5 Ways To Fight Ocean Pollution From Home

By the end of the 21st century, we will lose 90 percent of coral reefs! While 50 percent of the coral reefs have already died in the past 30 years. The sea surface temperature has gone up by 0.7°C globally and will continue to rise in the coming years. With the rise in sea surface temperature (SST), a majority of the pelagic life will vanish with it too.

Today, a large number of marine life face the fear of extinction, and many have gone extinct. The primary reason for all such changes is unchecked human activity leading to ocean pollution through plastic use, chemical and toxic waste release in water streams by industrial activities, unsustainable fishing and unruly consumption and wastage patterns.

Why is ocean pollution bad?

We always talk about climate change, global warming and connect it to planting more trees and going green. However, did you know the oceans are the lungs of our planet? About 70 percent of the oxygen we breathe is produced by marine plants, 28 percent by rainforests, and only 2 percent generates from other sources. The marine plants responsible for the production of oxygen are phytoplankton, kelp and algal plankton. The oxygen is a byproduct of their process of photosynthesis. By polluting the oceans, we are slowly suffocating ourselves. Killing the very lungs of our planet will have destructive implications. Nevertheless, there are an endless amount of issues that can be discussed to understand how the lungs of our planet are slowly succumbing to the pollution generated by us.

How can we fight ocean pollution?

There are many people working day and night to help the oceans. However, have you ever wondered how powerful you could be to tackle ocean pollution? As a consumer, we are powerful, and our choices have a long term impact. There are many ways in which we could fight ocean pollution. Whether sitting at home or in the office, we can actively help the oceans!

Five simple ways to fight ocean pollution sitting at home –

1. Say no to single-use plastic – The great pacific garbage patch is the most massive accumulation of ocean plastic and is three times the size of France. The amount of plastic the entire world generates in a year is enough to build 50 pyramids of Giza, that is over 350 million tons of plastic waste generated annually. Plastic pollution is a big menace to the planet, and you could help fight it by saying no to single-use plastic.

• Switch to products that use eco-friendly packaging to reduce plastic footprint. 
• Avoid single-use cutlery and polythene bags. 
• Switch to bamboo toothbrushes.
• Choose homemade chocolates over plastic-wrapped chocolates. 

Remember, every piece of trash that we produce can find its way into the oceans.

2. Choose eco-conscious brands – As a consumer, we are powerful. Choosing sustainable brands should be the norm and can help fight ocean pollution. Brands that care about the environment should be supported. Do not hesitate to question a brand about the sustainable practices they follow to help fight pollution. After all, it is our choices today that will define the future for our oceans.

3. Segregate Waste – Segregating waste is the process of separating wet and dry waste or organic & inorganic waste. Segregation can drastically reduce the amount of garbage that gets landfilled, resulting in lower levels of air and water pollution. Waste segregation makes it easier to apply different processes to the waste like composting, recycling or incineration.

• Keep separate bins for wet and dry waste.
• Compel the society or neighbourhood you live in, to start waste segregation.
• Bid the local Government authority to initiate a waste segregation model in the neighbourhood.

4. Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle – We have known the 3R’s since the time we understood how to read. How many of us genuinely implement the 3R’s in our life? Not creating new waste is crucial, but recycling and reusing are equally essential. There are many ways we could implement the 3R’s in our lives –

• Often we throw away used deodorant bottles. Why not a cool DIY deodorant recipe instead? That way, we could eliminate much waste.
• We could get super creative with used glass jars, cans and containers. How about making a bird feeder, or pantry storage, or maybe a set of drinking glasses?
• How many clothes do we use in a lifetime? Check out these fabulous used clothes upcycling ideas on Pinterest.

There can be many ways by which we can reduce, reuse and recycle. Get creative and spread the joy of upcycling. Have creative ideas to fight ocean pollution with the help of 3R’s? Let us know and get featured on our social media!

5. Support Non-Profits – There are many ways to support a non-profit organisation striving to fight ocean pollution. Right from our desks, we can contribute by way of donations or merely help them spread the word through social media.

Every small action counts. To fight ocean pollution not only conservationists or Governments play an important role but also as individuals, we can play a significant role to fight ocean pollution right from our doorstep.

A little about us

Kuddle Life Foundation is a marine conservation NGO based out of the beautiful coast of Pondicherry, India. We strive to be a platform for conservation of the beautiful marine ecosystem and streamlining marine conservation into the community. Our programs include artificial reef, education & outreach, marine & mammal rescue and pollution & waste management. 

Are you passionate about marine conservation and think could contribute in some way for the cause? We would love to hear your ideas. Get In Touch!