Going Green

The plastic plague: Can our oceans be saved from environmental ruin?

By Kieron Monks, for CNN
6 minute read
Updated 8:31 AM EDT, Fri September 2, 2016
Some researchers estimate there will be <a href="https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/publications/the-new-plastics-economy-rethinking-the-future-of-plastics" target="_blank" target="_blank">more plastic than fish</a> in our oceans by the year 2050.
Plastic pollution in our oceans —
Some researchers estimate there will be more plastic than fish in our oceans by the year 2050.
plastic oceans
The South Pacific island of Tuvalu should be a model of sustainability. But plastic pollution is having a devastating effect on the formerly pristine environment, and it may be responsible for the declining health of many islanders.
Clear and present danger —
The South Pacific island of Tuvalu should be a model of sustainability. But plastic pollution is having a devastating effect on the formerly pristine environment, and it may be responsible for the declining health of many islanders.
Plastic Oceans
British producer Jo Ruxton and her team spent four years documenting the effects of plastic pollution for the documentary "A Plastic Ocean." She hopes the film will challenge people and societies to stop thinking of the material as disposable.
A plastic ocean —
British producer Jo Ruxton and her team spent four years documenting the effects of plastic pollution for the documentary "A Plastic Ocean." She hopes the film will challenge people and societies to stop thinking of the material as disposable.
plastic oceans
The crew visited dozens of sites from the Arctic to the Mediterranean and Hawaii, without ever finding a plastic-free location. The average square kilometer of ocean contains around 20,000 microplastic pieces.
No safe haven —
The crew visited dozens of sites from the Arctic to the Mediterranean and Hawaii, without ever finding a plastic-free location. The average square kilometer of ocean contains around 20,000 microplastic pieces.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
The film documents the effects of plastic on marine life. More than one million seabirds are <a href="http://oceancrusaders.org/plastic-crusades/plastic-statistics/" target="_blank" target="_blank">estimated to be killed every year through entanglement and ingestion</a>, often mistaking plastic for food.
Junk food —
The film documents the effects of plastic on marine life. More than one million seabirds are estimated to be killed every year through entanglement and ingestion, often mistaking plastic for food.
NOAA
Endangered species such as sea turtles could be driven to extinction by the plastic plague.
End of the line —
Endangered species such as sea turtles could be driven to extinction by the plastic plague.
NOAA
Plastic pollution has rapidly accelerated, with eight million tons entering the marine environment each year, <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2015/02/here-s-how-much-plastic-enters-ocean-each-year" target="_blank" target="_blank">according to scientists.</a> This figure is set to rise as production of the material is set to double over the next 20 years.
Drowning in plastic —
Plastic pollution has rapidly accelerated, with eight million tons entering the marine environment each year, according to scientists. This figure is set to rise as production of the material is set to double over the next 20 years.
NOEL CELIS/AFP/AFP/Getty Images