The UN wants to eliminate two major sources of marine litter from the oceans by 2022.

Under fire are microplastics in cosmetics and single-use plastics, such as water bottles and plastic bags, with the UN calling their use "wasteful" and "excessive".

The announcement comes as Sky's Ocean Rescue campaign highlights the widespread problems caused by plastic in the world's oceans.

How did a straw end up in this turtle's nose?

More than 300 million tonnes of plastic are used every year, with more than eight million tonnes of that leaking into the oceans.

That is the same as a rubbish truck of plastic being tipped into the ocean every minute.


Erik Solheim, the head of UN environment, said plastic litter in the world's oceans "must stop".

"Plastic pollution is surfing onto Indonesian beaches, settling onto the ocean floor at the North Pole, and rising through the food chain onto our dinner tables," he said.

"We've stood by too long as the problem has gotten worse."

Image: Plastic in the oceans is now entering our food chain

The UN launched their new global Clean Seas campaign at the World Oceans Summit in Bali.

Speaking to Sky News at the summit, the president of Plastics Europe, Patrick Thomas, said action was needed urgently.

"The most important contributions that plastics companies can make is not lose control of their product at any stage during manufacturing or during transportation," he said.

"If we don't turn off the tap of plastics going into the oceans we will end up in a situation by 2025 where there's one tonne of plastic for every three tonnes of fish and that is simply unacceptable."

:: Plastic nurdles found polluting 73% of UK beaches

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:: Coca-Cola in u-turn over plastic bottle deposit scheme

Adrian Grenier, known for his role in the TV show Entourage, is one of several high-profile supporters of the Clean Seas campaign.

He told Sky News "an economic solution to plastics" needed to be found that recognised their value but ensured they didn't "just end up in a landfill or the ocean".

"My mother taught me to respect my environment, and when I was younger to clean my room," he said.

"As I got older my room became my house, a neighbourhood and a whole planet."

To get involved in Sky Ocean Rescue, visit the campaign website here. You can also watch our documentary, A Plastic Tide.