Recent reports have repeatedly drawn the attention of scientists and environmental groups to the pollution of the oceans by plastic waste. These reports indicate that plastic waste not only mars the beaches and washes into the ocean, but also harms marine animals, destroys sensitive ecosystems, and pollutes fish that humans depend on for survival. Experts emphasize that the marine problems caused by plastic waste cannot be solved by end-of-pipe treatment in the ocean; rather, improvements must be made at the source of the waste on land. A research report released on June 23 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the NGO Global Ocean Commission, and the Plastics Disclosure Project (PDP) highlights the environmental impact of plastic debris on marine life. According to the report, plastic waste in the ocean causes $13 billion in losses annually, and this figure continues to rise. Global plastic production is projected to reach 33 billion tons by 2050, and plastic accounts for up to 80% of marine and coastal litter. Doug Woodring, founder of the Ocean Recovery Alliance, an NGO that spearheaded the plastic exposure project, pointed out that \"retrieving and cleaning up marine debris is expensive and inefficient, and beach cleanups only address the symptoms, not the root cause.\" Marine debris is not just a marine problem; fundamentally, it's a problem for businesses and cities. To fundamentally solve the problem, we must start with manufacturers and consumers. Governments can legislate on the uses of plastics or build recycling plants to help address the issue of plastic waste entering the ocean. Consumers can also pay more attention to whether products have excess plastic packaging when purchasing goods, and after using the products, they should separate recyclable plastics from other waste. As for manufacturers of plastic-related products, there is great potential to improve the problem of marine plastic waste. Through product recycling mechanisms or consumer recycling reward mechanisms, not only can we increase consumers' chances of repurchasing, but we can also enhance brand image. Recycling technology for plastics is now very common, and in many countries around the world, everything from car parts to food packaging can be made using recycled plastics. When environmental costs are factored in, plastic is actually a very valuable material and should not be treated as waste, but rather as an important reusable resource. Source: CNN (June 24, 2014) (Compiled by PIDC)<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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