Facts About Marine Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution negatively impacts our ecosystem.

Though mass production of plastic began only a few decades ago, we have already produced 10 billion tons of plastic— out of which 91% has never been recycled. Instead, most of it is dumped into the oceans to degrade and release harmful gases.

In 2021, there were more than 363,762,732,605 pounds of plastic polluting the world’s oceans and harming marine life.

Here are some more facts you should know about marine plastic pollution.

Fact #1: 8 Million Metric Tons of Plastic Pollutes The Oceans

We are currently experiencing a pollution crisis that is threatening the future of the planet.

When we throw away plastic takeout containers or shopping bags, we often don’t think about where they’ll end up. While we assume plastic gets recycled, it rarely happens. A lot of it gets carried by the winds into the waterways and it ends up in the oceans.

In fact, more than 33 billion pounds of plastic makes its way into our oceans every year. This is roughly the same amount as dumping two garbage trucks full of plastic into the oceans every single minute!

It’s enough plastic to blanket every foot of the world’s various coastlines with five full trash bags of plastic every year.

Moreover, plastic debris is the most abundant litter found in the ocean, accounting for 80% of all marine debris from the surface to the deep sea.

Fact #2: Plastic Degrades into Microplastics in The Oceans

Plastic is made when propylene’s chemical unit monomers bond together by applying heat and pressure through the molding process. This gives plastic long chains of polymer monomers that aren’t commonly found in nature. As a result, organisms like bacteria and fungi aren’t equipped with the metabolic pathways to break them down naturally.

Instead, plastic breaks down into smaller pieces of plastic called microplastics and nanoplastics that can be found in almost all water systems in the world.

Fact #3: Over 1 Million Marine Organisms Die Each Year

Approximately one million marine animals die due to plastic marine debris. Most animals, such as sea turtles, confuse plastic products for food and die from starvation or strangulation. That’s because the plastic prevents them from swallowing food or breathing properly.

Fact #4: Plastic Shopping Bags Were Found in The Mariana Trench

The Mariana Trench is the deepest part of the ocean, approximately 36,000 feet under the remote areas of the Pacific Ocean. It’s considered the lowest point on earth, but researchers have found plastic here as well.

According to a recent study, a plastic shopping bag was found in the deepest parts of the Mariana Trench.

So, how can you help save the environment?

Protect the oceans by buying eco-friendly reusable bags today at Sammy Shopping Bags!

Here at Sammy Shopping Bags, we produce organic cotton grocery bags to help protect the environment and ensure a safer future. We take pride in manufacturing wholesale multi-purpose shopping bags made from 100% organic cotton that’s free from plastic and harmful chemicals.

Check out our store today to buy our environment-friendly bags.