EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PLASTIC POLLUTION
Since the 1950s, researchers estimate humanity has produced 9.2 billion tonnes of plastic, some 7 billion tonnes of which have become waste.
A major source of plastic pollution are single-use plastic products, which are not circulated in the economy, overwhelming waste systems and entering the environment. Some of the most common single-use plastic products are water bottles, dispensing containers, takeaway bags, disposable cutlery, freezer bags and packaging foam.
Plastic pollution is a big problem because:
1) Plastic pollution can wreak havoc on ecosystems.
2) Plastic often breaks down into tiny fragments – known as microplastics and nanoplastics – which can build up in the human body.
3) Plastic throughout its life cycle also contributes to climate change.
Without decisive action, the problem of plastic pollution will only get worse. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development forecasts that by 2060, plastic waste will nearly triple to one billion tonnes a year. If current trends continue, this will lead to an increase in plastic pollution, with nearly half of the newly generated plastic waste landfilled, incinerated or lost into the environment.
How can the world tackle plastic pollution? We need to think big – it means reducing our dependence on single-use plastics, and finding alternatives to plastics in a range of products.
– info from UNEP
