The Problem With Plastic

Plastic is part of our everyday lives. It is an inexpensive and multi-use material that has changed how we produce, package, and transport products. While there are positives from their use, we are learning that there are also many negatives. These impacts, much like plastics themselves, range far and wide across animals and humans and land and sea.

What’s with all the plastic?

Plastic is a man-made material made from fossil fuels. Around the world, we produce over 400 million tons of plastic each year. Many plastics are not recyclable and have to be disposed of. So what happens to them?

50%

Landfills

Globally it is estimated that 50% of disposed plastic goes to landfills. While landfills are the best option for non-recyclable plastics, they do pose many health, environmental, and social issues around the world.

25%

Mismanaged

Globally it is estimated that 23% of disposed plastic is mismanaged. Annually, researchers have calculated that 8 - 14 million tons of plastic will eventually make it into the ocean.

20%

Burned

Globally it is estimated that almost 20% of disposed plastic is burned. Burning plastics causes significant air and soil pollution including the release of toxic chemicals.

Recycled

Not all plastics produced are recyclable. Of the plastics that are recyclable, globally less than 10% are actually recycled.

How are we using all this plastic?

The industries that use the most plastics are packaging, farming, fishing, and fashion.

Packaging

This is the largest source of single use plastic in the world, which includes single use plastic food and beverage containers.

Farming

Seed coatings, mulch film, plant containers, bale wraps, row covers, greenhouse sheeting, and more.

Fishing

Fishing gear including lines and nets.

Fashion

60% of materials used to make clothing are plastics.

Every piece of plastic ever made still exists on the planet, and even when it changes shapes, it always will. Plastic does not biodegrade, rather it breaks down into microplastics and even smaller nanoplastics.

The little things are a big problem

Microplastics are pieces of plastic up to 5mm, which is about the width of a pencil eraser. They include pieces broken down from larger pieces, microbeads, microfibers, and nurdles. Microbeads are manufactured for health and beauty products. Microfibers shed off our clothing. Small resin pellets, or nurdles, are how plastic is transported to various companies before being turned into products.

Good news on one microplastic type. Microbeads have been banned in the United States and the European Union. This stops the production and the flow of these materials into our environment.

Nanoplastics are so small they cannot be seen with the naked eye, less than the width of a human hair, and require special microscopes to see. Most of the nanoplastics we are exposed to come from food and beverage containers. See the links to learn more about the impacts of micro and nanoplastics on human health.

How is it getting into the ocean?

No matter where you live, you are connected to the ocean via a waterway. Streams, creeks, and rivers run to the ocean and bring with it improperly managed plastics. The majority of plastics that end up in our waterways and ocean come from land–improperly managed trash or recycling. The rest comes from ships, shipping containers, and the commercial fishing industry. For a quick demonstration of how plastics can travel quickly to the ocean, watch this video.

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What is all the plastic out there doing? How is it impacting wildlife?

Plastic pollution is one of the main causes of marine species extinction, health problems for humans and animals, and the destruction of ecosystems.

The two main impacts of plastics on marine life are entanglement and ingestion.

Fishing gear, packing strips and other materials entangle everything from fish to whales. Entanglement makes movement, evasion of predators, and catching prey difficult. Eventually entangled animals do not survive.

Large plastics such as plastic bags are swallowed by sea turtles. Microplastics are swallowed by everything from plankton to baleen whales. Ingestion of plastics causes a variety of problems, including false satiation, physical injuries, and the accumulations of toxins.

To learn more about plastic pollution visit one of these trusted resources:

Plastic is a problem we can all impact immediately and in the long term. There are many solutions personally, organizationally, politically and environmentally to reduce plastics and their affects.

What is the Aquarium doing to reduce our single-use plastic use?

The Aquarium is a member of the Aquarium Conservation Partnership. As a member, we have signed a business commitment that requires us to reduce or eliminate single-use plastics from our operations. Even prior to this commitment, the Aquarium was on its way to reducing single use plastics. Here are a few things we have done or are in progress.

We switched from selling water in plastic bottles to aluminum bottles.
We installed water bottle refill stations for our guests and staff to refill their reusable water bottles.
To reduce microfibers, we switched our volunteer uniform vests and no longer purchase fleece.
We installed microfiber filters on all our washing machines.
We are bringing back reusable serving ware in the Cafe and for events
We have begun the Kimberly-Clark RightCycle Program for our disposable gloves.
Guests, volunteers, and staff can bring their reusable cups to the Coffee Shop.
Our Green Team creates quarterly challenges for staff to educate them on plastics and how they can reduce them in their personal and professional lives.

What can you do to reduce single use plastics?

Reducing plastics in our lives is a journey. We can’t do everything at once because of cost, availability, and many other factors. Do a home “audit” and identify all the plastics in your home. The kitchen and bathroom are great places to start. Pick one or two things to focus on and when you have got those figured out, you can pick something new to do. Becoming plastic free is a marathon not a sprint!

Reducing single use plastics in your life:

Bottles – look for products in aluminum or glass. Better yet, bring your own metal bottle to refill with water.
Tea and Coffee – many tea bags are made of plastics. Look for brands that use natural materials. Rather than using disposable coffee pods, use a reusable with your own ground coffee.
Plastic wrap – replace with beeswax wrap, silicon covers, aluminum or reusable containers.
Straws – use paper, silicon or metal or skip them altogether.
Baggies – use reusable ones made from silicon
Produce and shopping bags – we likely have lots of these laying around. Figure out a system that works for you to remember them on your way to the store. If necessary, ask for paper bags at the store. The thicker plastic ones are no more environmentally friendly than their thinner cousins.

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