This campaign has now closed
Microplastic pollution is a global issue with severe impacts. Evidence confirms physical and toxicological effects on marine life. Many toxins pass down the food chain raising concerns for our health. FFI is engaging with UK stakeholders to prevent microplastics from entering the marine environment
Categories
Beneficiaries
Situation
Plastic pollution is the world's oceans is ubiquitous. Globally, 280m tonnes of plastic are produced annually, in a trillion dollar industry employing 180,000 people in the UK alone. Virtually every aspect of our lives is now reliant upon plastic - from the food we eat to the water we drink. It is estimated that 100,000 tonnes of plastic debris now pollutes our oceans. Worryingly, sources of microplastic entering the environment appear to be on the rise, thanks in part to their use in cosmetics
Solution
FFI aims to prevent direct sources of microplastics from entering the marine environment. To achieve these aims, FFI is developing strategies to help businesses to minimise their plastic pollution footprint and raise public awareness with two novel initiatives: the Good Scrub Guide and promoting the uptake of Operation Clean Sweep. FFI remains the only UK based biodiversity conservation organisation addressing this threat to our oceans.