Ocean Pollution is a problem that has environmental and socio-economic consequences in various sectors such as fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, recreational fishing and shipping. However, it is difficult to assess the impact of pollution because problems take a long time to quantify. Each year, between 6 and 17 million tonnes of rubbish reaches the sea, 60-90% of which is plastic waste. This means that the accumulation of plastic waste in the ocean is a growing problem, nationally and internationally.
Plastics entering the marine environment are harmful as they degrade, producing nano and microplastics that contaminate food chains and leach chemicals, affecting the ecosystem. To reduce pollution of aquatic systems, there are two main approaches:
1) prevent waste from reaching waterways;
2) collect marine and river pollution.
Despite the importance of preventing waste from reaching waterways, the SeaRubbish2Cap project aims to contribute to this issue by removing marine litter and recycling this material through industrial processing technologies. Recycling is a viable and sustainable alternative for the preservation of the environment and to reduce the environmental impact caused by the disposal of plastics. Most plastics are recyclable and, when disposed of correctly, their recovery becomes more efficient, contributing to the reduction of plastic waste from the environment and promoting a decrease in the consumption of virgin raw materials, thus saving natural resources.
Although many of the entities engaged in plastic recycling are highly focused on a specific type of polymer, PET (polyethylene terephthalate), it is crucial that there are projects like SeaRubbish2Cap that focus on recycling other types of polymers, such as PE (polyethylene). This is because, although PET is one of the most common types of plastic used in packaging, polyethylene is widely used in many other products and packaging, and accounts for a large percentage of plastic waste in the oceans. As such, projects that aim to recycle PE can have a significant impact on reducing plastic pollution in our oceans and the environment as a whole.
EEA Grants play a key role in the marine litter issue by funding the SeaRubbish2Cap project under the Blue Growth programme, operated by DGPM. It is important to encourage and support the use of recyclable materials, especially in the production of plastic packaging, by competent entities, businesses and consumers, raising awareness about the importance of recycling and the adoption of sustainable practices for the preservation of the environment and a more sustainable future. The preservation of the environment is a collective responsibility and, therefore, everyone should contribute to it.
In summary, it is crucial to adopt the use of recycled materials in the production of plastic packaging in order to reduce the amount of plastic waste in the environment. Plastic recycling is a measure that should be widely disseminated and adopted by all to ensure a more sustainable future and preserve the environment for future generations.