The world's oceans will soon contain more plastic than fish

There might be plenty of fish in the sea, but soon there will be even more plastic. The World Economic Forum revealed Tuesday that if plastic consumption and production continues at current rates, the world's oceans will contain more plastic than fish in terms of weight by 2050.
The World Economic Forum predicts plastic production will increase threefold to 1,124 million tons over the next 34 years. Plastic's use, which has grown 20-fold in the last 50 years, is expected to double yet again in the next 20 years.
The big problem with this boom, the World Economic Forum says, is the shockingly low percentage of plastic that gets recycled. Plastic packaging gets recycled only 14 percent of the time, translating to annual economic losses from tossed plastic packaging between $80 billion to $120 billion.
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.
The economy isn't all that's suffering, either: Almost a third of plastic that goes unrecycled ultimately escapes landfills.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Russia slams Kyiv, hits government building
Speed Read This was Moscow's largest aerial assault since launching its full-scale invasion in 2022
-
China's Xi hosts Modi, Putin, Kim in challenge to US
Speed Read Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Asian leaders at an SCO summit
-
Russian strike on Kyiv kills 23, hits EU offices
Speed Read The strike was the second-largest since Russia invaded in 2022
-
UN votes to end Lebanon peacekeeping mission
Speed Read The Trump administration considers the UN's Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to be a 'waste of money'
-
Israeli double strike on Gaza hospital kills 20
Speed Read The dead include five journalists who worked for The Associated Press, Reuters and Al Jazeera
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American cities
Under the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
Kyiv marks independence as Russia downplays peace
Speed Read President Vladimir Putin has no plans to meet with Zelenskyy for peace talks pushed by President Donald Trump
-
Trump halts Gaza visas as Israelis protest war
Speed Read Laura Loomer voiced her concerns over injured Palestinian kids being brought to the US for treatment and a potential 'Islamic invasion'