Plastic soup in the sea: how our oceans are slowly silting up
Plastic soup in the sea: how our oceans are slowly silting up
Plastic soup may sound like something out of a science fiction movie, but unfortunately it is rock-hard reality. Our oceans are becoming increasingly full of plastic bottles, bags and other litter. And it doesn't float neatly in one place. It ends up in fish, in birds and eventually back on our plates. Time to do something about it, don't you think?
What exactly is plastic soup?
Plastic soup is the collective name for all the plastic waste floating around in our seas and oceans. It does not break down, but falls apart into smaller and smaller pieces. These microplastics are then eaten by marine animals, with all the consequences that entails.
How does plastic end up in the sea?
A lot of plastic comes from the streets. Via rivers and wind, it blows and flows towards the sea. Think of bottles, packaging, bags - everything that is light and floats sooner or later ends up in the water. More than 8 million tons of plastic disappear into our oceans every year.
Who is tackling this problem?
Fortunately, a lot of good things are happening too. For example, there is Boyan Slat's The Ocean Cleanup. What started as an idea of a 16-year-old diver has grown into a global initiative that fishes plastic out of the ocean. Using a kind of floating V-shaped net, large amounts of waste are being removed from the water.
Designers are also making themselves heard. Textile designer Nienke Hoogvliet developed a carpet from seaweed and fishing nets (Sea Me), and leather from fish skin (Re-Sea Me). In this way she shows that the sea is not only polluted, but also offers beautiful, sustainable raw materials.
What about Retulp?
At Retulp, we don't just want to clean up, we want to prevent. With our reusable bottles and lunch products, we are reducing the amount of plastic in circulation. And for every bottle sold, we donate 1,000 times its contents to clean drinking water. So you're working doubly towards a better world.
What can you do?
Use less disposable plastic. Take a reusable bottle with you. Tell your friends why you do. And choose brands that make an impact, like Retulp.
Check out our reusable bottles or read more about our mission.
