Plastic Pollution and Its Impact

Overview of Plastic Pollution

• 8 million metric tons of plastic enter the sea from land every year.
• Equivalent to 5 plastic bags filled with trash for every foot of coastline in the world.
• Plastic trash is dispersed across oceans, concentrating in large areas due to global currents.
• The plastic breaks down into smaller pieces, ingested by marine species, and sinks to the ocean floor.

Challenges with Plastic Production

• Plastic can be produced and sold anywhere in the world without barriers.
• Current system is linear: take, make, dispose.
• Need for a new system that allows for recovery and reintegration of plastics into the economy.
• Potential for biobased materials that can safely enter the environment.

New Plastics Economy

• Aim to design an economy where plastic packaging never becomes waste.
• Requires all stakeholders in the chain to change their practices and approach.

Marine Pollution Beyond Plastic

• Other forms of marine pollution: industrial, agricultural, and urban waste.
• These contribute to harmful algae blooms, depleting oxygen in marine ecosystems.
• Over 400 dead zones exist globally due to sustained pollution.

Nutrient Pollution Management

• Nutrient pollution, particularly from agriculture, can be managed.
• Everyone involved in agriculture shares the responsibility to address the issue.

Importance of Soil Health

• Soil health is critical for maintaining water quality.
• Focus on improving organic matter in soil to retain nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen).
• Organic matter helps prevent nutrient leaching, benefiting both farmers and water quality.

Challenges for Farmers

• Changing farming systems is challenging and labor-intensive.
• Farmers are motivated to adapt but require knowledge of effective practices and processes.