Using Knowledge to Combat Plastic Litter

Plastic has reached even the most remote corners of the ocean – which means even species living in the polar regions and deep sea now have to contend with these long-lived relics of human civilisation. At the AWI, we’re not only investigating the scale and impacts of the problem; we’re also contributing our expertise to political decision-making processes. These include the negotiations on a UN Plastics Treaty. 

Year after year, winds and rivers, coasts, ships, and the fishing industry transport millions of metric tons of plastic to the ocean. Although it gradually breaks down into smaller and smaller bits, that doesn’t make it any less dangerous: many marine organisms ingest these particles, leading to health problems. Accordingly, when there are large concentrations of plastic in the water, it upsets the ocean’s ecological equilibrium. And the problem is more widespread than previously assumed, affecting nearly all waters.

Environmental organisations like the WWF have risen to the challenge of combatting this pollution. And the United Nations (UN) also sees the need for action. Since 2022, its member states have been negotiating on a Plastics Treaty, intended to put a stop to this particular form of marine pollution. In this regard, the scientific expertise of the AWI’s plastics specialists is essential. In 2022, they prepared a report on the topic for the WWF. And AWI experts have accompanied the UN’s Plastics Treaty negotiations from the outset as part of the German delegation. 

Moreover, they are part of the “Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastic Treaty”, a network founded in 2023 that brings together nearly 400 independent researchers from more than 30 countries. Its members address the topic in the public discourse through various publications, the media, and events. They also participate in the Plastics Treaty negotiations and support federal delegations by providing assessments and summaries of the current state of research, helping ensure that political decisions are made on the basis of the best information available.