Global Alarm: Plastic Waste in the Ocean Soon to Outnumber Fish

(Dan Tri) - A recent report said that 11 million tons of plastic waste leak into the ocean every year. If the trend does not change, by 2050, the ocean will have more plastic than fish (by weight).

Plastic was once considered one of the revolutionary inventions of the 20th century, contributing to profound changes in many aspects of modern life and promoting progress in areas such as food preservation, medicine , and industry.

Yet this once-praised material has now become one of the world's biggest environmental challenges.

From a production level of only about 2 million tons in 1950, by the early 2020s, plastic production had skyrocketed to about 450 million tons per year. This was followed by a huge amount of plastic waste, up to 350 million tons released into the environment every year.

Worryingly, about 19 million tons of this plastic leaks directly into the natural environment in the form of microplastics, causing serious impacts on the ecosystem and posing potential risks to human health.

Microplastics infiltrate ecosystems and food chains

According to statistics from many global environmental organizations, each year about 13 million tons of plastic waste are scattered on land and 6 million tons flow into rivers, coasts, and gradually into the ocean.

Microplastics (or the slow degradation of plastic) not only persist in the environment for hundreds of years but also enter the bodies of living things. A study on Lord Howe Island (Australia) found that birds' bellies were full of microplastics, causing digestive problems and physiological dysfunction.

Plastic pollution is affecting the entire human food chain, with microplastics found in drinking water, sea salt, and even fetal placentas.

Although the mechanism of absorption and accumulation of microplastics in the body is still being studied, experts warn that the risk of inflammation, endocrine disruption, and genetic mutations is extremely real.

New technological solutions in the fight against plastic pollution

Faced with the current threats, World Environment Day on June 5 calls on the international community to take action under the slogan #BeatPlasticPollution . In addition, national policies and a series of scientific and technological solutions have been launched.

One example is Mi Terro, a winner of UpLink’s Global Plastic Innovation Network challenge, which has developed a technology that replaces microplastics with food waste. This allows for biodegradability while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Plastic bottles are flattened and steam cleaned before being sorted by factory workers in Thailand (Photo: NYPost).

Meanwhile, Plastic Energy is collaborating with Loughborough University in the UK to research a process of refining plastic waste into products that can replace fossil fuels in the production of new plastics, with the goal of recycling 5 million tons of plastic by the end of the decade.

Plastic-degrading enzyme technology is also showing promise. At the University of Texas at Austin, a team has used machine learning to develop an enzyme that can break down PET plastic in just 24 hours. Similar efforts are underway at the University of Toulouse (France) and the University of Portsmouth (UK), in collaboration with the US Department of Energy.

Creating biodegradable plastics is another avenue being explored by both the public and private sectors that would allow plastic packaging to decompose. According to research by Yingxue Yu and Markus Flury, new plastics designed to be metabolized by microorganisms into CO₂, CH₄ and bacterial biomass are particularly useful in areas where efficient recycling is not possible.

However, these plastics still need to be clearly labeled, thoroughly tested, and have a product life cycle management mechanism.

Robotics and AI technology are being applied to recycle waste more effectively (Photo: CNBC).

AI technology also helps in the efficient sorting and tracking of plastic waste. Organizations such as CleanHub and GIVO Africa have taken the first steps in using AI and IoT to monitor waste flows in real time, ensuring fairness for all parties and reducing emissions from the collection process.

The World Economic Forum has also partnered with Accenture to increase transparency and traceability in recycling, through Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies.

The concept of a circular economy is also a key strategy, especially in the plastic packaging sector, which is considered one of the main sources of pollution. Sykell’s CIRCULAR ERP application is helping businesses manage the lifecycle of reusable plastic containers, while providing accurate data to reduce waste.

Preventing plastic waste from entering rivers before it reaches the ocean is also a prominent approach, as it is considered the “last line of defense”. RiverRecycle, UpLink’s innovation arm, has implemented solutions to collect plastic waste at its source and recycle it into building materials such as recycled plywood, thereby helping to reduce pressure on the ocean.

Global action needed, not just technological innovation

While these initiatives show potential for breakthroughs, according to the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP), technology alone is not enough to solve the pollution problem without coordinated policy, infrastructure investment, and cross-sectoral collaboration.

A recent report said that 11 million tons of plastic waste leak into the ocean every year. If trends don’t change, by 2050, the ocean will have more plastic than fish (by weight).

Therefore, not only scientists, businesses or social organizations, but each individual needs to take action, from limiting the use of disposable plastics, properly classifying waste, to supporting environmentally friendly products.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/khoa-hoc/bao-dong-toan-cau-rac-thai-nhua-o-dai-duong-sap-nhieu-hon-ca-20250604105230766.htm