How much plastic water bottles are in the ocean

France’s Vittel mineral water company introduced the first plastic bottles — for any product — and they hit the market in the late 1960s, only fifty years ago. In the beginning, the plastic bottle was promoted as a means for making products more readily available. The idea proved correct, and other companies followed suit. Business was good, but as distribution increased so did a mountain of bottles with which we’ve been left to sort out.

No one, I like to think, really saw what those bottles were going to do to the planet. By the 1970s, the world was consuming some 250 million gallons of bottled water a year. Those statistics are scary enough, but today’s numbers are a quantifiable giant next to them. The United States alone, the world’s largest consumer of bottled water, is annually adding some 10 billion gallons of bottled water — with numbers trending upwards — to this now very much recognized, ecological disaster.

In total, eight million tons of plastic trash ends up in our world’s oceans every year. Once in the ocean, it can take thousands of years for each individual piece of plastic waste to break down, and when it does, it simply pulls apart into millions of very small fragments of plastic – it never “disappears.” It’s estimated that 80 percent of marine debris comes from land-based sources and 90 percent of that is comprised of plastics, meaning the water bottles we use on land … make up a significant portion of the plastic that ends up in the ocean.

And when it does end up in the ocean, it has an enormous impact on the marine animals who live there. Today, around 700 marine species are in danger of extinction due to plastic pollution either by way of ingestion, entanglement or toxin exposure – and this number is only set to increase as the plastic bottle industry continues to grow.

Given the startling statistics surrounding plastic trash in the ocean, it can be difficult to imagine how we let this become such a monumental problem – but this answer can be found in the fact that once in the ocean, plastic becomes “hidden.” The majority sinks to the sea floor or gets swept up in gyres, it doesn’t just simply float on the top, creating the perfect visual to wake us all up out of out trash apathy. No, our plastic trash gets masked in the vastness of the water’s expanse … but that hardly means that just because we can’t see it all, it doesn’t exist. Nor that it doesn’t have  an impact.

So, next time you go to the store with the intention of buying a plastic water bottle, remember where that bottle will end up. We might think we’re just picking up a quick drink, but in reality, we’re doing is purchasing a piece of plastic trash that will end up immortalized in the ocean.

Think of this image the next time you reach for a plastic water bottle – or any other type of disposable plastic for that matter. We might only use it for a few minutes, but it will stay in the oceans for a lifetimes.

As many of us know by now, single-use plastic has taken over our world in terms of packaging. With the millions of tons of plastic waste left behind, there is nowhere for this trash to go but landfills. 

But what about the billions of pounds of plastic that are dumped into the ocean every year? 

What happens to it? How long does it take this plastic to decompose? And what are the long-term effects? Read on to learn more. 

How Does Plastic End Up in the Ocean?

Plastic waste and other forms of litter end up in the ocean in multiple ways. As mentioned above, landfills are overwhelmed with trash which can lead to its improper disposal.

Additionally, illegal dumping plays a significant role in the pollution of the ocean. When trash is disposed of in the wrong place, it can be much easier for it to end up in water sources nearby. 

Lastly, because most plastics used by humans are lightweight, they can be easily transported from one place to another. 

In other words, even the wind and stormwater runoff can contribute to the amount of plastic in the ocean.

As a result of these actions, about 8 billion tons of plastic end up in marine environments annually.

So, what actually happens to the plastic? Well, to answer this, let’s start with another question: How long does it take for plastic to decompose in the ocean? 

Due to the way plastic is manufactured, it can take an extremely long time for it to break down. Even then, it is never truly decomposed. 

More specifically, it can take anywhere from 50 to 600 years for a single piece to break down. 

This leaves items such as plastic bags, water bottles, bottle caps, plastic straws, food wrappers, and more to float in the water.

As you can imagine, because it takes so long for each piece to break down, the trash continues to pile up annually. The overcrowding of debris in the ocean has also led to an even longer “decomposition” period.

In reality, when a piece of plastic breaks down, it continues to break into smaller pieces gradually and eventually becomes what is known as microplastic. 

As plastic waste continues to remain in the ocean for years on end, it has many negative effects on the environment, animals, humans, and even the economy. 

How Plastic Affects Marine Life and the Environment

Arguably the most well-known issue associated with marine plastic is its threat to marine life. To many sea creatures, plastic can look like their food. 

When these animals ingest plastic, they are left without real nutrients and instead with toxic chemicals and an empty stomach. This often leads to their death. 

Most commonly known for the ingestion of plastic are turtles and birds. 

In addition to the consumption of plastics, many marine animals can be trapped or strangled by plastic waste. Six-ring plastic loops used for drinks are notorious for this. 

If they are not suffocated by the trash, getting tangled in these pieces of plastic can lead to cuts and injuries that make the animals more susceptible to infections and attacks. 

There are also long-term effects of plastic in the ocean on top of the immediate impacts. Specifically, the amount of plastic produced and used contributes to climate change. 

This is because when heat is applied to this type of plastic, it releases greenhouse gases. In other words, when plastic remains in the ocean, the heat from the sun causes it to contribute to the rise in global temperatures. 

How Plastic Affects Humans

Believe it or not, plastic in the ocean also affects human lives. 

Specifically, as our oceans remain polluted, many of the things we consume daily such as water, salt, seafood, and even beer can be contaminated with plastic remains. 

As plastics are transferred through food chains in a marine environment, they eventually end up in our bodies.

Further, some of the chemicals used in plastics have been identified as carcinogens. In other words, any part of this debris is not something you want to be putting into your body.

How Plastic Affects the Economy

Though it may not be the first thing you think of when the topic of marine plastic comes to mind, this trash also has an impact on the economy. 

Due to the increased amount of plastic in the ocean, many tourism spots are littered with debris. As you can imagine, this makes it much less likely for people to visit.

Consequently, many tourism spots have noticed decreased revenue.

How Can We Get Rid of Plastic in the Ocean?

So, you may be left with a few questions. What can we do to reduce the amount of plastic found in our oceans? What are some solutions?

Though many companies and organizations are putting measures in place to reduce ocean pollution, there are a few changes we can make in our everyday lives to make a difference. 

First and foremost, the most powerful change you can make is to reduce your plastic use. Though we may not realize it, there is an incredibly unnecessary amount of single-use plastic present in our lifestyles. 

Luckily, there are many simple alternatives to plastic products. For example, reusable grocery bags, produce bags, sandwich bags, straws, and sustainable toothbrushes are a few easy and accessible swaps. 

Additionally, when you cannot avoid using plastics, make sure to recycle them if possible.

Lastly, you can volunteer to pick up litter in your neighborhood. The less litter there is on the ground, the less likely it is to end up in water. 

Takeaways

As you can see, plastic in the ocean poses an imminent threat that we must address. Though it may be convenient, single-use plastic has detrimental effects on our world and our lives as we know them. 

In order to see a positive change, it is vital that we all make an effort to reduce our plastic use and continue to educate others around us!

How many plastic bottles are put in the ocean each year?

How much plastic is in the ocean as of 2022?

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