Shocking figures: This is how much microplastic we eat every day

durability

The durability of plastic is both an advantage and a curse. One example is the shopping bag, which takes around ten to 20 years to break down into small particles in the sea. A Styrofoam cup takes 50 years, while a PET bottle takes 450 to 500 years. Fishing line is the sad leader at 600 years. Even compostable organic plastic bags take more than three years and should therefore not be disposed of in organic waste or compost.

Origin of microplastics

It is estimated that between 330,000 and 450,000 tons of microplastics are produced in Germany every year. The main cause is the abrasion of car tires, which accounts for about a third. This is followed by waste such as plastic residues in compost and organic waste, the abrasion of asphalt (bitumen) and shoes as well as sports fields. Tiny particles in cosmetic products such as peelings and particles released by plastic fibers in clothing when washed also play a role.

Deadly for animals

It is common to release helium-filled balloons on celebratory occasions such as weddings, anniversaries and birthdays. But this seemingly harmless tradition has devastating effects on birds and marine animals. Australian researchers have conducted a study in which they examined over 1,700 dead birds. They found that one in three birds had plastic in their stomachs. Soft plastics such as those in the balloons are particularly dangerous because they block the animals’ gastrointestinal tracts as hard plastics do. Numerous Dutch cities and municipalities have now reacted and banned the release of balloons.

Plastic To-Go

The frequency with which people drink coffee on the go has led to a huge environmental impact. In Berlin alone, 20,000 cups are thrown away every hour, which leads to a total of 2.8 billion cups a year across Germany. The production of this cup uses 1.5 billion liters of water and 3,000 tons of crude oil are used in the process. This production also causes a significant amount of CO2 emissions, namely 11,000 tons. Finally, the use of the cup also creates an enormous amount of waste, namely 40,000 tons.

Plastic in Europe

The European Union produces 26 million tons of plastic waste every year, with each European generating an average of 24 kilograms of it. Germany ranks 4th in the list of countries with the highest waste production, only Estonia, Luxembourg and Ireland consume more plastic. However, the smallest amount of plastic waste is generated by Croatians, Bulgarians and Greeks. To reduce the consumption of plastic waste, the European Union will ban single-use tableware such as plastic plates, cutlery, straws, balloon sticks and cotton swabs from 2021.