A study published on Tuesday by the World Economic Forum revealed that the world’s oceans may have more plastic debris than fish by the year 2050.
It has been revealed that about 8 million tonnes of plastic currently end up in the ocean each year. This is the equivalent of a dump truck of plastic rubbish every minute.
At current rates, it will grow to two trucks a minute by 2030, and four trucks a minute by 2050. By that time, there will be as much plastic, by weight, in the oceans as fish.
According to the report, about 32 percent of all plastic packaging escapes collection systems and finds its way into natural ecosystems, especially the oceans.
A major problem, discovered based on interviews with more than 180 experts in the field, is that most plastic packaging is used only once before being discarded.
Governments have been urged to take steps to prevent further plastic waste by forcing producers to take back the plastic used in packaging.