Plastics have transformed every aspect of our lives. Yet the very properties that make them attractive—they are cheap to make, light, and durable—spell disaster when trash makes its way into the environment. Recent bans on single-use straws and bags have increased awareness of this issue. But, for most people, the full extent of our plastic problem is difficult to grasp. Plastic Soup: An Atlas of Ocean Pollution is a beautifully-illustrated survey of the plastics clogging our seas, their impacts on wildlife and people around the world, and inspirational initiatives designed to tackle the problem. 

In Plastic Soup, Michiel Roscam Abbing of the Plastic Soup Foundation reveals the scope of the issue: plastic trash now lurks on every corner of the planet. With striking full-color photography and graphics, Plastic Soup brings this challenge to brilliant life for readers. The book surveys topics ranging from microplastics in cosmetics and the impact of balloon releases on wildlife to toxins in the food chain and threats of nanoplastics to human health. While the book provides a realistic look at our plastic crisis, it also sends a message of hope: although the scale of the problem is massive, so too is the dedication of those working to solve it.

Check out "Chapter 3: From Soup to Broth" below, or download the PDF here