Part 1/9:
The Future of Sustainable Materials: From Plastic Pollution to AirCarbon
The Plastic Pollution Crisis: A Growing Threat
If current trends continue, by 2050, the volume of plastic in our oceans could surpass the weight of fish. Annually, the world produces approximately 380 million tons of plastic, yet only 9% of it is recycled. An alarming estimate suggests that about 20 billion pounds of plastic flow into oceans every year, much of which takes hundreds of years—or perhaps never—to degrade. This persistent plastic pollution poses severe threats to marine ecosystems, wildlife, and even human health, emphasizing the urgency to develop sustainable alternatives.