Plastic pollution

**Causes of Plastic Pollution**:
– Estimates suggest one billion tons of plastic waste discarded since the 1950s.
– Cumulative human production estimated at 8.3 billion tons of plastic, with only 9% recycled.
– In 2018, over 343 million tonnes of plastic waste generated, 90% post-consumer waste.
– Post-consumer plastic waste mainly consists of plastic packaging like bottles, films, and foams.
– Studies estimate between 60 and 99 million tonnes of mismanaged plastic waste produced in 2015.

**Types and Impact of Plastic Debris**:
– Three main forms of plastic contributing to pollution: micro-, macro-, and mega-plastics.
– Plastic waste harms marine life through entanglement, ingestion, and chemical exposure.
– Bodies of 90% of seabirds contain plastic debris.
– Plastic debris can be found off the coast of islands due to currents carrying the waste.
– Beach cleanups around the world aim to reduce plastic pollution on coastlines.

**Global Efforts and Regulations**:
– Basel Convention amendment regulates the export/import of plastic waste to prevent shipping to developing countries.
– 175 countries pledged in 2022 to create a legally binding agreement by 2024 to end plastic pollution.
– Efforts to reduce free-range plastic pollution include promoting recycling and cleanup campaigns.
– Increased plastic waste production during the COVID-19 pandemic due to demand for protective equipment.
– UN imposed a ban on waste plastic trade unless certain criteria are met.

**Future Predictions and Challenges**:
– Without interventions, 23-37 million tons of plastic waste could enter oceans annually by 2040.
– Predictions indicate between 155-265 million tons of plastic waste discharged into the environment by 2060.
– Business as usual scenario may lead to a rise in plastic waste production and insufficient waste management improvements.
– Trade in plastic waste identified as a significant cause of marine litter.
– UN imposed a ban on waste plastic trade unless certain criteria are met.

**Microdebris and Macrodebris**:
– Microdebris: Plastic pieces between 2mm and 5mm in size, commonly known as nurdles, consumed by filter-feeding organisms.
– Macrodebris: Includes items larger than 20mm like plastic bags, with significant impact on marine life.
– Plastic pellets breaking down into smaller pieces found on beaches worldwide.
– Fishing nets trap marine organisms and plastic debris, growing in weight up to 6 tonnes.
– Plastic production: 9.2 billion tonnes of plastic produced between 1950 and 2017, with high waste generation rates.