3 Disturbing Facts About the Plastic Pollution Crisis

by Gaute H. March 04, 2020 2 min read

Plastic bottle on the beach by the ocean

We are facing an ocean plastic crisis!

Keep on reading for 3 unbelievable facts about the massive ocean plastic crisis we are facing.

Plastic floating in the ocean illustration

Fact #1 - By 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean

This is an alarming reality. What’s even more alarming - it’s only 30 years from now! Imagine you're on a beach vacation, snorkeling. You're excited, and dive beneath the surface. But all you see is plastic. I don't know about you, but I'd prefer to see extraordinary fish, and not a scruffy plastic bag from the grocery store.

Oceanness wave logo grey

Fact #2 - Plastic pollution kills more than 1 million sea birds and more than 100,000 sea mammals each year

Plastic pollution kills animals in our wildlife every day. Not only is this devastating for our dear animals, but it also affects humanity. 3.5 billion humans depends on the ocean for food. That's almost half of the world's population.

Oceanness wave logo grey

Fact #3 - All plastic ever created still exists

Plastic bottles take 700 years to decompose. That’s basically never. The first commercial plastic bottle was introduced in 1947, which means it will still be around in year 2647! Thus, it’s more important than ever to find alternative uses for our plastic waste. We are proud to say that the Oceanness t-shirt is made from 100% recycled post-consumer plastic bottles. This way, it is part of the solution for a sustainable future.

Oceanness wave logo grey

Manhattan's skyscrapers look miniature next to our plastic consumption

I will leave you with an interesting article I read the other day on Reuters. They have compared the plastic bottles sold worldwide to famous monuments and places. If you take all the plastic bottles sold in the past 10 years, and accumulate them in a pile next to New York’s Manhattan skyscrapers, it would look something like in the picture below. The massive skyscrapers look miniature in comparison to our plastic waste! It is time we start acting on the plastic crisis.

Manhattan next to a pile of plastic bottles

Source: Reuters, retrieved on March 9, 2020 from graphics.reuters.com

Gaute H.
Gaute H.

Founder of Oceanness. Enjoys the ocean, hanging out with friends, and exploring the world. Favorite ocean animal: Dolphins.



Also in The Oceanness Blog | Ocean Conservation & Sustainable Fashion

Stop plastic pollution sign
7 Tips for Plastic Free July

by Gaute H. June 01, 2023 2 min read

July 1st marks the start of the global movement, Plastic Free July. Here are 7 tips for how to become plastic free and reduce single-use plastic.
Clownfish in the ocean
7 Facts About Diversity, Pride & Queerness in the Ocean

by Gaute H. May 01, 2023 2 min read

To celebrate diversity and queerness, we are sharing 7 fabulous facts about the rainbow diversity found in our oceans.
Ocean landscape
7 Endangered Ocean Species and Marine Animals

by Gaute H. April 02, 2023 4 min read

30% of all species are endangered and vulnerable, including blue whales, Hawaiian monk seals, whale sharks, vaquitas, hawksbill turtles, Galápagos penguins and sea otters.