The ocean plastic crisis can be measured in billions of metric tons. Literally. Since 1950, over 7 billion tonnes of plastic wound up landfilled or dumped, polluting our beaches and waterways. That’s out of 9.2 billion tonnes that was produced globally in that 70-year span. And at this rate, “greenhouse gas emissions associated with plastics are expected to reach 6.5 gigatons by 2050. The pervasive plastic pollution in the world’s oceans causes a chain reaction of damage that accelerates with time. Seven billion tonnes of anything is overwhelming. So, where to start?
Advertiser Content From
This advertising content was produced in collaboration between Vox Creative and our sponsor, without involvement from Vox Media editorial staff.
How to reduce plastic waste in an overpackaged culture
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to plastic pollution
The ocean plastic crisis can be measured in billions of metric tons. Literally.
Let’s go with the triple R’s. Reduce, reuse, recycle. It’s a “choose your own adventure” of taking on plastic waste; it’s something that can be different for everyone in terms of their needs and priorities. Much like the impacts of plastic pollution, the three R’s are interconnected.
The 3-R’s “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle” are interconnected
For “Reduce,” consider a basic shopping trip: What do you need to purchase? What kind of container does it come in? Is there a version that uses less plastic or uses recycled plastic? Then there’s Reuse: what can you either use again in the same way or find a new use for? Then, of course, there’s Recycle. Did you check the plastic number and follow the guidelines for recycling where you live? Depending on how you approach “reduce,” questions about how you reuse and recycle can change, too.
The 3-R approach is happening on a bigger picture level, too. Some companies are working to reduce the amount of plastic in products, using innovation in design and materials along the way. Legislation is making inroads in improving recycling efforts and opportunities; some new laws are proposing ways that companies over certain income brackets can share in the responsibility for updating recycling infrastructure – and reducing packaging. Globally, research is shared, and policy recommendations are made public.
All that to say, when you’re standing in the store, deciding which container to buy, you’re part of a worldwide effort to impact what the next 70 years looks like.