Many of us easily justify our plastic use by tossing it in the recycling bin. Even though, subconsciously, we all kind of know that’s not a long-lasting solution – if our consumption habits remain the same, how can we expect true change to come about? Because as much as we might think – and hope – that recycling is the solution, the sad reality is that 85 percent of the world’s plastic is not recycled.

Whoa.

Where could that plastic end up, then? Not into thin air, not into a landfill, into … well … the ocean. A recent study found that as much as 80 percent of the trash that ends up in the oceans comes from land-based sources.  And not just a little bit: about 8.8 million tons of plastic that make their way from land to the oceans every single year – 8.8 million! Given that plastic never really disappears, rather it photodegrades into smaller pieces over the course of hundreds of years, we’ve created a huge hazard for the world’s marine animals.

About 700 marine species are faced with extinction due to the threat plastic poses to them from entanglement, Pollution, and ingestion.

These are some scary realities that we must reckon with – and by reckoning, we mean taking action now. Just as we have the power to pollute the oceans, we have the power – and the duty – to clean them up. We must all act to change our individual, daily habits. That means reducing our plastic use as much as we can.

So we want to motivate you to start taking action now to save our seas. And we’re equipping you will some tips to get to #CrushPlastic in no time!

What Can YOU Do?

While efforts are being made to remove debris from the oceans, improve recycling systems, and innovate barriers to prevent plastic from getting into waterways, we can all take action in our daily lives to stop plastic waste at the source.

“Plastic is ubiquitous in modern society and seemingly unavoidable. But is it worth risking the lives of marine species, the health of the oceans and our own future in the name of convenience? By taking steps to minimize everyday plastics in our lives, we can crush plastic at the source and give marine life a fighting chance,” says Nil Zacharias, Co-Founder, and Editor-in-Chief of One Green Planet.

If we all make an effort to identify where we use plastic and actively look for alternatives, we can drastically cut down on the amount of plastic Pollution that finds its way into the oceans.

As the leading organization at the forefront of the conscious consumerism movement, One Green Planet believes that reducing everyday plastics from our lives is not about giving up anything or sacrificing convenience, but rather learning to reap the maximum benefit from the items you use every day while having the minimum impact.

Let’s #CrushPlastic! Click the graphic below for more information.