Society is facing a growing crisis that threatens the very existence of marine life and the health of our planet’s oceans. Ocean plastic pollution is not only rapidly increasing in scale and complexity, but a recent study has shown that plastic waste in the ocean doubles every six years.

This alarming trend is a result of multiple factors, including the widespread use of single-use plastics, subpar waste management techniques, and insufficient plastic production and disposal management regulations.

The negative effects of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems are catastrophic, ranging from the introduction of toxic chemicals into the food chain to entanglement and consumption by marine life.

Moreover, the primary culprits of plastic pollution in the ocean are single-use plastics, such as plastic bags, straws, and packaging, which can take hundreds of years to degrade and frequently end up in the ocean due to improper disposal or poor waste management.

Even larger plastic items, such as fishing nets, contribute to this growing problem. These so-called “ghost nets” can continue to trap and kill marine life for years or even decades. The growth of plastic waste in the ocean is a ticking time bomb that requires concerted global action from governments, businesses, and citizens alike.

Innovative solutions such as biodegradable plastics and new recycling technologies are being developed to address this crisis, but they require significant investment and support to be scaled up. Many countries, governments, institutions, non-governmental organizations, and individuals have come forward to address this rising ocean plastic waste level.

Unfortunately, more people are producing plastic waste than people fighting against it; therefore, the levels are ever-rising and have reached a point where it’s more than ever now.

Hence, Real Research, an online survey app, has launched a survey on plastic pollution in the ocean reaching unprecedented levels to explore people’s perspectives and gauge the possibilities of curbing plastic waste for a healthier future.

Key Highlights

  • The majority (70.65%) are well aware that ocean plastic pollution levels are rising.
  • 44.69% are very concerned about the impact of plastic pollution on marine life and the environment.
  • Sufficient steps are being taken to address the issue of plastic pollution in the ocean, believe 28.4%.

Wake Up Call

After analyzing the data collected from the survey, it was found that a significant 70.65% of the respondents claimed to be well-informed about the increasing levels of plastic pollution in the ocean. This statistic highlights the fact that a vast majority of people recognize the severity of the crisis.

However, it is noteworthy that 25.56% of respondents admitted to having limited awareness of the issue, while 3.79% claimed to be completely unaware of the crisis.

Fig 1 Awareness of ocean plastic pollution levels rising.
Fig 1: Awareness of ocean plastic pollution levels rising.

The primary cause of the increasing levels of plastic pollution in the ocean is believed to be the excessive use and poor disposal of single-use plastics, with 20.85% of respondents agreeing. 20.07% claimed that issues related to the production and recycling of plastic could be the cause.

16.62% believed that inadequate waste management infrastructure causes plastic waste to end up in waterways. Lack of knowledge and awareness about the impact of plastic waste on the environment was cited as the reason by 15.89% of respondents.

12.79% stated that the limited availability of sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics is the cause. The remaining 13.78% believed that other causes might impact the rising levels of plastic in oceans. It can be inferred that most people attribute the crisis to single-use plastics.

Ocean Pollution Crisis

Based on the data, it was found that 44.69% of the respondents expressed their extreme concern regarding the detrimental effects of plastic pollution on marine life and the environment. In addition, 24.87% of the participants admitted to being moderately concerned about the same issue.

Meanwhile, 23.7% of the sample claimed to have a slight concern, and only 4.85% indicated that they were not very concerned. It is evident that the majority of the respondents are worried about the severity of the plastic pollution crisis.

Fig 2 Concerns over the impact of ocean plastic pollution on marine life and the environment
Fig 2: Concerns over the impact of ocean plastic pollution on marine life and the environment

When asked about the most effective measures to reduce plastic waste, the respondents suggested various options. Among them, 12.87% believed that avoiding single-use plastic cutlery and plates could help mitigate the crisis, while 11.64% proposed the usage of reusable water bottles made from glass, metal, or durable plastic as a viable solution.

Additionally, 10.82% of respondents suggested bringing reusable bags when shopping instead of using plastic bags, and 11.11% recommended using eco-friendly cutlery such as paper or bamboo straws. Another option that garnered support was using cloth towels and napkins instead of paper towels and napkins, which 7.99% of respondents mentioned.

Some respondents also recommended avoiding buying products with excessive packaging (9.31%), buying in bulk to reduce the need for small plastic packaging (7.2%), and recycling as much plastic as possible (11.34%). A notable percentage of respondents (17.72%) recommended other steps to address the issue of plastic waste.

Rising Tide of Plastic Pollution

Interestingly, 28.4% of the respondents believe that sufficient steps have been taken to address the issue of plastic pollution in the ocean, and 27.64% strongly agreed with the statement. In addition, 24.04% disagreed and 12.34% strongly disagreed. The remaining 7.58% remained undecided.

Fig 3 Sufficient steps being taken to address the issue of plastic pollution in the ocean.
Fig 3: Sufficient steps being taken to address the issue of plastic pollution in the ocean.

When asked about how to address the issue of plastic pollution in the ocean on a global scale, the respondents were grouped into eight segments. 16.78% supported the innovation of alternative materials and technologies, such as biodegradable plastics, to address the problem. 15.21% suggested that governments can implement plastic-free policies, such as plastic bag bans, taxes, and levies on plastic packaging. 13.39% advocated promoting a circular economy where plastic is reused, recycled, and repurposed.

Other options received relatively lesser responses: implementing better waste management systems, such as reduced waste and proper waste disposal (12.93%), implementing extended producer responsibility policies, where manufacturers are responsible for the full lifecycle of their products (12.92%), reducing the production of single-use plastic items (10.60%), education and awareness campaigns (9.96%), and 8.21% voted for other options.

Furthermore, the finding suggests that 17.53% of respondents in a particular country consider the bans on single-use plastics (e.g., plastic bags and plastic straws) to be the most effective policy in addressing ocean plastic pollution. Plastic bottle deposit schemes offering a refund for returning plastic bottles received a 15.57% response, and 13.72% of the respondents opted for waste segregation schemes and techniques.

These findings indicate that there is no one solution to address plastic pollution in the ocean, with different segments of respondents proposing various solutions. More popular options include the innovation of alternative materials, plastic-free policies, and the promotion of a circular economy. Addressing plastic pollution requires a combination of policies, technologies, and individual actions.

Methodology

 
Survey TitleSurvey on Plastic Pollution in the Ocean Reaching Unprecedented Levels
DurationMar 22, 2023 to Mar 29, 2023
Number of Participants10,000
DemographicsMales and females, aged 21 to 99
Participating Countries Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, China (Hong Kong) China (Macao), China (Taiwan), Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Greanada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Maldives, Maluritania, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar [Burma], Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zimbabwe.