The amount of trash we produce and use has risen over the past 30 years. Plastic is so commonplace that most people don’t even stop to think about the amount we use on a daily basis. It may be convenient – from bottles, utensils, packaging, etc. but, unfortunately, marine animals are paying a huge price.

So, just how much plastic is throw away every year? Well, 300 million tons of plastic is produced every year and sadly a whopping 85 percent is not recycled. This means it will be sent to landfills and then most likely, end up polluting our oceans.

Currently, around 700 marine species are faced with extinction due to the threat plastic poses to them from entanglement, Pollution, and ingestion. 50 percent of sea turtles have plastic in their stomachs, according to an international study from the University of Queensland. To make matters worse by 2050, 99 percent of seabird species will have ingested plastic waste, based on a recent study. If we don’t do anything to reel in our plastic obsession, scientists estimate that there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish within the next 40 years.

This photo from Surfers Against Sewage shows exactly where our plastic trash goes when we throw it out – and why we need to do better. Fast.

We can all take action in our daily lives to stop plastic waste at the source. The best way to help animals is to reduce your own consumption of plastic. And it’s not hard! Simple changes such as bringing a canvas bag with you to the grocery store and investing in a reusable water bottle are great ways to cut plastic out of your daily life!

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.

Image source: Surfers Against Sewage/Facebook