Everything you need to know about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a dreary reminder of the alarming issue of ocean plastic pollution. This swirling mass of discarded plastics, often called the "plastic trash vortex," has captured global attention due to its sheer size and devastating and permanent impact on marine ecosystems. Anyone who advocates for sustainability cannot ignore the dire consequences of plastic pollution on the oceans and marine life. Keep reading to dive into the origins, impact, and ongoing efforts to address the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and how we are committed to raising awareness and being part of the solution as a sustainable luggage company.   

Origins and formation of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch's origin story is a stark one. Ocean currents, primarily the North Pacific Gyre (a system of rotating ocean currents), act as a natural conveyor belt carrying marine debris from coastlines and ocean vessels. Over time, this accumulation of discarded plastics, ranging from fishing nets to bottles and bags, merged into a vast, floating garbage patch spanning thousands of miles.  

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch stays together primarily due to the North Pacific Gyre, which acts as a whirlpool, trapping marine debris within its boundaries. Plastic items that get stuck together and are not biodegradable contribute to the patch's stability.

How big is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is estimated to cover an area larger than Texas. Some reports indicate it could be twice the size of the continental United States. 

As for its growth rate, estimating the exact annual increase in the size of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is challenging due to varying ocean currents and weather patterns. Studies suggest that the patch is expanding, driven by the continued input of plastic waste into the ocean and the slow degradation of existing debris. 

Determining the exact size of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is not simple. It is complicated by the dynamic nature of ocean currents, the uneven distribution of marine debris, and the vast expanses of open water that make comprehensive surveys challenging. 

• Ocean currents: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is influenced by complex ocean currents, which can shift in intensity and direction over time. This variability makes it difficult to pinpoint the exact boundaries of the patch at any given moment.
• Dispersed debris: Marine debris in the patch is not evenly distributed but accumulates in concentrated areas within the gyre. This uneven distribution means that the density of plastic pollution can vary significantly across different parts of the patch, making it challenging to measure its overall size accurately.
• Satellite imagery limitations: While satellite imagery can provide valuable insights into the extent of the patch, it may not capture smaller pieces of debris or accurately distinguish between floating plastics and other ocean features, such as algae or natural debris.
• Underwater debris: Much of the plastic pollution in the ocean is submerged beneath the surface, making it difficult to detect and quantify using traditional survey methods.

While researchers use a combination of satellite observations, aerial surveys, and ocean sampling to study the patch, the true extent of its size remains an ongoing area of study and debate.

How the Great Pacific Garbage Patch affects marine life

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch's impact on marine life is devastating. Marine animals often mistake plastic debris for food, leading to ingestion and entanglement. Unfortunately, this can result in injury, suffocation, and death. Plastics also leach harmful chemicals into the water, further endangering marine ecosystems and the organisms that rely on them for survival. This alters the habitats of marine plants and animals, thus disrupting the natural order and balance. 

Microplastics and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

One of the most concerning aspects of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the prevalence of microplastics (plastic particles less than five millimeters in size). Marine animals ingest these microplastics, but microplastics also threaten human health when they enter the food chain through seafood consumption.  

• Marine life: Marine animals ingest and accumulate microplastics in their digestive systems, causing physical harm, blockages, and internal injuries. This ultimately reduces feeding efficiency, reproductive issues, and even death. Microplastics can also absorb and concentrate toxic pollutants from the water, further exacerbating their harmful effects on marine life when ingested.
• Environment: Microplastics survive in the environment for extended periods in the water. They can also alter soil properties, hinder plant growth, and contribute to the disruption of habitats, impacting the ocean and the land.
• Human health: Microplastics' potential harm to human health is a huge concern. Particles can enter the human body in various ways, including eating seafood, inhaling airborne particles, and exposure to microplastics in products. Once ingested, microplastics can leach harmful chemicals into the bloodstream, which poses significant risks.

Current clean-up efforts to tackle the plastic vortex

Various efforts are underway to address the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, ranging from cleanup initiatives to policy interventions to reduce plastic waste at its source. Organizations and governments worldwide are investing in technologies, strategies, and incentives to remove plastics from the ocean, including large-scale cleanup vessels, booms, and barriers.  

The Ocean Cleanup, founded by Boyan Slat in 2013, is a well-known organization with proven results dedicated to ocean and river cleanup. It uses cutting-edge technology to collect and remove plastic waste from the ocean's surface, using its currents to passively capture floating debris. The Ocean Cleanup is leading the way in driving significant change and raising awareness to clean up and protect the marine ecosystem and preserve the planet for future generations.

Complexities of ocean clean-ups

Cleaning the ocean is no small task, and as one would expect with something so large and ever-changing, the challenges seem endless. The ocean's vastness, the tides shifting garbage around, and the sheer volume of plastic pollution are just the surface. Then, the issues of what to do with the collected plastic and how to prevent future plastic from entering the waterways come into play. The efforts are futile if cleanup efforts are not complemented by measures to prevent further plastic pollution (reducing single-use plastics, improving waste management systems, and promoting sustainable alternatives). 

Plastic collected from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch gets sorted and recycled to minimize its environmental impact. Dedicated facilities sort plastic by type, color, and quality to ensure optimal recycling outcomes. Not all plastic attempting to be recycled can be reused. Still, the types are processed into raw materials used to manufacture new products.

Long Story Short...

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a painful reminder of the urgent need to address ocean plastic pollution. But this also includes taking a few steps back to address the amount of plastics being produced, initiatives to encourage reusing plastics, putting recycling methods into use, and finding affordable and accessible alternatives to single-use plastics. As a sustainable luggage company, we recognize and take very seriously our responsibility to minimize our environmental footprint and contribute to solutions that protect our oceans and marine life. By creating durable, sustainable luggage options and supporting initiatives that combat plastic pollution, we're committed to being part of the solution to ensure a cleaner, healthier planet for future generations.    

Written by Andrea Jeschke