The Problem of Marine Plastic Waste in the Seas around Okinawa - May 2000

The Problem of Marine Plastic Waste in the Seas around Okinawa - May 2000

Plastic litter leaking from Japan, China, and Korea is accumulating over a wide area in the North Pacific Ocean currents. Approximately 8 million tons of plastic debris are washed into the ocean each year, covering an area of 18 million square kilometers. These litter are mainly composed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), and other chemicals, which take about 400 years to decompose naturally; in 2019, more than 500 plastic fragments were found in the stomach of a sea turtle discovered in the waters near Okinawa, seriously affecting the marine ecosystem. Among companies, Sumitomo Chemical and Toray are working to strengthen recycling technology, but the current recycling rate is only 9%.