The Plastic Footprint

The very first plastic, based on a synthetic polymer, was invented in 1907, by Leo Hendrik Baekeland. Since then, we have used plastic in many different ways to create durable, everyday items. However, plastic has not been properly disposed of and has ended up in the ground and in our oceans, both polluting the world’s ecosystems and affecting sea life.

Though plastic is beneficial for its uses, it is harmful because it ends up in the ocean and remains floating on the surface because it never fully biodegrades. When plastic reaches the ocean it is a threat to animals who depend on the ocean for food and mistaken plastic for food. Marine creatures, such as sea turtles, seals, fish, and even birds mistaken plastic for food. When these creatures eat plastic, the plastic remains in their stomachs and tricks their digestive system to believe they are full, so they don’t eat and eventually starve to death. For instance, sea turtles often mistake plastic bags for sea jellies and albatrosses mistake plastic resin pellets for fish eggs. Another problem is ghost fishing ,which occurs when marine mammals get entangled in abandoned plastic fishing nets, causing starvation, exhaustion, or infection from deep wounds.. Plastic has had a negative impact on sea life because it ends up in the ocean and doesn't biodegrade completely.

Recently, I volunteered at the Cabrillo beach clean up. The beach clean up was important to keep the beach clean and help prevent trash to enter our ocean and cause more severe effects. During the clean up I collected trash, such as plastic and got recycled styrofoam from home to include in my art project. The art project I created is a sea turtle, which I carved out of recycled styrofoam. The sea turtle represents one of the many creatures affected by individuals who aren’t properly disposing plastic and other items. As explained above, many creatures, such as sea turtles, confuse plastic for food, which remains in their stomach as seen in my art project. The plastic around its neck shows how creatures, such as sea turtles, get caught in plastic. My art project portrays how sea turtles are harmed by plastic in the ocean.

Over several years the plastic which ends up in the ocean is accumulated and remains floating on the earth’s surface. To help prevent the plague of plastic in our ocean individuals and communities can recycle, reuse plastic, use replacement items not made of plastic. Another solution would be for companies who make plastic products to help by using plastic that is easier to biodegrade. This way their products will be made of plastic that doesn’t end up in the ocean because it will be able to biodegrade quicker. One way to help clean the trash already on the ground is to organize a beach cleanup to prevent plastic from being washed up in the ocean and be eaten by a sea creature or bird. Plastic first started off as a great way to store items and more, but it has grown over the years into one of the most harmful pollutants because it is not being properly disposed of.

“Ocean Plastics Pollution: A Global Tragedy for Our Oceans and Sea Life.” Center for

Biological Diversity. n.p., n.d. Web. 1 March 2016.

“The History and Future of Plastics.” Chemical Heritage Foundation. n.p., 2010. Web. 01 March

2016.