Sad Facts About Plastic in the Ocean

Plastics are one of the major contributors to waste pollution not only in our land but also in our ocean waters. As we all know, it may take a couple of hundred years before plastics decompose. Sadly, plastics are quite the problem in our ocean waters today as some of our animals continue their everyday lives battling these annoying wastes.

To help educate our people, people have come a long way to provide people with various information on what plastics do to our waters and animals. But, if you still don’t know the sad facts about plastic in the ocean, we’ve piled up some horrible facts that plastics do in our ocean.

8 Horrifying Facts About Plastics In Our Ocean 

We can write a hundred facts about how plastics endanger our marine life and destroy various marine ecosystems. Still, it would take a considerable amount of time just to list everything out. So, for this article, we will be listing down eight facts about plastics in the ocean.

Almost 90% of plastics aren’t recycled

As mentioned earlier, it would take a couple of hundred years before plastics decompose. Although some people don’t find any issue with their plastics as they recycle them most of the time, some just don’t. As a result, 90% of the entire plastic from around the world isn’t recycled. Unfortunately, 6.5 billion tons of plastic are being dumped into various dumpsites and wastelands. However, 9% of plastics are only recycled.

Just imagine it would take roughly 450 years for plastics to decompose. If we humans don’t atone for our mistakes, we will inevitably pay a hefty price in the years to come. Hopefully, these concerted efforts made by various organizations and individuals will pave the way to recycling plastics or ban their use.

A million plastic a second

In this tough fight against plastics, plastic bottles are the majority of it. Statistics show that almost a million plastics are being sold every second worldwide. One of the best ways to avoid plastics is going for reusable ones. In this way, you get to help fight the cause of plastics in the ocean. Although it can’t be quantifiable if you compare it only to yourself, a little bit of it goes a long way.

Almost 1,300 species are affected by plastics

When it comes to plastic threats, seabirds and fish are greatly affected by it. Seabirds and various types of fishes aren’t only able to consume these plastics, but they can also inhibit or get entangled by them, leading to their untimely demise.

500 Million Plastics

In the US alone, they are using plastic straws at an estimated 500 million per day. That’s quite the number. These plastic straws end up in our ocean most of the time, and thousands of marine species are affected by them. If the use of plastic straw won’t stop until the foreseeable future, then let's just hope miracles are bound to happen. If not, this may be the last time we see their kind living peacefully.

Lack Of Education About Recycling

One of the reasons why recycling plastics isn’t well-understood is that not many people are educated enough to know about recycling. Although many people want to recycle every plastic in the world, what they don’t know is the idea of which plastics are highly recyclable and which aren’t.

Every Minute, Around Two Million Plastic Bags, Are Distributed Around The World

Plastic bags, as we speak, are one of the most widely distributed types of plastics around the world. It is estimated that around two million plastic bags are distributed around the world every minute. Yup, you read that right, two million plastic bags! Fortunately, more and more countries are joining the cause. But, unfortunately, some of them are already penalizing people for using plastics or even banning them.

If we avoid using plastic bags and go for the reusable ones, we will keep 22,000 plastic bags out of the environment in our lifetime. Just imagine the impact it does when each individual from around the world follows this practice to reduce plastic pollution.

Single-Use Plastics

It is estimated that 40 to 50% of plastics are used only once and then thrown away. Single-use plastics such as straws, bags, cups are used out of laziness, availability, and convenience. The only way we can battle this plastic pollution is to tell people to change their way of doing things, such as using plastics for lots of stuff. If people can adapt to not using plastics entirely, then the need for producing plastics from around the world can be minimized or even stopped. 

70,000 Microplastics

That is the number a person can consume in a year, on average. One of the most surprising facts is that these microplastics aren’t the ones that are from sea fishes that have consumed plastics nor come from food receptacles; some of these microplastics that are consumed came from particles. 

From our clothing, carpets, and even in our tires! The sad story is, we can’t avoid not eating microplastics as they are as tiny as they can be and can be found everywhere. It’s one of the reasons why we shouldn’t produce plastics in the first place.

Wrapping Things Up

Plastics are still, without a doubt, one of the biggest threats not only humans face but also our ocean. As we all know, the ocean is a shelter for thousands of marine life relying on these waters to thrive and multiply. However, if they constantly face these harmful threats of plastic in the ocean pollution, then it might be that this one is the last time we see them.

Fortunately, all hope is not lost, there are still plenty of ways to battle this problem, and one should start with ourselves. We can still recover what has already been damaged and start the healing process of what we humans did to our mother nature. All signs lead to a better future.

By supporting us here at ATOLEA Jewelry, you are already being part of the solution of this undying problem of the Ocean. Part of the profit we made from your purchase on our waterproof jewelry with a lifetime color warranty goes to Ocean conservation charities that have been doing their best to save and preserve marine life. 

So check out our wide selection of ATOLEA water-resistant jewelry collections and start making a difference for the Ocean while looking fab and unique!