How does plastic end up in food?
Did you know that hundreds of species of marine animals have plastic in their stomachs?
By now, more than 150 million then plastic is floating around in the oceans. It is estimated that between 4.8 and 12.7 million tons are added each year. So the ocean is full of plastic: on the coast, in the water or at the bottom, you find it everywhere. Of this, almost half is single-use plastic: disposable plastic. Every minute a garbage truck full of plastic waste ends up in the sea. Of these, plastic bottles, caps and lids are number 1 as the biggest polluter. The plastic breaks down into small pieces, turning the ocean into a plastic soup.
Plastic in the food chain
In addition to getting many animals entangled in plastic, it is also seen as food. This is because the plastic in the ocean breaks down into microplastics. These microplastics in the ocean are eaten by small marine animals, which in turn are eaten by larger marine animals. In this way, the plastic is passed on. This is a continuous process that causes the plastic to accumulate in the food chain. This is because small fish and shellfish also contain plastic, which in turn are eaten by us. Research has shown that microplastics have been found in 114 species of marine animals, more than half of which end up on our plates.
Damage to animals
The microplastics that are eaten are not only harmful to marine animals, but also to turtles and birds. This is because it causes a blockage in the digestive tract and quiets hunger. This causes the eating behavior to be changed, which is detrimental to the growth and reproduction of the animals. This is because the plastic cannot be properly digested, causing many animals to die of starvation. In a stomach full of indigestible plastic, no food fits. Every year more than 100,000 marine animals die from plastic. Scientists estimate that 1 in 3 turtles and more than half of all whales have swallowed plastic.
Plastic in our food, in our stomach
Through marine animals and seafood, we humans ultimately ingest quantities of microplastics. They are not only present in our food, but we also ingest them in the water from plastic bottles or in the air we breathe. Without realizing it, we ingest many pieces of plastic.
Fortunately, there are simple solutions to reduce this amount. It can be reduced by changing your lifestyle. This can be done by using less plastic and also, for example, by drinking tap water instead of water from plastic bottles. Research has shown that you ingest about 90,000 microplastics per year through water from plastic bottles. So choose tap water from a reusable water bottle. In this way you ensure that you consume less plastic and you also contribute to the reduction of plastic in the oceans.
Countering the plastic soup
Retulp is committed to reducing the amount of plastic in the ocean. On the one hand, this is done by contributing to its cleanup through Club Kakatua. On the other hand, reusable alternatives to disposable plastic are offered. After all, 1 plastic bottle has a lifespan of 450 years. So by choosing reusable products, you are helping to reduce the plastic soup. It is therefore very important to raise awareness of the importance of a plastic-free sea. In this way, the mountains of disposable plastic can be reduced. Go for reusable products from now on. No excuse for single use!
