Plastic Pollution and Animal Welfare: An Ongoing Crisis

Plastic pollution continues to kill and injure millions of animals annually through ingestion, entanglement, and habitat degradation. The welfare impacts are extensive and largely preventable with existing solutions.

Key Facts

An estimated 8 million tonnes of plastic enters the oceans every year
Over 800 species are affected by marine plastic through ingestion or entanglement
Sea turtles frequently mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, causing intestinal blockage and death
Entanglement in plastic packaging kills an estimated 100,000 marine mammals annually
Microplastics have been found in every marine environment tested including the deep ocean trenches
Ingested microplastics reduce feeding in zooplankton and disrupt hormonal systems in fish
Albatrosses feed plastic debris to chicks, causing starvation and developmental problems

Welfare Considerations

The welfare impacts of plastic pollution are diverse and severe. Entanglement causes injury, exhaustion, drowning, and prolonged death. Ingestion causes starvation through false satiety, intestinal obstruction, and toxic chemical exposure. Ghost fishing — lost or discarded fishing gear continuing to catch animals — creates traps that cause drawn-out deaths through drowning or starvation. Unlike many environmental problems, plastic pollution is highly visible and has practical individual-level solutions alongside the systemic policy changes needed.

What You Can Do

Eliminate single-use plastics from your daily life wherever feasible
Participate in beach and waterway clean-up events that directly remove plastic from wildlife habitats
Advocate for extended producer responsibility legislation that shifts plastic costs to manufacturers
Support bans on problematic plastic products like single-use bags, straws, and food containers
Donate to ocean clean-up organisations and marine wildlife rehabilitation centres