So what's with all this plastic, and why is it bad?
Of the 300 millions tons of plastic that’s produced annually, 8 million of that ends up in our sea.
That plastic is effecting the sea-life and wildlife, the environment, and our health. This doesn’t talk about the effects this will have on the future, either.
Besides the effect on our oceans, plastic has devastating effects elsewhere too. Usually to create plastic unsustainable sources are needed to make the plastic, such as coal and oil. Then, once the plastic is produced, only 10% is recycled. That means 90% of plastic produced is wasted resources.
A lot of the plastic that is recycled is shipped to third-world countries where proper, ethical recycling facilities don’t exist – meaning the workers who sort the plastic work for less than a 50c (NZD) a day, and put their heath at risk every day.
Don’t be disheartened. The first step of making a difference is education. Know what the effects and facts are, and what this means for the future.
Why is plastic in the oceans bad?
The Facts and Figures
What are the numbers? How much plastic is already in the ocean? Where is it coming from?
The Side Effects
So what's the aftermath of all this plastic? What does it mean for wildlife, the environment and ourselves?
“About 300 million tons of plastic is produced globally each year. Only about 10 percent of that is recycled.”