Plastic Pollution: The Scale of the Problem and Ways to Combat It

What is plastic pollution?

Plastic pollution ranges from fragments larger than 20 cm to microplastics smaller than 5 mm and nanoparticles invisible to the naked eye. Most of it comes from land — industrial leaks, worn tires, clothing or poor waste management. Plastic does not biodegrade in ocean conditions but breaks into smaller pieces that disperse in the water and on beaches.

How does plastic pollution affect marine life and people?

Macroplastics such as fishing nets or single-use bags cause animals to become entangled and injured. Microplastics enter their digestive systems, carrying toxic additives and environmental contaminants along the food chain. Drifting debris can spread invasive species and bacteria, while polluted beaches deter tourists and cause losses for local economies.

The problem: scale of pollution

• over 120 million tons of plastic already reside in seas and oceans;
• plastic takes hundreds of thousands of years to break down;
• each year 7–13 million tons of plastic enter the waters;
• less than 0.3 million tons float on the open ocean; the rest ends up on coasts and the seabed.

Impact on the environment and the economy

• the cost of marine plastic pollution ranges from 2,500 to 28,000 EUR per ton;
• marine biodiversity faces serious risks;
• between 5,000 and 15,000 sea turtles become entangled in plastic each year in northern Australia alone;
• the presence of plastic increases the likelihood of coral disease by 4–89%.

Solutions: how to reduce plastic pollution

• since July 2021 the EU has banned selected single-use plastics;
• the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive supports actions for clean waters;
• designing products for reduction, reuse and recycling;
• cleanup groups remove about 8,000 tons of plastic waste from European coasts each year.

The Copernicus Marine Service provides ocean drift models that help understand how plastic moves around the world and where remedial actions should be directed.