Microplastics are not just an environmental issue –they are a planetary emergency, according to Bengt Rittri, Swedish ecopreneur and founder of Bluewater, a firm specialising in clean drinking water and beverage solutions.
His warning follows a landmark study published in Nature that warned microplastics are now so deeply embedded in the ocean’s structure that they alter the Earth’s fundamental biogeochemical processes.
The international study, which rigorously analysed data from 1,885 ocean stations between 2014 and 2024 using state-of-the-art sampling and analysis techniques, found microplastic particles – ranging in size from 1 to 100 micrometers – permeating the entire water column, from the surface to depths of over 6,800 meters. Concentrations exceeded 13,500 particles per cubic meter in the Mariana Trench and averaged 2,200 particles per cubic meter in the upper 200 meters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Researchers documented that plastic debris, particularly buoyant polymers and dense materials like PET, now contributes ‘allochthonous carbon’ to marine ecosystems. This term refers to carbon that originates from outside the ecosystem, in this case, from the breakdown of plastic. This artificial carbon presence not only distorts carbon dating by up to 420 years but also threatens key biological processes such as nitrification and denitrification, which are essential for maintaining marine life and regulating the climate.
Rittri emphasised: “It is painfully clear that we’ve allowed plastic pollution to compromise the planet’s life-support systems. This is not just about litter or aesthetics but protecting the integrity of Earth’s oceans and atmosphere. Microplastics are a planetary emergency.
“Every action matter and every single-use plastic bottle not used is a step toward restoring planetary health. As a purpose-driven company, we call on global leaders, businesses, and citizens to act now to eliminate single-use plastic bottles and support sustainable water solutions.”