The Ocean Plastics Reduction Guide

The Ocean Plastics Reduction Guide

About the European Investment Bank

The European Investment Bank is the world’s biggest multilateral lender. The only bank owned by and representing the interests of the EU countries, the EIB finances Europe’s economic growth. Over six decades the Bank has backed start-ups like Skype and massive schemes like the Øresund Bridge linking Sweden and Denmark. Headquartered in Luxembourg, the EIB Group includes the European Investment Fund, a specialist financer of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Preamble Preamble The objective of this guide is to raise awareness about the crucial socioeconomic, environmental and climate importance of the oceans, and the growing existential threats posed by plastics discharged into and accumulating in the oceans. The guide illustrates how the lack of or substandard management systems for solid waste and wastewater in many coastal cities, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, contribute to the problem. It then highlights how the problem will increase unless action is taken due to increasing global production and use of plastics. After presenting the key regulatory, institutional, technical and financing challenges and barriers to addressing the ocean plastics problem, the guide discusses ways to reduce and prevent plastic discharge by addressing these challenges and barriers. Given the importance of financing, the guide identifies numerous sources of financing for plastic-reduction projects, including the Clean Oceans Initiative,[1] under which the European Investment Bank and four other European financing institutions support projects that reduce ocean plastics discharge. The guide is intended to inspire policymakers, planners, project promoters and other stakeholders to engage in addressing the ocean plastics problem and catalyse impactful action and change. While the guide concentrates on oceans, the problems highlighted are equally important and solutions proposed equally relevant for the seas and for larger lakes and rivers.

1. Introduction 1. Introduction 1.1 The oceans Oceans and seas cover about 75% of the earth’s surface, contain nearly 200 000 identified species,[2] and generate more than 50% of the planet’s oxygen.[3] Oceans are a global public good benefiting most countries and people, including current and future generations, by providing essential ecosystem services and natural resources, including food and feed; new active ingredients for improved plant, animal and medical products; and renewable energy. As such, oceans play a vital role in the world economy and will be central to the post-COVID-19 global economic recovery. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), more than 3 billion people depend on coastal and marine biodiversity for their livelihood, while the global market value of marine and coastal resources and industries is approximately $3 trillion per year (5% of global gross domestic product).[4] Ocean-based industries make a significant contribution to employment growth. The sector is projected to provide about 40 million full-time equivalent jobs by 2030.[5] Strong growth is expected in tourism, aquaculture, fish processing, offshore wind, shipbuilding and repair. The oceans are the world’s largest active carbon reservoir, absorbing about 30% of human CO 2 emissions to the atmosphere.[6] Oceans also absorb a large share of the excess heat caused by increasing greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. As such, oceans are essential in regulating the global climate.

1.1. The oceans

1.2. Threats to the oceans 1.2 Threats to the oceans Oceans face several threats, with the increasing accumulation of plastics being one of the most alarming. There are more than 5 trillion pieces of plastic afloat in the oceans.[7] About 8 million tonnes of plastic litter[8] and 1.5 million tonnes of microplastics are discharged into the oceans every year,[9] primarily from coastal or riverine cities with limited waste and wastewater collection and no or substandard systems of waste disposal and wastewater treatment. Rivers collectively discharge between 0.47 million and 2.75 million tonnes of plastics into the oceans per year.[10] Just ten rivers, eight in Asia and two in Africa, carry about 93% of river-transported plastics to the oceans.[11] The Yangtze in China discharges approximately 1.5 million tonnes of plastic waste into the Yellow Sea every year,[12] while the Indus and the Ganges flowing through India carry the second and sixth highest quantities of plastic wastes to the oceans.[13] The other rivers on this list are the Amur, Hai, Pearl, Mekong and Yellow River in Asia, and the Niger and Nile in Africa. Ocean plastics are discharged in different forms, most common of which are single-use items such as bags, water bottles, straws, food containers and cutlery. These items are used and discarded quickly but can circulate in the oceans for centuries if not properly managed on land. A large share of the ocean plastics break down into tiny pieces or microplastics that further endanger marine ecosystems. Oceans also face other threats, such as coastal pollution, for example from nutrients and pollutants in untreated wastewater or from unsustainable agriculture; oil spill; overfishing; acidification; and global warming. Untreated wastewater from industrial plants and factories, and agrochemical run-off end up in the oceans, resulting in oxygen depletion that threatens marine plants and fish. In addition, overfishing has been identified as a major challenge in most parts of the world. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that close to 31.4% of fish stocks are either fished to capacity or overfished.[14] Consequently, the ocean’s natural assets are under enormous pressure, with the health of many ocean ecosystems already in steep decline.[15]

1.3. The need for ocean conservation 1.3 The need for ocean conservation Conservation and sustainable use of the world’s oceans are recognised in UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life below Water). Moreover, many countries, international organisations and companies producing or using plastics have announced their priority given to conserving and protecting the oceans, recognising the significance of the ocean environment for the economy and climate regulation. There is growing realisation that marine litter greatly reduces the total economic value of the marine environment. The European Commission’s Communication on a Sustainable Blue Economy[16] aligns the EU’s ocean and maritime policy with the goals of the European Green Deal. It commits the EU to a climate-neutral blue economy and to the targets for protecting marine biodiversity and pollution-free seas and oceans in the Zero pollution action plan for air, water and soil[17]. The European Commission has identified “healthy oceans, seas, coastal and inland waters” as one of five major research and innovation missions under the Horizon Europe programme, which forms part of the 2021–2027 Multiannual Finance Framework. Figure 1: Plastic waste accumulating in pristine waters

2. Ocean plastic pollution

2.1. Global plastic production and waste handling

2.2. Sources of plastics discharge into the oceans

2.3. Impact of ocean plastics on marine ecosystems

2.4. Impact of ocean plastics on fisheries and other economic activities

2.5. Impact of ocean plastics on climate

3. The challenges of ocean plastics

3.1. Technical challenges

3.2. Regulatory and governance challenges