The world’s oceans will be filled with more plastic than fish by 2050, the World Economic Forum said.

Plastic has become one of the world’s most popular materials. It’s usage has increased 20-fold in the past 50 years and is expected to double in the next 20 years. The report, from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, says that 95% of plastic packaging is lost to the economy every year after a single use, costing an estimated $80-120 billion annually. Only 14% of plastic packaging is collected for recycling. 40% ends up in a landfill and the rest finds its way into the ocean. 32% of all plastic packaging escapes collection systems, imposing economic costs by hurting natural systems like the ocean.

Experts predict that by 2050, the amount of plastics produced globally will increase three times to 1,124 million tons, according to CNN Money. It is estimated that oceans will have more plastic than fish by 2050.

This is damaging to wildlife, like birds who eat it or turtles that get caught in it. Fish, which we consume, also eat micro plastics, which means that we end up eating some of the plastic that goes into those waters.

One solution that the report proposes is for manufacturers to produce reusable and compostable plastic items.

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