A SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVE ON GLOBAL SOLUTIONS TO OCEAN … · A SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVE ON GLOBAL...
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A SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVE ON GLOBAL SOLUTIONS TO OCEAN PLASTIC Dr. Sandra Whitehouse, Senior Policy Advisor, Ocean Conservancy
Transcript of A SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVE ON GLOBAL SOLUTIONS TO OCEAN … · A SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVE ON GLOBAL...
A SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVE ON GLOBAL SOLUTIONS TO OCEAN PLASTIC Dr. Sandra Whitehouse, Senior Policy Advisor, Ocean Conservancy
VOLVO OCEAN RACE SUMMIT
2015
Ocean Plastics: Science and Solutions
Sandra Whitehouse, Ph.D.
DEFIANCE Newport, RI
Source: PlasticsEurope
300
250
200
150
100
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0
World Plastic Production
European Plastic Production
MTO
NN
E
Increase in World Plastic Production 1950-2012
1950 2012
Utility of Plastic
Agricultural Film Mulch Clean Drinking Water
Ocean Plastic Plastic Persists
Origins of Plastic Trash in the Oceans
20% Sea
80% Land
Origins of Ocean Plastic
20% SEA
80% LAND
Origins of Ocean Plastic “Leakage”
s
2015 First Global Estimate of Leakage
Plastic trash entering the ocean per year
Jambeck et al. 2015, Science
50 km Coastal Country Buffer
Per Capita Waste Generation
Population & Income
% Plastic in the Waste Stream
% Mismanaged Waste % Littered
% Waste Entering Ocean
Worldwide Plastic Leakage
into the Ocean from Land
2010 M Metric Tons
275 M Total Plastic
Waste
100 M Coastal
Plastic Waste
32 M Coastal
Mismanaged Plastic Waste
Generated by 2 billion people Within 50km of the coast
8 M Plastic Waste into oceans
~ 0.01 M Plastic Waste Floating
in Oceans
270 M Global Plastic
Production
Jambeck et al. 2015, Science
2.5 kg 0.4 kg 17.2 kg Plastic Waste into the Ocean
Individual/yr
2.6 kg/day
13%
1.6 kg/day
3% 13%
0.5 kg/day
19% 99% 99%
Jambeck et al. 2015, Science
Plastic Leakage Geographically Concentrated
Jambeck et al. 2015, Science
Plastic waste available to enter the ocean in
2010 Million MT
Plastic Leakage Geographically Concentrated
Jambeck et al. 2015, Science
Volvo Ocean Race Route
Plastic waste available to enter the ocean in
2010 Million MT
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Future Projection Increased Plastic in the Ocean
Jambeck et al. 2015, Science
130 million tons
2013
250 million tons
2025
In 10 years, there could be: 1 ton of plastic: 3 tons of finfish of fish
Beaches
Beach Cleanups International Coastal Cleanup
11 Million Volunteers
190 Million Pounds of Trash
360,000 Miles of Beach
11 Million Volunteers
30 Years 153 Countries 215 Million Items Items Collected
Beach Cleanups International Coastal Cleanup
11 Million Volunteers
190 Million Pounds of Trash
360,000 Miles of Beach
11 Million Volunteers
30 Years 153 Countries 215 Million Items Items Collected
International Coastal Cleanup
2014 Data
Floating in Ocean
Arctic Sea Ice
Seafloor
Ocean
Ocean Wildlife
Ecological Impacts Ingestion
Ecological Impacts Ingestion of small fragments
Ecological Impacts Entanglement
Percent of Taxa Impacted by Ocean Plastic
Cetaceans (Whales)
Seabirds
Pinnipeds (Seals)
Sea Turtles
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Economic Impacts
Damage To Vessels Lost Tourism Derelict Fishing
Human Health Impacts
Human Safety Impacts Exacerbating Natural Disasters
Solutions
Redesign
Reduction/Elimination
Reduction/Elimination
Reduction/Elimination
Recycle
Recycle
Upcycle
Plastic Leakage Geographically Concentrated
Jambeck et al. 2015, Science
Plastic waste available to enter the ocean in
2010 Million MT
1. CHINA
2. INDONESIA
3. PHILIPPINES
4. VIETNAM
5. SRI LANKA
Top 5 countries account for
~57% of total ocean plastics
inputs
Percent of Annual Plastics
Leakage into the Ocean
By Country
29%
10.5%
6.1% 5.9% 5.2%
~57%
Waste Cycle
Open Dump
Sanitary Landfill
Garbage Truck to Dump
Collection
Litter
Community Dump
Illegal Dumping
Washes/Blows Away
Trash into Streams, Rivers, Ocean
Open Dump
Sanitary Landfill
Garbage Truck to Dump
Collection
Litter
Community Dump
Illegal Dumping
Washes/Blows Away
Trash into Streams, Rivers, Ocean
Waste Cycle: China 29% Total Ocean Plastics
Open Dump
Sanitary Landfill
Garbage Truck to Dump
Collection
Litter
Community Dump
Illegal Dumping
Washes/Blows Away
Trash into Streams, Rivers, Ocean
Waste Cycle: Philippines 6% Total Ocean Plastics
There is no single solution.
Future of Plastics in the Oceans
(illustrative projections)
Recycle
1950 2010 2025 0
100
200
300
1980
Current Trajectory
Reduce Leakage M
TON
NE
Redesign
Trash Free Seas Alliance™
A Global, Collective Effort
TECHNICAL ADVISORS
AFFILIATES
STEERING COMMITTEE
