Plastic pollution

1.

Plastic Pollution

2.

The Ecological Threat of
Plastic Pollution
Plastic is devastating to nature. Natural ecosystems have no
place for substances that do not degrade. Our wonder material
has now escaped the urban environment and is reaching every
corner of the natural world, from the deepest point of the
Mariana trench to the top of Mount Everest.

3.

What impact is plastic
having on the ocean?
The ocean is perhaps the most vulnerable
environment to plastic waste. Once plastic
enters the sea, it has no boundaries – waves
and storms can carry plastics to even the
furthest reaches of the ocean. They’ve even
been found on uninhabited islands. After some
months or years at sea, plastic breaks down
into smaller and smaller pieces, battered by
waves and storms, eventually to sizes smaller
than a grain of sand. This makes retrieving
plastics from the ocean extremely difficult –
almost impossible.
12.7 million
tonnes
The amount of plastic
that reaches the ocean
every year.
100,000
The number of marine mammals
estimated to be killed by plastic every
year.

4.

From Land to Sea
Approximately 80% of the plastic found in oceans originates from land-based sources.
Runoff from poorly managed industrial waste is included in this.The remaining 20% comes
from marine sources like fishing gear and vessels. Rivers play a significant role in
transporting these plastics from land to sea, with recent studies identifying thousands of
rivers worldwide as pathways for plastic pollution entering the oceans. Reducing plastic
usage and managing waste effectively are essential to reduce the ongoing pollutants into
our marine systems.

5.

How does plastic affect marine specie
It is estimated that marine plastics are contributing to the death of more than 100,000
marine mammals every year. Marine life can be harmed by plastic in a number of ways,
including entanglement, damage, ingestion, and toxic poisoning. The major
determining factor is the size of the plastic, which can adversely affect different species
in different ways – and on different timescales.
Macroplastics
Mesoplastics
Size: Plastics larger than 20mm
Size: Plastics between 5-10mm
Threats: Large items of plastic can
capture and entangle marine mammals
and fish and stop them from escaping,
usually leading to starvation, injury and
predator vulnerability.
Threats: Small but visible plastic
fragments can sit on the surface of the
water and be mistaken for food by
seabirds and other marine species,
leading to issues including suffocation,
starvation and toxic contamination over
time.
Microplastics and
Nanoplastics
Size: Plastics between 5-10mm
Threats: Microplastics are invisible to the
naked eye, making them easy for wildlife
to consume.

6.

What species are
most affected by
marine plastic
pollution?
Whales and other marine megafauna
Large marine mammals are highly vulnerable to plastic
entanglement, particularly from ghost fishing gear. Fishing
ropes, nets and pots that have been discarded or abandoned at
sea are often made from plastic, and can trap and entangle a
variety of marine life, from blue whales to small crabs. An
estimated 300,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises a year
die from ghost gear entanglement. Marine megafauna are
also vulnerable to plastic ingestion; in 2019, a whale was
discovered washed up with 40 kilograms of garbage, mostly
plastic bags, in her stomach.
A family of Dolphins

7.

Fish and molluscs
It has been shown that hundreds of fish species—
many of which are consumed by humans, have been
found with traces of microplastics in their bodies.
Fish often mistake small plastic pieces, such as
pellets, for food.
When turtles eat plastic bags, it can make them feel
full, eventually leading to starvation. A recent study
found that all seven species of sea turtle from the
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the
Mediterranean Sea had traces of microplastics in
their gut. Six-pack rings can trap sea turtles as well
as they can get tangled in their shells and necks.

8.

How can we reduce plastic
pollution in the ocean?
New ways of recycling plastic are changing how we
deal with plastic waste. With advanced recycling, we
can turn old plastic into new materials, which means
we don't need to use as many new resources. Also,
making bioplastics from things like plants gives us a
sustainable option instead of regular plastic.
Companies like RWDC Industries are leading the
charge in making biodegradable materials from plant
oils.
Small things like using fabric bags instead of
plastic ones, saying no to single-use plastics
like straws, and picking reusable containers
can make a big difference. Teaching people
about this through campaigns and education is
key.

9.

Thank you for your
attention