How Plastic Waste is Ruining Our Oceans and 10 Ways You Can Help
You know the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic Oceans — but there’s a fifth, unofficial ocean we urgently need to confront: the Plastic Ocean. The hard truth is, by 2050, our oceans will contain more plastic than fish, by weight.¹ Every year, an estimated 11 million tons of plastic waste flood into the ocean, and it’s not going anywhere.² Since plastic doesn’t decompose, it lingers, contributing to massive formations like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is now twice the size of Texas. As ocean currents churn this waste, it breaks down into tiny, toxic particles called microplastics, which now permeate every corner of our marine ecosystems (and eventually reach our bodies).³
Most of us aren’t tossing empty laundry jugs or juice bottles into the ocean — so how is all this plastic getting there? In this article, our sustainability experts break it down, revealing the hidden pathways that carry plastic from our daily lives to the depths of the sea. More importantly, they share 10 impactful, everyday actions you can take right now to help turn the tide. From smarter shopping choices to simple swaps at home, these steps make it easy to cut out harmful plastics and become part of the solution to one of the planet’s biggest environmental challenges.
Where does all this plastic come from?
Each year, around 48.5 billion pounds of plastic leak into the environment — that’s roughly the weight of 110,000 blue whales. And the problem is only getting worse. If current trends continue, this number is expected to double by 2060.⁴
So where is it all coming from?
Surprisingly, a lot of the plastic that ends up in the ocean doesn't start there. It often blows off garbage trucks, spills out of overstuffed bins, or escapes from poorly managed landfills. Then, during heavy storms, this loose trash gets swept into storm drains, rivers, and streams, eventually making its way out to sea. The issue is even more severe in areas that lack proper waste management systems. In these places, plastic waste is often dumped or left out in the open, where it slowly breaks down into tiny fragments called microplastics.
Both large plastic debris (macroplastics) and microplastics are having a devastating impact on marine life — killing over a million marine animals every year.⁵
Does plastic harm the ocean itself?
Plastic pollution poisons the ocean — blocking sunlight, harming marine life, and disrupting delicate ecosystems. Larger debris weakens the environment by preventing plant growth, while microplastics release toxic chemicals that degrade water quality and threaten long-term ocean health.⁶
How do ocean microplastics impact human health?
Microplastics are increasingly found in tap water, sea salt, beer, and even the fish we eat.⁷ ⁸ Given that several chemicals used in plastic production are carcinogenic, it’s no surprise that their consumption has been linked to disruptions in the body’s endocrine system, immunity, neurology, development, and reproductive health.⁹
Moreover, plastics can contain up to 10,000 different chemicals, many of which are linked to diseases like diabetes and cancer. These harmful substances are ingested by marine life at the base of the food chain and gradually move up, eventually reaching larger predators and our dinner plates. Ocean microplastics can also get picked up by wind and inhaled, as well as reach our drinking water.
How does plastic waste in the ocean impact the economy?
Plastic pollution significantly impacts the economy by damaging tourism and local industries. Popular coastal destinations suffer when plastic waste accumulates on beaches, leading to a decline in tourism and a loss of revenue for local businesses. Additionally, cleaning up plastic waste requires substantial financial investment from governments and organizations. While not always plastic, the cost to clean up litter in the United States totals to more than $11.5 billion each year. The fishing industry also bears high costs, as plastic debris often damages fishing equipment and reduces catch quality, ultimately affecting livelihoods and market supply.¹⁰ The economic burden of managing and mitigating plastic pollution is growing, making it a costly issue for communities worldwide.
How to help keep the ocean clean: 10 things you can do
We understand that the issue of plastic waste can feel overwhelming, but every small effort counts. If you want to make a difference, here are 10 practical tips to get you started:
1. Politely decline plastic straws and cutlery whenever possible.
2. Shop second-hand, especially when buying clothing and toys typically made from plastic.
3. Bring reusable cloth bags when you shop.
4. Bring jars or mugs to the coffee shop for your morning coffee or afternoon latte.
5. Switch to refillable and reusable products alternatives whenever you can.
6. Avoid products that have microbeads - tiny plastics found in many facial scrubs, toothpaste, and body washes
7. Shop plastic neutral companies that support plastic waste cleanup initiatives.
8. Choose products in glass, aluminum, and paper — all materials that can be widely recycled
9. Wash any plastic packaging before recycling to remove food or other contaminants.
10. Never litter! Take the time to properly dispose of your garbage in a trash can, compost bin, or recycling bin.
Sources:
1 Plastic Soup Foundation. (n.d.). More plastic than fish. Plastics Soup Foundation. Retrieved December 18, 2024, from https://www.plasticsoupfoundation.org/blog/more-plastic-than-fish/
2 Ocean Conservancy. (n.d.). Plastics in the ocean. Ocean Conservancy. Retrieved December 18, 2024, from https://oceanconservancy.org/trash-free-seas/plastics-in-the-ocean/
3 National Ocean Service. (n.d.). What are microplastics? National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 18, 2024, from https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/microplastics.html
4 OECD. (2022). Global plastics outlook: Economic drivers, environmental impacts and policy options. OECD Publishing. Retrieved April 23, 2025, from https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/global-plastics-outlook_aa1edf33-en/full-report.html
5 Oceana. (n.d.). Plastic pollution. Retrieved April 23, 2025, from https://usa.oceana.org/our-campaigns/plastic/#:~:text=An%20estimated%2033%20billion%20pounds,into%20the%20oceans%20every%20minute
6 Rochman, C. M., Browne, M. A., Halpern, B. S., Hentschel, B. T., & Kaye, S. (2013). Polyethylene plastic pollution in the marine environment. Science, 339(6127), 1295-1298. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1223457
7 Napper, I. E., & Thompson, R. C. (2019). Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean. PLOS ONE, 14(6), e0194970. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0194970
8 Hsu, S. (2018, August 20). Beer, drinking water, and fish: Tiny plastic is everywhere. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/08/20/636845604/beer-drinking-water-and-fish-tiny-plastic-is-everywhere
9 Endocrine Society. (2020, February 18). Plastics pose threat to human health. Endocrine Society. https://www.endocrine.org/news-and-advocacy/news-room/2020/plastics-pose-threat-to-human-health
10 United Nations Environment Programme. (2021, December 2). Plastic waste causes financial damage of US$13 billion to marine ecosystems. United Nations Environment Programme.https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/plastic-waste-causes-financial-damage-us13-billion-marine-ecosystems
