100 million marine animals die every year from eating plastic

Did you know over 100 million marine animals die every year from eating plastic that they think is food? This includes over 1 million sea birds. We create over 150 million tonnes of single use plastic bags, bottles and straws each year requiring 17 million barrels of oil. 

Last week we covered how the plastic does not breakdown over time instead, it degrades and releases polymers, oil and toxins into the ocean killing marine life and eventually all life on earth.

We have a love affair with plastic in all its forms especially plastic bags and plastic bottles. They are so useful and have become part of our everyday. An average family can be responsible for 16 plastic bags per week. We consume over 500 Billion single use plastic items each year and they account for 80% of all marine waste, leading to the death of sea creatures.

Whales, birds, seals and turtles are among the species that are mistakenly eating plastic. The animals cannot digest the plastic so it eventually lodges in there intestines and stomach and may even stay outside their mouth too! 

If you thought enduring a slow and painful death was a bit much just imagine that after the animal dies the same bag is released back into the ocean to reoffend including; leeching its toxins into marine gloop, attacking smaller organisms that live on the sea floor. 

We simply cannot sustain this level of plastic waste entering the ocean. The financial damage to our marine ecosystems costs more than EU€100 million every year, affecting many industries, livelihoods, communities and coastline. 

We have to think differently and cut out as much single use plastic as we possibly can. There are so many alternatives to consider. Some countries are banning single use plastic bags and it’s up to all of us to put pressure on our politicians to introduce policies to stop single use plastic. But in the mean-time here are some ideas:

There is no need to continue using straws made from plastic. Metal and paper straws are widely available. Or maybe we don’t really need straws anyway? We have to stop using single use plastic bags. There are so many other bags and boxes probably all around our homes just waiting to be used. Most supermarkets will let you use their cardboard boxes that they have to pay to discard daily.

Without doubt one of the easiest ways to take part is to stop buying single use plastic drinks bottles. The multiple environmental benefits are off the scale. Using your own reusable bottle feels good too. 

As much as you can, consider buying less packaging on your products, some grocery stores are allowing customers to bring their own glass containers. Eat less chewing gum. It’s made with plastic polymers that don’t break down at later date. Bring your own coffee cup to the café, most cafes even give out discounts for this. And if you're able, buy a compostable coffee cup made from recycled coffee grounds. 

Let us know how you feel about this issue. GROWN is determined to protect our oceans and environment – we love your feedback.