Plastic Pollution - Motion Graphics

Summary

The video highlights the staggering environmental impact of plastic production and waste. It reveals that 8% of global oil consumption is dedicated to plastic production, which has already surpassed the total plastic produced in the last century in just 10 years. Half of all plastic is used once before being discarded, and millions of tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean annually, endangering marine life. Microplastics are now pervasive, contaminating fish stocks and the broader ecosystem, ultimately affecting all living beings.

Takeaways

• 😀 Creating plastic consumes 8% of the world's oil, equivalent to Africa's total oil consumption.
• 🌍 In just 10 years, more plastic has been produced than in the entire previous century.
• 🚮 Half of all plastic is used only once before being discarded.
• 🛍️ Consumers use 500 billion single-use bags annually, enough to circle the Earth 4,200 times.
• 🌊 Every year, 6.4 million tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean.
• 🐢 There are over 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic currently in the ocean.
• 🐠 Over 100,000 marine animals die annually from entanglement with dumped fishing gear.
• ⚖️ Microplastics are now present in every part of the world's oceans.
• 🐟 Two-thirds of fish stocks are contaminated with plastic pollutants.
• 🔬 Plastic pollution finds its way into humans through the food chain.

Q & A

How much oil is consumed globally for plastic production?

Plastic production requires 8% of all global oil consumption, which is comparable to the total oil consumption of the entire continent of Africa.

How much plastic has been produced in the last decade?

In just the last 10 years, more plastic has been produced than in the entire previous century.

What percentage of plastic is used only once?

Half of all plastic produced is used only once before being discarded.

How many single-use plastic bags do consumers use annually?

Annually, consumers use approximately 500 billion single-use plastic bags.

If all single-use plastic bags were linked together, how far could they stretch?

If all 500 billion single-use plastic bags were linked together, they could circle the Earth 4,200 times.

How much plastic is dumped into the ocean every year?

Each year, 6.4 million tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean.

How many pieces of plastic are currently in the ocean?

There are over 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic currently floating in the ocean.

What is the impact of plastic pollution on marine animals?

Plastic pollution, especially discarded fishing gear, causes the death of over 100,000 marine animals annually due to entanglement.

Where are microplastics found in the ocean?

Microplastics are now present in every part of the world's oceans.

How has plastic pollution affected fish stocks?

Plastic pollutants have led to over two-thirds of fish stocks containing plastic, impacting marine ecosystems and food chains.