A Salty Situation

Hello, hello, Seasider. Here we are in 2024, recycling just 9% of plastic waste and producing more single-use plastic than ever.

Ocean pollution is an often-used term, but how deep is the problem really? And how can it affect you in your daily life?

ICYMI: 57 Million tonnes of waste¹, from plastic debris to harmful chemicals, find their way into the world's seas yearly. This contamination seriously threatens human health, marine ecosystems, and wildlife.

_{(1 Source: Science Daily, 2024)}

Something has got to change — our health and the environment depend on it.

But let’s get into it, yeah? In this issue, you’ll get:

• Why plastics in our ocean affect your health

• How does plastic even enter the ocean

• What’s the impact on marine life

— Camila Hernandez

PLASTIC & HUMAN HEALTH
Researchers believe we, humans, Ingest roughly (wait for it….) 53,864 plastic particles yearly from seafood — if you need a visual, that’s ~ 17 credit cards 🤌

• Microplastics and nanoplastics: These tiny terrors are like the ninjas of the sea, sneaking into your body and causing all sorts of trouble

• Toxic chemicals: Think of these as plastic's secret sauce, but instead of making it taste good, they make you feel pretty bad

• Mercury: This is the plastic's "I'm not touching that" problem. It's like the toxic aunt you don't want to invite to the family reunion

• Disease spread: Microplastics are basically the Uber Eats of the pathogen world, delivering germs right to your doorstep

• Vulnerable communities: Low-income, minority communities, especially children, are like plastic's favorite punching bag, getting hit with the hardest blows of pollution

And if you’re thinking, so what’s the solution?

THE SOLUTION

Change starts at home. You can start by reducing single-use plastics at home whenever possible. Start small, one habit at a time. A few ideas:

• Educate yourself: Learn more about the impact of plastic pollution on the environment and human health. Awareness & knowledge is key - like reading these posts 😎

• Compost scraps: It's like giving your food a second chance at life

• Support plastic-free brands: Choose products from companies committed to reducing plastic waste. Vote with your wallet!

• Bag it up... but differently: Ditch those single-use plastic bags and bring your reusable tote

• Don't toss it; fix it: Repair broken items instead of throwing them away, and if you have to toss one, do a little research and dispose of it properly. Proper disposal goes a long way!

You can also

• Support a local cleanup effort. Surfrider is a nifty org to join!

• Advocate for stronger local (and global) policies— check in with your local government and organizations to take action

PLASTIC IN THE OCEAN
We have a waste management issue. That’s why change starts at home to avoid the dump problem.

STAT OF THE WEEK

80% of all plastic waste in our oceans comes from land, while the rest comes from marine practices.

And many communities worldwide don’t have access to waste management and dump their plastic waste into local rivers, where it washes into the sea. Overflowing landfill sites similarly fail to contain waste².

_{(2 Source: Our World in Data)}

MARINE LIFE IMPACT
Scientists believe that over 56% of all marine life has ingested plastic (If you’ve read this far, read that sentence one more time) 😫

Sea turtles, seabirds, fish, and other marine animals often mistake plastic debris for food! Leading to ingestion and potential harm or death³.

Most scientists agree that more plastic will be in the ocean (by weight) than fish by 2050 — unless we take collective action now.

_{(3 Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)}

GOOD NEWS
It’s not all doom and gloom.

There are public, private, and voluntary initiatives working toward making positive eco waves.

Public

• Eight countries have ratified the High Seas Treaty to turn 30% of our oceans into protected areas by 2030

• The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the Save Our Seas Initiative (June 2022), partnering with local and national governments, businesses, civil society, and other organizations to improve solid waste management and help countries reduce, reuse, and recycle plastic—preventing it from entering the ocean in the first place

Private

• Eat the Change (s/o to fellow Marylanders!) The company is on a mission to contribute to better environmental and health outcomes with chef-crafted, nutrient-dense foods and beverages that are delicious, responsibly sourced, and kind to the planet

• Coral Vita, a for-profit company, aims to grow corals up to 50 times faster than in nature, improve their resilience to climate change, and provide large-scale restoration services through land-based farms. Founded by environmental entrepreneurs driven to solve one of our planet's greatest challenges: preserving the reefs we love

Nonprofit

• Seaworthy Collective supports current, aspiring, and underrepresented entrepreneurs driving innovation for ocean and climate impact. Their motto: Empowering Sea Change Makers

• Super is a nonprofit using the power of business to deplastify the world. Their mission is the global and systemic elimination of single-use plastics

Keep Reading

THE ART OF NOTICING
Check out this coastal photo of the day.

Tag your photos on Instagram or Threads @cozycoastalofficial for a spotlight.