
Macroplastics are plastic pieces larger than 5 millimetres, originating from larger manufactured items such as bottles, packaging, and containers, or from larger debris that has broken into smaller fragments. In the ocean, they are gradually broken down by sunlight, wave action, and physical abrasion into progressively smaller pieces, eventually becoming microplastics. During this process, they can be ingested or entangle marine life, cause injury, block digestive systems, and introduce toxins into marine ecosystems.
Unaltered beach found macroplastics