in the human food chain, says The Guardian.
"The fish you may count on to eat is ingesting plastic, getting entangled in it and dying from having stomachs full of it," said Dianna Cohen, the chief executive of the Plastic Pollution Coalition.
What can we do?
"One of the biggest problems [to] focus on is single use and disposable plastic," Cohen says. She also calls on governments to take steps to reduce the waste by forcing producers to take back the plastic used in packaging.
The report also suggests that plastics should be both recyclable and compostable – currently, they are either one or the other.
According to Fortune, attempts to increase global recycling efforts could face a major hurdle in the form of low oil prices. With the collapse of global oil prices, plastic recycling becomes less profitable and the magazine reports that large recycling firms in the US, such Waste Management, have reported steep declines in revenue from their operations.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published