Is Plastic Killing the Earth? (Environmental Documentary) | Real Stories

Over 200 marine species ingest plastic. New research suggests that the smell of algae growing on ocean plastic attracts sea life, and animals may mistake plastic for food sources like fish eggs and jellyfish. Despite rescue efforts, predictions indicate that by 2050, there could be more plastic than fish in the ocean, highlighting the inadequacy of small-scale cleanups.

The documentary begins by highlighting plastic pollution as a major threat to the planet, with trillions of pieces choking Earth's lifeblood and endangering marine animals from plankton to the largest creatures. Wildlife biologist Liz Bonnin embarks on a mission to uncover the scale of this problem, joining expeditions and rescue missions, and meeting engineers developing solutions.

Seabirds, particularly the flesh-footed shearwater, are identified as key indicators of ocean health due to their high plastic ingestion. Liz travels to Lord Howe Island, where a large colony of these birds is being studied by Dr. Jennifer Lavers and her team. She witnesses firsthand the distressing process of shearwater chicks regurgitating plastic fed to them by their parents, noting the increase in plastic pieces found in birds over the years.

Liz observes the grim reality of plastic ingestion, with some chicks containing up to 260 pieces of plastic. Dr. Lavers' research shows that shearwaters consume the most plastic by weight of any marine animal, equivalent to a human eating 10 kilos of plastic. Furthermore, new findings suggest that chemicals on plastic can disrupt bird hormones, potentially affecting their reproduction and growth, leading to a drastic underestimation of plastic's impact.

Boyan Slat, a 24-year-old inventor, developed a massive ocean cleanup system designed to remove hundreds to thousands of tons of plastic from the ocean. His system, a 600-meter floating barrier with a three-meter curtain, uses ocean currents to collect plastic. Boyan's efforts are focused on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, aiming to clean up half of it every five years with 60 such systems.

The documentary shifts focus to the source of plastic pollution: rivers. Every minute, a million plastic bottles and disposable cups, and two million plastic bags are bought, with an entire truckload of plastic ending up in the ocean. Half of all ocean plastic is estimated to come from rivers. Liz travels to the Citarum River in Indonesia, one of the worst affected, to understand why rivers worldwide are choked with plastic.

In Indonesia, Liz witnesses an enormous raft of plastic waste spanning over a mile in the Citarum River. Locals, who were once fishermen, now collect plastic due to a 60% reduction in fish species. The problem is exacerbated by the lack of proper waste management facilities in villages upstream, leading to centuries-old practices of dumping waste into the river, now compounded by the rise of non-biodegradable plastics.

The documentary addresses the role of corporations in the plastic crisis, specifically the prevalence of small plastic sachets. These sachets make everyday essentials affordable for low-income communities but contribute significantly to plastic waste in rivers. While some companies pledge to make products recyclable by 2025, many believe this timeline is too slow, and the impact on river wildlife, like the critically endangered Mahakam River dolphins, is severe.

Liz joins Dr. Danielle Crabb and Budiono in Borneo, monitoring the few remaining Mahakam River dolphins. They reveal that, in addition to boat traffic and fishing nets, plastic is a new and grave threat. Autopsies show dolphins ingesting plastic debris, including diapers, leading to starvation. The couple's research suggests these dolphins have a very small chance of survival if pollution continues at current rates, amidst increasing industrial activity along the river.

In a display of local initiative, Armyn, a resident of Majulia, leads massive river cleanups involving the army, high school students, NGOs, and villagers. These efforts involve sifting through years of waste from makeshift dumps along the riverbanks. Despite these dedicated cleanups, the sheer volume of plastic, constantly flowing down the nearly 300-kilometer-long river, makes it an overwhelming and continuous task.

Engineers are developing technologies to capture plastic from rivers before it reaches the sea. Andrew from Sydney invented the 'Sea Bin' for harbors and smaller rivers. For high-volume rivers, 'Mr. Trash Wheels' in Baltimore Harbor uses river flow and solar power to collect tons of trash, including millions of plastic bottles and cigarette butts. In Amsterdam, engineers are experimenting with 'bubble barriers' to funnel plastic to riverbanks for collection.

Liz meets David Christian, a young Indonesian entrepreneur developing alternative materials to plastic packaging using seaweed. His innovations include seaweed-based sachets for coffee and soap, and fast-food packaging. This biodegradable solution addresses the huge problem of plastic sachets in developing countries and has garnered interest from over 200 companies, offering a promising, concrete solution to plastic pollution.

The documentary concludes by highlighting the inspiring efforts of young entrepreneurs like David Christian and Boyan Slat in combating plastic pollution. It emphasizes the need for bold, courageous action to find answers to this global crisis. The next episode promises to explore how the fishing industry's plastic impacts marine life, plastic's destruction of ocean ecosystems, and its reach into the most inaccessible wildernesses on Earth.