As of 2018, some 5.274 million metric tons of macroplastics were lost to the environment worldwide each year. A further 3.014 million metric tons of microplastics are lost to the environment every year. In total, 8.288 million metric tons of plastics, in large and small pieces, enters into the world's natural environment on an annual basis. This accounted for a two percent share of the plastics produced at that point in time.
Volume of macro- and microplastics lost to the environment worldwide as of 2018
(in million metric tons)
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UNEP, & GEF, & Danmarks Tekniske Universitet. (October 23, 2018). Volume of macro- and microplastics lost to the environment worldwide as of 2018 (in million metric tons) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved November 13, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1192551/macro-microplastics-volume-lost-to-environment/
UNEP, und GEF, und Danmarks Tekniske Universitet. "Volume of macro- and microplastics lost to the environment worldwide as of 2018 (in million metric tons)." Chart. October 23, 2018. Statista. Accessed November 13, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1192551/macro-microplastics-volume-lost-to-environment/
UNEP, GEF, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet. (2018). Volume of macro- and microplastics lost to the environment worldwide as of 2018 (in million metric tons). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: November 13, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1192551/macro-microplastics-volume-lost-to-environment/
UNEP, and GEF, and Danmarks Tekniske Universitet. "Volume of Macro- and Microplastics Lost to The Environment Worldwide as of 2018 (in Million Metric Tons)." Statista, Statista Inc., 23 Oct 2018, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1192551/macro-microplastics-volume-lost-to-environment/
UNEP & GEF & Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, Volume of macro- and microplastics lost to the environment worldwide as of 2018 (in million metric tons) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1192551/macro-microplastics-volume-lost-to-environment/ (last visited November 13, 2024)
Volume of macro- and microplastics lost to the environment worldwide as of 2018 (in million metric tons) [Graph], UNEP, & GEF, & Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, October 23, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1192551/macro-microplastics-volume-lost-to-environment/
