Documentary Plans to Initiate Global Plastic Reform

Disposable plastic consumption is a way of life for citizens across the globe. It is unavoidable when buying bottled drinks, bagging groceries, or unwrapping pre-packaged food. Though plastic reduction and recycling efforts have picked up momentum in recent years, the positive change has not been enough to slow the ever-increasing amount of plastic waste found in our oceans.
According to National Geographic, more than 8 million of the nearly 300 million tons of plastic being produced each year, is dumped into the ocean. Beverage bottles are the main culprit, accounting for 14% of litter made from any material. These startling numbers informed the creation of the Plastic Oceans Foundation, producers of the 2017 documentary film, A Plastic Ocean.
The film features journalist Craig Leeson, free diver Tanya Streeter, and a team of scientists and researchers, who travel the world to explore the catastrophic state of global plastic pollution. In their travels, they discover the steady breakdown of garbage leading to the creation of microplastics, which enter the aquatic food chain and have startling effects on wildlife and humans.
With the scope of the problem discovered, the filmmakers next sought out ways to combat plastic’s role in society, issuing a call to action for individuals, institutions, and governments to reform. With widespread screenings of the film and lobbying in the United Nations, the goal of the Plastic Oceans Foundation is to initiate immediate global action.
Change begins with individual efforts to divest from disposable water bottles, which utilize more water to manufacture than the amount found in the container. Concerted actions can begin at the grocery store, where steps such as purchasing produce in bulk and divesting from disposable plastic food containers, particularly those that are one-time use, can have an immense impact.
On August 13th, the 2017 Boston GreenFest will screen the award-winning film, A Plastic Ocean, in the Boston City Hall Atrium at 12pm. For more information, visit bostongreenfest.org/bostongreenfilmfest or plasticoceans.org.