Plastic pollution is a pressing environmental issue that is overwhelming the world’s ability to deal with it. The production of disposable plastic products has rapidly increased, and single-use plastics account for 40% of the plastic produced every year. Plastics made from fossil fuels are just over a century old, but their production has exponentially increased, from 2.3 million tons in 1950 to 448 million tons by 2015. Every year, about 8 million tons of plastic waste escapes into the oceans from coastal nations, and most of the plastic trash in the oceans flows from land. Plastic trash has become so ubiquitous it has prompted efforts to write a global treaty negotiated by the United Nations.

Once at sea, sunlight, wind, and wave action break down plastic waste into small particles, often less than one-fifth of an inch across. These so-called microplastics are spread throughout the water column and have been found in every corner of the globe. Millions of animals are killed by plastics every year, and nearly 700 species, including endangered ones, are known to have been affected by plastics. Most of the deaths to animals are caused by entanglement or starvation. Plastics have also been found to have blocked digestive tracts or pierced organs, causing death.

The solution to plastic pollution is to prevent plastic waste from entering rivers and seas in the first place. This could be accomplished with improved waste management systems and recycling, better product design that takes into account the short life of disposable packaging, and reduction in manufacturing of unnecessary single-use plastics. While it is difficult to retrieve plastic waste once it enters the ocean, efforts to clean up large pieces of plastic from inland waters can be effective. However, the prevention of plastic waste should be the primary focus to address this global crisis.

Plastic pollution is a major environmental issue that is affecting the planet in many ways. With the increasing production of disposable plastic products, the world is struggling to deal with the vast amounts of plastic waste that is produced. Plastic pollution is most visible in developing Asian and African countries, where garbage collection systems are often inefficient or nonexistent. However, the developed world also struggles to properly collect and dispose of plastic waste, particularly in countries with low recycling rates.

Plastics made from fossil fuels are just over a century old, and the production and development of thousands of new plastic products accelerated after World War II. Plastics have revolutionized medicine with life-saving devices, made space travel possible, lightened cars and jets, saving fuel and pollution, and saved lives with helmets, incubators, and equipment for clean drinking water. However, the conveniences that plastics offer have led to a throw-away culture that reveals the material’s dark side. Today, single-use plastics account for 40% of the plastic produced every year, and many of these products, such as plastic bags and food wrappers, have a lifespan of mere minutes to hours but persist in the environment for hundreds of years.

Here are some key facts about plastics by the numbers:

• Half of all plastics ever manufactured have been made in the last 15 years.
• Production increased exponentially, from 2.3 million tons in 1950 to 448 million tons by 2015. Production is expected to double by 2050.
• Every year, about 8 million tons of plastic waste escapes into the oceans from coastal nations. That’s the equivalent of setting five garbage bags full of trash on every foot of coastline around the world.
• Plastics often contain additives making them stronger, more flexible, and durable. But many of these additives can extend the life of products if they become litter, with some estimates ranging to at least 400 years to break down.

Most of the plastic trash in the oceans flows from land, and trash is carried to the sea by major rivers, which act as conveyor belts, picking up more and more trash as they move downstream. Once at sea, much of the plastic trash remains in coastal waters, but once caught up in ocean currents, it can be transported around the world.

Once at sea, sunlight, wind, and wave action break down plastic waste into small particles, often less than one-fifth of an inch across. These so-called microplastics are spread throughout the water column and have been found in every corner of the globe. Microplastics are breaking down further into smaller and smaller pieces, and plastic microfibers have been found in municipal drinking water systems and drifting through the air.

Millions of animals are killed by plastics every year, from birds to fish to other marine organisms, and nearly 700 species, including endangered ones, are known to have been affected by plastics. Most of the deaths are caused by entanglement or starvation, as animals are strangled by abandoned fishing gear or discarded six-pack rings. Microplastics have been found in more than 100 aquatic species, including fish, shrimp, and mussels destined for our dinner plates. Plastics have also been consumed by land-based animals, including elephants, hyenas, zebras, tigers, camels, cattle, and other large mammals, in some cases causing death.

Tests have confirmed liver and cell damage and disruptions to reproductive systems, prompting some species, such as oysters, to produce fewer eggs. New research shows that larval fish are eating nanofibers in the first days of life, raising new questions about the effects of plastics on fish populations.

The best solution to plastic pollution is to prevent plastic waste from entering rivers and seas in the first place. This could be accomplished with improved waste management systems and recycling, better