Clearing up the future of the planet 07:00 | 07/06/2021 There could be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050, warned the Ellen MacArthur Foundation five years ago. Today, this warning still holds value if business continues as usual. The G20, inter-regional projects like Rethinking Plastics, and groups of scientists have taken the initiative and are trying their utmost to reduce marine litter and protect the future of our ocean as well as ourselves. Plastic is used all over the world for thousands of applications in many economic sectors. Its low cost, light weight, durability, and flexibility to be shaped and coloured in any form have pushed the material onto the shelves of supermarkets, into childrenâs toy collections, and their parentsâ houses and vehicles. However, its popularity and ubiquitous application have also caused major pollution and waste challenges, with an estimated 11 million tonnes of plastic leaking into the ocean every year â a figure that is expected to nearly triple to 29 million tonnes in 2040 without intervention.