{"id":39125,"date":"2024-07-01T12:06:28","date_gmt":"2024-07-01T16:06:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oceana.org\/?p=39125"},"modified":"2024-08-05T11:08:27","modified_gmt":"2024-08-05T15:08:27","slug":"plastic-pollution-101","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oceana.org\/blog\/plastic-pollution-101\/","title":{"rendered":"Plastic Pollution 101"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Plastic is everywhere.\u202f\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the deepest trenches in the ocean to the highest peaks in the world \u2013 the pervasive presence of plastic is overwhelming.\u202f\u202f  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But imagine a world where our oceans are teeming with life instead of plastic. A world where our beaches are pristine, and our ecosystems are thriving without the constant threat of pollution.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This vision is a future within reach \u2013 but only through collective effort.<\/strong>  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every year, an estimated 33 billion pounds of plastic enters the marine environment. That\u2019s roughly the equivalent of dumping two garbage trucks full of plastic into the ocean every minute! Forty percent of the plastic currently produced is for packaging and single-use plastic and the amount of plastic entering the ocean is expected to triple by 2040 . But how did we end up here? <\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE PROBLEM WITH PLASTIC<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First created in 1907 from fossil fuels, plastic became mainstream in the 1950s as an alternative to glass. Lightweight, durable, and cheap plastic products revolutionized industries and provided convenience to consumers. Yet the very qualities that make plastic so useful also made it an environmental menace.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And now we\u2019re paying the price for such convenience. The problem is simple. Single-use plastics are profoundly flawed by design. They use a material made to last for centuries \u2013 but used only for a few moments.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

SOLUTIONS TO THE PLASTIC POLLUTION CRISIS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While we\u2019ve been spoon fed by the plastic industry the idea that if everyone recycled, our oceans would not be in its current predicament, the reality is recycling alone can\u2019t solve this crisis. In fact, of all the plastic waste ever created, only about 9% has been recycled, while another 12% gets incinerated, and the remaining 79% ends up in landfills and polluting our environment.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Together, we can turn the tide on plastic pollution and create a plastic-free future for our oceans. Here are three ways you can get involved!  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

TAKE ACTION<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your voice matters! With the help of our Wavemakers, Oceana has secured more than 25 victories to reduce single-use plastic in the countries where we work. Add your name<\/a><\/strong> to call on your leaders to tackle the plastic pollution crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

MAKE A DONATION<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you donate to Oceana<\/a><\/strong>, you\u2019re supporting our campaigns to tackle plastic pollution and investing in a healthier, more sustainable future for our oceans.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SPREAD AWARENESS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Learn more<\/a><\/strong> about Oceana\u2019s campaign to curb plastic pollution at the source and encourage your family, friends, and community to get involved!  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Plastic is everywhere.\u202f\u202f  From the deepest trenches in the ocean to the highest peaks in the world \u2013 the pervasive presence of plastic is overwhelming.\u202f\u202f   But imagine a world where our oceans are teeming with life instead of plastic. A world where our beaches are pristine, and our ecosystems are thriving without the constant … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":298,"featured_media":39128,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"location":[],"expedition":[],"campaign":[],"ppma_author":[334],"class_list":["post-39125","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","infinite-scroll-item"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPlastic Pollution 101 | Oceana<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Plastic is everywhere. 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