Doing nothing is crazier

​The ocean is the origin and the engine of all life on this planet — and it is under threat. How would a child's imagination address this crisis?

Some ideas might sound crazy. But doing nothing is crazier.

 

Earth’s vast oceans regulate our climate, make our planet livable, and have long been viewed as an infinite supply of food and a bottomless repository for our waste – but they have been pushed to the brink. Fortunately, it’s not too late to clean up our act. It’s time we #DoSomething. So, what would you do to protect Earth’s oceans? Even while we are dreaming up the big ideas, let’s do every little thing that makes a difference, on our own and together. Doing nothing is not an option. Video presented in partnership with SC Johnson and voice for the ocean provided by Philippe Cousteau #BigNatureIdeas #DoSomething LEARN MORE: conservation.org/dosomething

Scroll down to see more films in this series.

 

The problem

8
MILLION METRICS TONS
Eight million metric tons: That’s how much plastic we dump into the oceans each year. That’s about 17.6 billion pounds — or the equivalent of nearly 57,000 blue whales — every single year. By 2050, ocean plastic will outweigh all of the ocean’s fish.
400
YEARS
The sun and waves can break down ocean trash into smaller pieces known as microplastic. It can then find its way into the food chain. When it eventually degrades (which takes 400 years for most plastic), the process releases chemicals that further contaminate the sea.
1.8
TRILLION PIECES OF PLASTIC
There’s so much junk floating in the sea, the debris has formed giant garbage patches. There are five of them around the world, and the largest — the Great Pacific Garbage Patch — includes an estimated 1.8 trillion pieces of trash. That’s an area twice the size of Texas.

 

Now, what's your idea?

Take the pledge

Our planet is facing a plastic pollution crisis. From the bags we use to carry our groceries, to the microfibers on our clothing, to the disposable containers from our to-go meals, plastic is everywhere — and it’s ending up in our oceans. But it's not too late to make a difference.

 

Made possible with support from:

As a company at work for a more sustainable and waste-free world, SC Johnson teamed up with longtime partner Conservation International to develop this film - just one example of how teams at SC Johnson are working to highlight and help mitigate the impacts that plastic waste can have on ocean ecosystems. Other initiatives include: producing The Blue Paradox, an educational, immersive experience designed to demonstrate the scale of the ocean plastic crisis; partnering with organizations and sports teams to close the loop with innovative recycling systems; and developing products and packaging that use less plastic. Learn more about how SC Johnson is taking action to end plastic waste.

 

Voice for the ocean provided by Philippe Cousteau.