Finalist of the National Geographic and Sky Ocean Ventures
Ocean Plastic Innovation Challenge (OPIC)
Since you visited our website,
there were 404 kilograms
of plastic put into the ocean.
The amount of plastic waste
It all
began
here, in this amazing
nature reserve.
Imagine you live 15 minutes away from this picturesque beach, just a 9 kilometer trip. You can park nearby and walk less than 2 minutes to the sea. This highly protected reserve has a coastal strip with beautiful bays and inlets. Every day the reserve is cleaned of debris that has washed ashore, and from
neglected rubbish left by visitors. It is almost entirely plastic waste. But even in such a protected and special nature reserve, when it is clear that plastic pollution does not bode well for our environment, we seem to misunderstand the true magnitude of how it affects us all - here, or in any other place on our earth. We believe there is a way to translate the issue of ocean plastic to everyone, to increase awareness, to be actively engaged, and even
to be fit! We invite you to a journey of our own mismanaged plastic waste. So how long will it take? Let’s start. This is just the begining.
We're
now
producing a million
plastic bottles per
minute,
91% of which are not recycled. About 8 million tonnes of plastic end up in our world's oceans every year, yet we keep consuming and heavily polluting our nearby and remote beaches. But, what if our beach access, a universal right, and everyone’s enjoyment,
depended on our plastic waste management? Mismanaged waste is material at high danger of entering the ocean through wind or tidal transport, or being transported from inland rivers to coastlines. It is the sum of material which is either littered or inadequately disposed. Plastic Pollution Let’s picture a world centered around a new eco rule, that the right to easily enjoy beach access derives from our plastic waste management.
Just imagine if your plastic waste was equal to the distance that you have to walk to reach the ocean. Let’s illustrate it: sandy beach for the amount of plastic waste, and beyond lies the ocean. The more plastic you feed the ocean, the farther you walk to the sea. We would like to show you now the amount of mismanaged plastic waste that is generated by each person in a single year, in 50 coastal countries. Are you ready to walk it?
will it take
us to walk
our plastic
waste?
You are here to get a bit more info, so
let’s unpack it:
There are 50 bars in our visualization, representing 50 coastal countries bordering 4 oceans (the Mediterrain is technically a sea, we know!). The bars have the appearance of a beach for the amount of plastic waste, and beyond lies a beautiful ocean. Hover a bar to expand it, and see the amount of plastic waste produced by each person in a single year. That amount is translated to a walking distance and time.
And while you are exploring the countries cards, tap the plastic bottle on the top right to switch between states, and see the amount of plastic waste entering the ocean from that country each minute. Each bottle represents 100kg of plastic waste entering the ocean. So, ready to walk?
Hmm… I have more questions.
Sandy beach for the amount of plastic waste, and beyond lies the ocean. The more plastic you feed the ocean, the farther you walk to the sea.
The annual mismanaged
Plastic waste for
50 coastal countries
Kilograms | Per Person
126km 25hours walk
In Brazil
6.3 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
6.3kg = 126km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
896.9 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Brazil
358km 72hours walk
In Morocco
17.9 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
17.9kg = 358km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
590 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Morocco
628km 126hours walk
In Senegal
31.4 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
31.4kg = 628km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
484.7 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Senegal
160km 32hours walk
In Cuba
8 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
8kg = 160km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
172.4 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Cuba
128km 26hours walk
In Venezuela
6.4 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
6.4kg = 128km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
194.7 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Venezuela
32km 6hours walk
In the United Kingdom
1.6 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
1.6kg = 32km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
128.5 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
United Kingdom
70km 14hours walk
In Germany
3.5 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
3.5kg = 70km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
59.4 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Germany
96km 19hours walk
In Poland
4.8 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
4.8kg = 96km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
29.9 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Poland
358km 72hours walk
In Cape Verde
17.9 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
17.9kg = 358km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
17.8 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Cape Verde
40km 8hours walk
In Norway
2 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
2kg = 40km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
16.0 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Norway
12km 2hours walk
In Belgium
0.6 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
0.6kg = 12km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
5.2 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Belgium
6km 1hours walk
In Sweden
0.3 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
0.3kg = 6km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
4.1 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Sweden
40km 8hours walk
In Iceland
2 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
2kg = 40km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
1.1 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Iceland
620km 124hours walk
In Nigeria
31 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
31kg = 620km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
1620 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Nigeria
48km 10hours walk
In the United States
2.4 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
2.4kg = 48km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
524 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
United States
90km 18hours walk
In Mexico
4.5 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
4.5kg = 90km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
192.8 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Mexico
484km 97hours walk
In Nicaragua
24.2 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
24.2kg = 484km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
160.6 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Nicaragua
246km 49hours walk
In Colombia
12.3 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
12.3kg = 246km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
175.4 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Colombia
766km 153hours walk
In Guatemala
38.3 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
38.3kg = 766km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
174.2 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Guatemala
340km 68hours walk
In Costa Rica
17 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
17kg = 340km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
80.1 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Costa Rica
14km 3hours walk
In Canada
0.7 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
0.7kg = 14km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
15.1 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Canada
150km 30hours walk
In Russia
7.5 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
7.5kg = 150km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
153.7 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Russia
670km 134hours walk
In China
33.5 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
33.5kg = 670km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
16780.3 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
China
452km 90hours walk
In the Philippines
22.6 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
22.6kg = 452km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
3583.8 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Philippines
790km 158hours walk
In Thailand
39.5 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
39.5kg = 790km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
1955.4 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Thailand
818km 164hours walk
In Malaysia
40.9 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
40.9kg = 818km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
1782.4 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Malaysia
342km 68hours walk
In Ecuador
17.1 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
17.1kg = 342km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
208.1 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Ecuador
24km 5hours walk
In Japan
1.2 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
1.2kg = 24km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
272.3 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Japan
1,100km 220hours walk
In Fiji
55 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
55kg = 1,100km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
93.7 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Fiji
42km 8hours walk
In Taiwan
2.1 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
2.1kg = 42km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
87 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Taiwan
6km 1hours walk
In South Korea
0.3 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
0.3kg = 6km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
64.2 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
South Korea
352km 70hours walk
In North Korea
17.6 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
17.6kg = 352km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
579 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
North Korea
78km 16hours walk
In Chile
3.9 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
3.9kg = 78km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
41.4 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Chile
48km 10hours walk
In New Zealand
2.4 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
2.4kg = 48km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
17.7 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
New Zealand
16km 3hours walk
In Australia
0.8 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
0.8kg = 16km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
26.4 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Australia
976km 195hours walk
In South Africa
48.8 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
48.8kg = 976km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
1198.6 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
South Africa
344km 69hours walk
In Indonesia
17.2 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
17.2kg = 344km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
6120.3 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Indonesia
64km 13hours walk
In India
3.2 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
3.2kg = 64km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
1141.2 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
India
222km 44hours walk
In Bangladesh
11.1 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
11.1kg = 222km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
1498 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Bangladesh
660km 132hours walk
In Pakistan
33 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
33kg = 660km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
914.2 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Pakistan
560km 112hours walk
In Yemen
28 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
28kg = 560km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
321.9 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Yemen
340km 68hours walk
In Somalia
17 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
17kg = 340km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
193.2 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Somalia
1,604km 321hours walk
In the Maldives
80.2 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
80.2kg = 1,604km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
59.9 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Maldives
114km 23hours walk
In Saudi Arabia
5.7 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
5.7kg = 114km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
39.1 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Saudi Arabia
286km 57hours walk
In Turkey
14.3 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
14.3kg = 286km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
924.5 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Turkey
40km 8hours walk
In Spain
2 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
2kg = 40km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
87.2 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Spain
30km 6hours walk
In Greece
1.5 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
1.5kg = 30km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
27.1 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Greece
20km 4hours walk
In Italy
1 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
1kg = 20km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
62.3 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Italy
56km 11hours walk
In Israel
2.8 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
2.8kg = 56km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
36.2 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Israel
890km 178hours walk
In Egypt
44.5 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
44.5kg = 890km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
1839.8 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Egypt
plastic waste
is entering
our oceans?
You are here to get a bit more info, so
let’s unpack it:
Our 4 oceans represent 192 countries.
We present the daily amount of mismanaged plastic waste entering the oceans. We start with the most and least polluting countries in each ocean, and end with the total average of all bordering countries.
The more sand the more mismanaged plastic waste.
The streaming bottles each represent 1 tonne of plastic waste entering into the ocean.
Want to know more?
We dump 8 - 12 million metric tons of plastic into our oceans annually.
Our oceans need us as much as we need them!
The daily amount of
mismanaged plastic waste
entering the oceans
Tonnes | Per Ocean
To the Atlantic
14,059 Tonnes
of mismanaged plastic waste is entering every day.
Each bottle represents 1 tonne of plastic.
Most polluting: Nigeria
Atlantic Countries
Least polluting: Iceland
Atlantic
To the Pacific
54,527 Tonnes
of mismanaged plastic waste is entering every day.
Each bottle represents 1 tonne of plastic.
Most polluting: China
Pacific Countries
Least polluting: New Zealand
Pacific
To the Indian
26,577 Tonnes
of mismanaged plastic waste is entering every day.
Each bottle represents 1 tonne of plastic.
Most polluting: Indonesia
Indian Countries
Least polluting: Saudi Arabia
Indian
To the Mediterran.
8,183 Tonnes
of mismanaged plastic waste is entering every day.
Each bottle represents 1 tonne of plastic.
Most polluting: Egypt
Mediterranean Countries
Least polluting: Greece
Mediterranean
we all
pollute?
The less ‘sandy brown’
color, the less mismanaged
plastic waste streams to
our oceans environment.
The daily amount of
mismanaged plastic waste
entering the oceans
Tonnes | Per Ocean
try to refuse
plastic packs
for the next
100 days
128km 26hours walk
In Venezuela
6.4 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
6.4kg = 128km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
194.7 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
246km 49hours walk
In Colombia
12.3 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
12.3kg = 246km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
175.4 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
1,100km 220hours walk
In Fiji
55 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
55kg = 1,100km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
93.7 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
32km 6hours walk
In the United Kingdom
1.6 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
1.6kg = 32km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
128.5 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
128km 26hours walk
In Venezuela
6.4 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
6.4kg = 128km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
194.7 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
246km 49hours walk
In Colombia
12.3 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
12.3kg = 246km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
175.4 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
1,100km 220hours walk
In Fiji
55 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
55kg = 1,100km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
93.7 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
32km 6hours walk
In the United Kingdom
1.6 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
1.6kg = 32km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
128.5 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
128km 26hours walk
In Venezuela
6.4 Kilograms
of plastic waste is mismanaged by the average person in a year.
So how far is it?
6.4kg = 128km
1kg = 100bottles X 20cm
194.7 Kilograms
of mismanaged plastic waste enter the ocean every minute.
Each bottle represents 100 Kilograms of plastic.
Let’s become more conscious of the massive amounts of plastic packaging we
are all consuming.
so-how-long would like to bring information
visualization into our consuming routine, so we must confront our own choices while we shop. Who would be
the first to adopt this design?
eco-rating cards
for multiple scenarios
of everyday products
‘So, how long will it take’ (full name) is an interactive journey of our very own mismanaged plastic waste as the length we have to walk to reach the ocean. It is a physical metaphor for how plastic pollution is distancing the ocean from us. The project aims to help humanize the issue of ocean plastic, by not only encouraging awareness, but also engagement with the environment. A physical engagement!
We invite you to get engaged and embark with us on this eco-walk journey. You can plan your next walk, run, or ride route, and complete any country plastic waste distance. We also would like to expose all to the ongoing discussions on social media surrounding this issue, and get to know what people in their own regions are saying about ocean plastic. You probably have a lot of questions, here are a few to get this journey started:
questions &
answers
- How was the idea born?
- Why is my country not appearing?
- How do we calculate the walking time?
- How do we decided on the bottles streaming timing?
- Where did we take our data from?
- How can I join and contribute to “so-how-long”?
- What else can we do?
- What about our governments?
One of us lives near that picturesque beach we showed you at the start, and the idea was born simply in an afternoon ride to it, thinking how to create visual feedback that would motivate us to take action and protect our seas and oceans. Even though this reserve area is fairly clean, and most of us recycle, it is simply not enough to solve our waste crisis. We asked ourselves how could we appeal to a large and diverse population, and how could we increase participation to help improve reduce plastic production, reduce plastic use, and increase reuse and recycling. There is a study by researchers from Penn State University and Boston College that shows that consumers recycle more when they think about how their waste can be transformed into new products. We came with the idea to transform our waste to a physical metaphor for how plastic pollution is distancing the ocean from us. We would like to take you on a journey that will transform ocean plastic pollution from a nebulous issue that exists somewhere in the world, to a tangible crisis that is happening in your own backyards.
There are two reasons your country might not be listed. Firstly, the original dataset excludes landlocked countries because the mismanaged plastic per person model incorporates coastal population. Secondly, for visual clarity we selected 50 countries from the original dataset that represented different regions and pollution levels. But if your country was not one of the 50 selected, it can be seen on the map, which shows all data from the original dataset.
On average, a 500 milligram plastic water bottle measures 20 centimeters in height, and 10 grams in weight (when it is empty). Thus 1 kilogram of plastic waste is equal to 100 bottles multiplied 20 centimeters. Walking time is calculated assuming an average walking speed of 5 kilometers per hour. For example, 2Kg would be a 40Km distance, at about 8 hours walking time.
The timing for bottles representing the amount of plastic entering the ocean from each country was calculated from the total tonnes of mismanaged plastic per year for each country. Based on the amount of plastic per year, we calculated the time it would take for 100kg of plastic to accumulate from that country and show a bottle appearing at each time interval to represent the 100kgs of plastic.
The data is derived from a scientific paper published in 2014 by Jenna Jambeck, a world authority on ocean plastic pollution.
Citation: Jambeck, Jenna R., et al. "Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean." Science 347.6223 (2015): 768-771.We encourage you to get engaged and embark with us on this eco-walk journey, to get physically active! You can plan your next walk, run, or ride route, and complete yours or another countries plastic-waste-distance. Post it on Twitter and Instagram with the #so_how_long and share all other activities as well! Talk to your friends and neighbours. Ask them what they think about the ocean plastic problem. Tell them what you’ve learned here, and encourage them to get more involved and think about how plastic affects their own lives.
Solving the plastic crisis will require broad support and active demands to governments, corporations, and stakeholders. A majority of plastic pollution comes from lower income countries, where many people do not have the economic freedom to buy in bulk or choose plastic-free options. People use what they can afford, and it is time that corporations invest in better plastic-free packaging for affordable and accessible products. We must demand that plastic producers take responsibility for the lifecycle of their products. We all have to pitch in if we are to solve the plastic crisis, and it is time that plastic producers own up and do their part.
Lobby your government to implement policies at a national level to combat ocean plastic pollution. Any ocean plastic solution will require governmental support. Vote for politicians who prioritize environmental issues and support laws to maintain clean waterways. Run for local office with a promise to fight plastic pollution at every step of the waste lifecycle. Call your local government official and ask them what they are doing to combat plastic pollution. With strength in numbers, change is possible.
we are an
international
team.
from USA
from Israel
We have teamed up
for The National
Geographic and Sky
Ocean Ventures’ Ocean
Plastic Innovation
Challenge, and have
been selected as one of
the 24 finalists. We hope
so-how-long will inspire
you to be physically
active in changing our
oceans environment.
So-how-long
collaborative team
israel | usa | other?
we’d love to hear from you.
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