There will be more plastic in the sea than fish by 2050, says a report, adding that new plastics will consume 20% of all oil production within 35 years, up from a predicted 5% today. Plastics production has increased twentyfold since 1964; it is expected to double in the next 20 years and quadruple by 2050. However, only 5% of plastics are recycled effectively, 40% end up in landfill and a third in fragile ecosystems. Aside from the entire ecosystem, this will impact countries that rely on the sea for their livelihood as well as those who depend on fishing or tourism.
There will be more plastic in the sea than fish by 2050, says a report, adding that new plastics will consume 20% of all oil production within 35 years, up from a predicted 5% today. Plastics production has increased twentyfold since 1964; it is expected to double in the next 20 years and quadruple by 2050. However, only 5% of plastics are recycled effectively, 40% end up in landfill and a third in fragile ecosystems. Aside from the entire ecosystem, this will impact countries that rely on the sea for their livelihood and/or protein source.