How to act against the scourge of plastic pollution?
December 22, 2022
4 mins
Imagine 3.4 million square kilometers, or 6x the surface area of France, ⅓ of Europe, all covered in plastic. This is what is happening right now in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It is called the 7th continent . 🗺️
This immense gyre of plastic waste is at the heart of environmental concerns. Discovered in 1997 by Charles J. Moore, this plastic continent has only grown larger since then. As plastic use increases, the already dramatic consequences only worsen. 🫣 Plastic manufacturing has doubled since 2000 and is expected to follow this exponential trend in the coming years, so we dare not imagine the extent of the damage to come. It's a real scourge: it is estimated that 10% of the plastics produced have already ended their life in the oceans, and the phenomenon is far from over. 🌍 Conversely, only 9% of plastic waste has been recycled. The entire plastics industry therefore needs to be reviewed, from its manufacture to its end of life.
All experts are warning of its dramatic impact on marine biodiversity and coastal populations. 😨 The cause is the 14 million tons of microplastic littering the oceans. The danger of these particles, smaller than 5mm, lies in their ingestion by marine animals. 🐟 On the one hand, they are very harmful to their bodies. On the other hand, they enter the food chain and end up in our water and on our plates. We hope you like plastic on the menu because it is estimated that a human being consumes 5 grams per week, the equivalent of a credit card! 💳
What actions are being taken to combat plastic pollution?
To save the oceans, or at least what can still be saved, states have recently decided to act. At the 5th United Nations Environment Assembly, held last March in Kenya, a resolution on plastic pollution and marine litter was adopted, notably with the support of France. The international community welcomed this ambitious resolution, which proves that states are capable of reaching a consensus to protect the planet together.
It should be noted, however, that this resolution has no binding legal force; it is merely a political and symbolic declaration. Indeed, a political commitment cannot be invoked before the courts, meaning that if it is not respected, there are no legal sanctions. Conversely, a binding legal act obliges states to comply with the established standards, failing which they are exposed to heavy sanctions.
This adoption is therefore a very encouraging first step, but it must now be followed by a strong legal act to effectively combat marine pollution. An intergovernmental committee has been created with a view to adopting a binding agreement. We will obviously keep you informed of its progress 😉
At the same time, we can count on NGOs that are carrying out numerous actions to limit the damage caused by plastic pollution. Boyan Slat, founder of the Ocean Clean Up project, has set himself the goal of cleaning half of this continent of waste in 5 years thanks to a floating barrier capable of retaining plastic particles.
For its part, The Sea Cleaners association is currently developing the Manta, “the first boat capable of collecting, processing, and recycling marine plastic waste in large quantities.” The Tara Foundation conducts expeditions with the aim of “exploring and raising awareness in order to protect.” We particularly wanted to present these two initiatives to you. Firstly, because they are French, and we can be proud of them! But above all, because they advocate long-term actions through innovation, research, and awareness. We are convinced that this is the key to change: stop profiting in the short term and instead think long-term.
If you want to follow the progress of these projects, we will share all the news on our social networks.
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