Ahead of the Curve: GRID-Arendal Annual Report 2016

Selected publications

Fabres, J., Savelli, H., Schoolmeester, T., Rucevska, I. and Baker, E. 2016. Marine Litter Vital Graphics. United Nations Environment Programme and GRID- Arendal. Nairobi and Arendal. www.grida.no/publications/vg/marine-litter

Neumann, C., T. Bryan, L. Pendleton, A. Kaup, J. Glavan (eds). 2015. The Ocean and Us . AGEDI Abu Dhabi, UAE/GRID-Arendal, Arendal, Norway. www.grida.no/publications/the-ocean-and-us

Are most of the plastics produced still around?

ca 70 years

Average human life expectancy

2 nd generation

3 rd generation

4 th generation

few minutes to few days

Use lifespan of single use plastic products

few weeks to few years

Use lifespan of short-lived plastic products

ca 30 years

Use lifespan of long-lived plastic products

Estimated time range for plastic degradation in the marine environment

Hundreds to thousands of years

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Source: Barnes, D. K., et al., Accumulation and fragmentation of plastic debris in global environments, Biological Sciences

Graphic from the Marine Litter Vital Graphics

24