Eunomia produced this report for Friends of the Earth on the household contributions to marine plastic pollution.
Globally, millions of tonnes of plastic waste are thought to enter the marine environment every year. This plastic can float on the ocean surface, be washed up on beaches or sink to the ocean floor.
This research presents a top ten list of items of concern that has been developed for householders worried about the impact of the plastics they use on the marine environment. These are a combination of some of the most prevalent items found on beaches such as bottles, packets and cutlery as well as some of the items that we know often enter the sewers from households—and consequently rivers and estuaries. We also include significant sources of microplastics that the public should be aware of in their daily lives.
The report explores the plastic pollution problem in microplastics and large plastic waste and explores the scale of the issue. It then explores the top ten items and addresses options for tackling the problem in the household and on the go, with the aim to help reduce household contributions to marine plastic pollution.
