International Plastic Bag Free Day is celebrated on 3 July and aims to reduce the negative impact plastic bags have on the environment and promote their reduction and responsible use.

International Plastic Bag Free Day is celebrated on 3 July with the aim of raising awareness of the negative impact plastic bags have on the environment and promoting their reduction and responsible use.

More than one billion plastic bags per year and 150 years for their degradation

It is estimated that a plastic bag can take more than 150 years to degrade. However, it is important to note that decomposition does not mean that they disappear completely, but that they fragment into microplastics that can persist for hundreds of years.

As for the number of plastic bags consumed, it is difficult to provide an exact figure due to the large number of bags used worldwide. According to estimates by the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), it is estimated that around one trillion plastic bags are consumed globally each year. However, these figures may vary depending on the region and country.

Plastics make up 85% of marine litter

The increasing pollution caused by the excessive use of plastics represents a serious global environmental challenge, generating negative environmental, economic, social and health impacts within the framework of sustainable development. Without effective and necessary measures to change the current situation, the amount of plastic waste entering aquatic ecosystems is expected to increase significantly, from around 9 to 14 million tonnes per year in 2016, to a projected 23 to 37 million tonnes per year by 2040.

According to the UN Environment Programme’s report “From Pollution to Solution: A Global Assessment of Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution”, despite current initiatives and efforts, the amount of plastics in the oceans is estimated to be between 75 and 199 million tonnes, accounting for 85% of marine litter.