How Much Plastic Are We Throwing into the Ocean?

  • The 15 countries responsible for producing the most plastic waste in the world dump the equivalent weight of 2,403 blue whales’ worth of plastic into the ocean each year
  • The United States generates the most plastic waste (42 billion kg per year)
  • India dumps 126.5 million kg of plastic that ends up in our oceans every year, which is equal to the weight of 253,533 bottlenose dolphins

In light of Plastic Free July, packaging retailer RAJA UK wants to highlight the importance of recycling plastic products and swapping them out for more eco-conscious alternatives. In order to highlight the impact that plastic waste has on the environment, we revealed which country is producing the most plastic waste and which is responsible for the highest amount of plastic that ends up in the ocean.

The top 10 countries that dump the most plastic into the ocean:

India – India is responsible for 126.5 million kg of plastic that ends up in the ocean each year. This is equal to the weight of nearly 4% of the current global blue whale population (approx. 25,000 whales)

China – Over 70.7 million kg of the plastic that ends up in the ocean comes from China. That’s the equivalent in weight of nearly 78,000 leatherback sea turtles. With a population of approximately 30,000 nesting females, China is dumping 2.6 times the weight of the country’s entire leatherback sea turtle population of plastic into the sea.

Indonesia – Indonesia dumps the weight of nearly 113,000 bottlenose dolphins in plastic into the ocean annually. That is the equivalent of almost 18% of the global population of bottlenose dolphins in the wild (600,000).

Brazil – Brazil is responsible for almost 38 million kg of plastic that ends up in the ocean each year, which equates to the weight of 278 blue whales.

Thailand – 22.8 million kg of this ends up in the ocean, which is the equivalent of nearly 46,000 bottlenose dolphins – 7% of the wild population.

Mexico – 3.5 million kgs of plastic that ends up in the ocean each year comes from Mexico. That equates to the weight of 3,872 leatherback sea turtles. That’s almost 13% of the current global population of nesting females that exists today.

Egypt – Egypt dumps almost 2.5 million kg of plastic into our oceans each year, which equates to 4,872 bottlenose dolphins.

United States – The United States produces the most plastic waste annually (a total of 42 billion kg), and just over 2.4 million kg of that ends up in the ocean. That’s the weight of 2,680 leatherback sea turtles – nearly 9% of the global leatherback turtle population in our oceans today.

Japan – Japan dumps 1.84 million kg of plastic into the ocean each year, which is the equivalent in weight of 6% of the current worldwide population of bottlenose dolphins.

United Kingdom – The UK generates 6.4 billion kg of plastic waste per year and 703 million kg of that ends up in the ocean. That’s the weight of 1,409 bottlenose dolphins.

Tips to reduce your plastic consumption:

  • Ditch the single-use cups – In the UK alone, 2.5 billion coffee cups are thrown away each year and just 0.25% are recycled. Swap single-use water bottles and coffee cups for reusable flasks and bottles to minimise plastic consumption.
  • Opt for local refill shops -To cut down on waste, many supermarkets have started to offer refill stations that allow you to bring in your own containers to purchase unpackaged goods. The produce available ranges from nuts and grains to pasta and cereals.
  • Shop at your local market – Support your local farmers market to buy fresh, local produce that doesn’t come in unnecessary plastic packaging. Bring your own containers or bags and hand the plastic container back to be reused.
  • Swap to bar soap instead of liquid soap – From handwash and body wash to hair care products and washing up liquids, that’s a lot of single-use plastic in your home. Swap these for plastic-free soap bar options instead, to drastically cut down on your plastic consumption.
  • Make your own food – Instead of grabbing food on the go, reduce your plastic consumption by making lunch and snacks at home and placing them in reusable containers. If you do need to buy something while you’re out, opt for fresh fruit and vegetables that don’t come wrapped in plastic.
About Lisa Baker, Editor, Wellbeing News 4212 Articles
Editor Lisa Baker is passionate about the benefits of a holistic approach to healing. Lisa is a qualified Vibrational Therapist and has qualifications in Auricular Therapy, Massage, Kinesiology, Crystal Healing, Seichem and is a Reiki Master.