Ocean Plastic
⭐ MasteredPlastic that reaches the sea harms animals like turtles, which may mistake bags for jellyfish. Reduce, reuse, recycle!
Plastic bottles can take hundreds of years to break down.
All about Ocean Plastic
Plastic that reaches the sea can harm marine life. Animals such as turtles may mistake plastic bags for jellyfish and swallow them, while seabirds and fish can become tangled in nets and rubbish. Tiny pieces of plastic, called microplastics, can enter the food chain.
Reduce the plastic you use, choose reusable bottles and bags, and never drop litter near water. Beach clean-ups and recycling programmes help keep the ocean safer for the animals that live there.
Plastic is very useful, but it lasts a very long time.
Choose reusable bottles and bags, avoid single-use items and always put your rubbish in the bin.
🎮 Try it yourself!
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👀 What the animation shows
This animation shows plastic bags and bottles drifting in the ocean. Watch how a sea turtle can mistake a bag for a jellyfish, and how cleaning up the beach keeps plastic out of the water.
Real-life uses of Ocean Plastic
- Joining a beach clean-up
- Carrying a reusable water bottle
- Choosing products with less plastic packaging
Frequently asked questions about Ocean Plastic
What are microplastics?
Tiny pieces of plastic less than five millimetres long. They can come from broken-down bigger items or from products such as cosmetics.
How much plastic enters the oceans each year?
Millions of tonnes enter the oceans every year, and the amount is a major global concern.
What is the best way to stop ocean plastic?
Use less plastic, dispose of it properly and support policies that reduce single-use plastic.