10 Facts about Plastic Pollution for Kids

We live in a world of plastic which is harming animal and possibly human health. Plastic surrounds us. It is not just the obvious places—like bottles and carrier bags. It is also used to build our cars and phones and is found in the clothes we wear. Tiny pieces of plastic can also now be found in the food we eat and beverages we drink. Plastic is, simply, unavoidable!

This is a free-to use resource produced by Bamboo Bobbi. We are passionate about eliminating unnecessary waste, recycling properly and providing informative educational resources on environmental issues!

Plastic is a major problem.

We've compiled 10 key facts you should know about plastic pollution.

1. 91% of plastics created are not recycled

2. There is already a lot of plastic in the ocean and experts have predicted that by 2050, there will be more plastic than fish.

3. Trash islands are now more common. The biggest one is called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It is between the coasts of California and Hawaii.

4. Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic. These microplastics are made in three ways: 1. Big pieces of plastic breaking down into small ones. 2. When they are manufactured at a factory and added to products like toothpaste. 3. When our clothes contain microplastics and get washed these small bits of plastic end up flowing downstream through rivers before reaching the sea - where fish can eat them!

5. Most of the plastic that has ever been made still exists somewhere in the world today. It takes 500-1,000 years for plastic to breakdown.

6. Not all plastics are recyclable. This is because there are different types of plastic and some of them are worth more money, so they are the ones that end up being recycled.

7. Half of all the plastic that is made every year are what we call single-use plastic. These are plastics that we use once and then throw away. This includes takeaway coffee cups.

8. Every year, millions of animals die because of plastics. This happens when they eat or get trapped in plastic. Nearly 700 species are known to have been affected.

9. Over the last ten years we have produced more plastic than during the the last 100 years.

10. Plastic pollution can be found on every beach in the world. It can even be found in the Artic Ocean.

The production of virgin forest trees for toilet paper is wasteful. For every roll of regular toilet paper, 27,000 trees are destroyed. That's 9 million trees a year. And it also releases 65% more carbon emissions than bamboo toilet paper. The chemicals in regular toilet roll contain chemicals that poison our waterways and damage marine life. Bamboo Bobbi is completely natural and free from bleach, chemicals, inks, dyes, scents and plastic.

Bamboo is a fast-growing plant that can be replanted and harvested quickly. Bamboo grows very quickly, up to 3ft in one day. It can be harvested within 3-5 years, in comparison to hardwood trees that take 30-60 years to grow. Bamboo absorbs a lot of carbon dioxide. This is good for the environment because it means less pollution. Bamboo also produces more oxygen than trees. It doesn't need any fertilisers or pesticides to grow, either. All it needs is rainwater.