Have you heard about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? It's like a total disaster zone, guys. It's just like those crazy earthquakes that completely obliterate cities, except instead of shaking things up, it's a huge mess of plastic trash that's causing major harm to both the environment and human health. 

This garbage patch is seriously massive, like twice the size of Texas! And get this, estimates say there's somewhere between 1.27 to 2.66 million tons of plastic waste in there. How insane is that? All of this plastic comes from all sorts of places like rivers, boats, and even things we do on land.

But the worst part is how much it's messing with the ocean and the creatures living in it. Like, did you know that up to 70% of the trash actually sinks to the bottom of the ocean and breaks down into tiny pieces of plastic? That stuff pollutes the water and makes life really tough for marine animals to live.

For example, sea turtles think plastic bags are jellyfish, and birds like albatrosses mistake plastic pellets for fish eggs. And that's not even the worst part! The plastic messes up the whole food chain by blocking sunlight from getting to plankton and algae which are super important for the ocean's ecosystem. 

But wait, there's more. This garbage patch isn't just bad for animals, it's bad for us too. When plastic waste in the ocean absorbs nasty chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA), it can seriously mess with our environment and our health. And when animals eat this plastic, they keep all those toxins inside their bodies. If we eat those animals, we're putting ourselves at risk too.

And it's not just big plastic pieces causing the problem either. Did you know that 60% of clothing materials are made of plastic like nylon, acrylic, and polyester? So, when we wash our clothes, we're actually adding even more tiny bits of plastic to the ocean.

The numbers are totally insane. Cigarette filters make up 32% of plastic waste in the ocean, while food packaging and bottle caps make up 9% and 8%, respectively. And in the US alone, we toss out 138 billion plastic stirrers each year, along with 2 billion razors and 1 billion toothbrushes. We need to seriously clean up our act before it's too late.

… What then? 

The consequence of our inaction is our downfall. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a wake-up call for us all to change our ways and take responsibility for the plastic waste we generate. 

One solution to this problem is to prioritize sustainability and embrace a circular economy. A circular economy is basically an economic system designed to eliminate waste and promote the continual use of resources. This means we can reduce our reliance on single-use plastics and other unsustainable materials and instead focus on products that are designed to be reused and recycled – like Loop Mobile’s amazing, refurbished Apple products. 

At Loop Mobile, we're proud to be part of the movement towards a more sustainable future. We've partnered with Apple to offer refurbished Apple products to our customers, including the revolutionary refurbished iPhone 13.  

By choosing a refurbished Apple product instead of a new one, not only can you save hundreds of dollars, but you can also reduce your environmental impact. Plus, by working with Apple, we know we're partnering with a company that's committed to sustainability and reducing their own carbon footprint. 

There are so many solutions out there to combat plastic pollution. Whether it's supporting companies that prioritize sustainability, reducing our own consumption of single-use plastics, or advocating for policies that promote a circular economy, each of us has the power to make a difference. By working together, we can create a future that's both beautiful and sustainable - a future that we can all be proud to leave for the next generation. 

Please remember that Marine Conservation Institute needs our help to not only raise the alarm but also to help save the oceans.  

So, let's take a page out of those stats reports and come together to support each other and the circular economy. Let's make it a priority and give it the attention it deserves. Folks, we can do this!