World Ocean Day Feature: 3 Ways to Prevent Ocean Waste
In celebration of World Ocean Day, we compiled 3 simple practices to prevent ocean waste that can be easily applied to our everyday lives!
June 08, 2021
With a continual build up of ocean waste, around 11 million metric tons (external link, opens in new window) of plastic are found floating in our oceans every year. This increasing number is highly made up of land runoff and has reached even the deepest trenches of the earth’s oceans. Plastics are known to be one of the largest contributors to ocean pollution, with 91% that are not recycled (external link, opens in new window) correctly. With this in mind, here are 3 simple, yet effective practices that can be easily implemented into our everyday lives to prevent ocean waste.
Practice 1: Reduce Single-Use Plastic
- Refrain from using plastic and plastic bags
- Bring reusable bags, water bottles, utensils, straws, and more. One of our FZ members, The Dirty Seahorse, sells some amazing reusable straws and utensils (external link, opens in new window) !
- Replace plastic items at home with alternatives made from natural materials, including bamboo toothbrushes, glass jars, and wooden toys
Practice 2: Take Time to Recycle Correctly
- 91% of plastics (external link, opens in new window) are not recycled or recycled properly…
- Make sure to recycle plastics properly with care!
- Recycle everything you cannot reuse, compost, or give a second home
Practice 3: Avoid Products With Microbeads
- Otherwise known as ‘polyethylene’ or ‘polypropylene’
- Can be found in toothpaste, face and body cleansers, and other personal care products
- Will wash into our oceans and damage the marine ecosystem
