Scientists have estimated that there are nearly 200 trillion plastic pieces floating in the world's oceans, and this could triple if no a move is made. Therefore, in 2022, countries around the world agreed to develop a legally binding global treaty to cut the waste and the harmful chemicals some plastics contain - but after two years no agreement has been reached. And December,2025,coutries meet again at a UN conference in Geneva to talk the potential agreement on curbing the plastic excess.
How are plastics impacting our planet?
Although plastic can be reused, the cost and availability of recycling infrastructure means very little. About 60% of all plastics are disposable and just 10% are estimated to be recycled,according to analysis in Nature.
Plastic has been shown to accumulate in the marine environment where it poses particular problems for wildlife who can ingest it. Marine living lives can confuse it as food, which then harms their internal organs and also can lead to fatalities, because of digestion difficulties, and they could also become entangled in discarded fishing gear or plastic packaging that has entered the ocean from sewage systems.
When it enters the environment, most plastic breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces - known as microplastics. They have been spotted across all geographical ranges, from the deep sea to mountain tops, and across all living systems ever tested.
What can we do in our dailylife to reduce plastic waste?
The simplest and easist action that we can take is taking a reusable container or reusable cup if you are getting a takeaway, and when food shopping consider taking a reusable sealed bag to weigh your fruit and vegetables. If everyone follow this, people accumalated around the gole will make a great difference to cut single-used plastics.
