All you need to know to make #PlasticFreeJuly a success

The Problem With Plastics and Our Oceans

And how you can contribute to making it better.

There are more microplastics in our oceans than there are stars in our galaxy — 500 times more.

We use tons of plastic. It is in everything, from packaging to foam cushions, to the dashboard of the car. An enormous amount of it ends up in the ocean. Plastic is made of toxic chemicals like phthalates (pronounced as thah-lates), flame retardants, bisphenol A (BPA). As the plastic breaks down more toxins adhere. Floating toxic microplastics are often ingested by marine life, which is then consumed by us.

• 8 million metric tons of plastic goes into the ocean every year.
• 100 million marine animals die each year from plastic waste alone.
• 1 in 3 marine mammal species get found entangled in litter.
• 70% of our debris sinks into the ocean’s ecosystem, 15% floats and 15% lands on our beaches.
• The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (largest trash site) located in the North Pacific…