Save our oceans by using less plastic

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Did you know that humans consume about 300 pounds or 136 kilos of single-use plastic? Over the last ten years, we have produced more plastic than during the whole of the last century and enough plastic is thrown away each year to circle the earth four times. So, where does most of this plastic end up? The answer is Ocean. Around 80 percent of marine litter originates on land and most of that is plastic. We are treating the ocean like a trash bin with devastating consequences not only to marine life but the entire planetary ecosystem. That's the reason why we need to wake up and do something to tackle plastic pollution in the oceans.

◼How many plastic bags we use every year 

The data shows that we use an estimated 1 trillion plastic bags each year. Nearly 2 million a minute, and with the use time of a typical bag just 12 minutes. Some 10 percent of this plastic ends up in the oceans. An estimated 300 million plastic bags every year end up in the Atlantic Ocean alone. All that plastic ending up in oceans is not without consequences. In fact, fish in the North Pacific ingest 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic each year, which can cause intestinal injury and death and transfers plastic up the food chain to bigger fish, marine mammals, and human seafood eaters. A recent study also found that a quarter of fish at markets in California contained plastic in their guts, mostly in the form of plastic microfibers.

◼How Plastic Impacts the Marine Ecosystem  

At least 8 million tons of plastic end up in our oceans every year and makeup 80% of all marine debris from surface waters to deep-sea sediments. The most visible and disturbing impacts of marine plastics are the ingestion, suffocation, and entanglement of hundreds of marine species. Marine wildlife such as seabirds, whales, fishes, and turtles, mistake plastic waste for prey, and most die of starvation as their stomachs are filled with plastic debris. They also suffer from infections, reduced ability to swim, and internal injuries. Floating plastics also contribute to the spread of invasive marine organisms and bacteria, which disrupt ecosystems.

◼How plastic Impacts on climate change

Plastic, which is a petroleum product, also contributes to global warming. If plastic waste is incinerated, it releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, thereby increasing carbon emissions. After plastics have been used, people may dump them into the environment, sometimes purposefully and other times accidentally. Even if plastics go to a landfill, some are light enough to blow in the wind and enter waterways. In fact, sunlight and heat cause the plastic to release powerful greenhouse gases, leading to an alarming feedback loop. As our climate changes, the planet gets hotter, the plastic breaks down into more methane and ethylene, increasing the rate of climate change, and so perpetuating the cycle.

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The documentary called “A Plastic Ocean”, it said, “Every species on the planet works towards the benefit of the ecology and environment that it lives in, but us humans, we just seem like passengers on this earth.” Actually, I was so surprised by what we did to our plants for such a long time. Therefore, I believe we need to start taking action to address this problem now. First of all, we can try to use less plastic, to begin with. One of the big culprits is plastic packaging on food. Especially, when we start taking out during the pandemic. I think you should ask your grocer or restaurants you frequent not to package food in plastic and instead of using plastic bags you should use your own Eco bags. When getting produce at the grocery store, avoid using the plastic produce bags except for smaller items, or rinse and reuse bags for multiple grocery trips. Never underestimate the power of small action. I always believe that a small action can also change the world.