The Shocking Facts About Plastic
10 Facts To Inspire Change
1.
More than 5 trillion pieces of plastic are already floating in our oceans.
2.
Worldwide, 73 percent of beach litter is plastic: filters from cigarette butts, bottles, bottle caps, food wrappers, grocery bags, and polystyrene containers.
3.
World plastic production has increased exponentially from 2.3 million tons in 1950 to 162 million in 1993 to 448 million by 2015.
4.
By 2050, virtually every seabird species on the planet will be eating plastic.
5.
As of 2015, more than 6.9 billion tons of plastic waste had been generated. Around 9 percent of that was recycled, 12 percent was incinerated, and 79 percent accumulated in landfills or environment.
6.
As of 2015, more than 6.9 billion tons of plastic waste had been generated. Around 9 percent of that was recycled, 12 percent was incinerated, and 79 percent accumulated in landfills or environment.
7.
Estimates for how long plastic endures range from 450 years to forever.
8.
The largest market for plastics today is packaging materials. That trash now accounts for nearly half of all plastic waste generated globally—most of it never gets recycled or incinerated.
9.
Some 700 species of marine animals have been reported so far to have eaten or become entangled in plastic.
10.
More than 40 percent of plastic is used just once, then tossed.
Photo credit to Your Shot community.