Plastic food packaging blankets the world's coastlines, study finds

Summary

A massive study looking at litter on beaches in 112 countries found that food packaging—think wrappers, containers, and bags—is one of the biggest sources of plastic pollution washing up on shorelines worldwide. This matters because as this packaging breaks down in the sun and surf, it can shed microplastics into the ocean, which end up in seafood and drinking water, and eventually in our own bodies. The findings point to a clear culprit driving coastal plastic pollution, which could help guide efforts to cut down on single-use packaging before it reaches our beaches and our food chain.