New report says plastics could outweigh fish in oceans by 2050; suggests mitigating actions

The mounting heaps of waste plastics in the oceans is projected to outweigh fish in the oceans by 2050, hence it is high time for aggressive recycling of the material,. This is the call being highlighted in a recent global report presented by a foundation led by yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur.

The report finds that about 95% of plastic packaging worth US$80-120 billion (EUR73-110 billion) a year is lost to the economy after a single use.

The study, which drew on multiple sources, proposed setting up a new system to reduce waste plastics in the environment, especially the oceans, and to find alternatives to crude oil and natural gas as the raw material of plastic production.

The report, which also included analysis by the McKinsey Centre for Business and Environment, said that at least eight million tonnes of plastics find their way into the ocean every year -- equal to one garbage truckful every minute; this amount is expected to increase to two per minute by 2030 and four per minute by 2050 if no action is taken to abate it, the report said.

Additionally, it said that the ocean is expected to contain one tonne of plastic for every three tonnes of fish by 2025, and by 2050, more plastics than fish.

The importance of triggering a revolution in the plastics industrial ecosystem is a salient point in the report, according to Dominic Waughray of the World Economic Forum, the hosts of the annual talks in Davos who jointly released the report.

The public, private sector and civil society all need to mobilise to capture the opportunity of the new circular plastics economy, he added.

The report also suggested for implementing change in the use of plastic packaging, one which would require cooperation worldwide between consumer goods companies, plastic packaging producers, businesses involved in collection, cities, policymakers and other organisations.