As of 2018, some million metric tons of macroplastics were lost to the environment worldwide each year. A further million metric tons of microplastics are lost to the environment every year. In total, million metric tons of plastics, in large and small pieces, enters into the world's natural environment on an annual basis. This accounted for a two percent share of the plastics produced at that point in time.
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UNEP, & GEF, & Danmarks Tekniske Universitet. (October 23, 2018). Volume of macro- and microplastics lost to the environment worldwide as of 2018 (in million metric tons) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 15, 2026, from /statistics/1192551/macro-microplastics-volume-lost-to-environment/
UNEP, und GEF, und Danmarks Tekniske Universitet. "Volume of macro- and microplastics lost to the environment worldwide as of 2018 (in million metric tons)." Chart. October 23, 2018. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 15, 2026. /statistics/1192551/macro-microplastics-volume-lost-to-environment/
UNEP, GEF, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet. (2018). Volume of macro- and microplastics lost to the environment worldwide as of 2018 (in million metric tons). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 15, 2026. /statistics/1192551/macro-microplastics-volume-lost-to-environment/
UNEP, and GEF, and Danmarks Tekniske Universitet. "Volume of Macro- and Microplastics Lost to The Environment Worldwide as of 2018 (in Million Metric Tons)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 23 Oct 2018, /statistics/1192551/macro-microplastics-volume-lost-to-environment/
UNEP & GEF & Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, Volume of macro- and microplastics lost to the environment worldwide as of 2018 (in million metric tons) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1192551/macro-microplastics-volume-lost-to-environment/ (last visited July 15, 2026)
Volume of macro- and microplastics lost to the environment worldwide as of 2018 (in million metric tons) [Graph], UNEP, & GEF, & Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, October 23, 2018. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1192551/macro-microplastics-volume-lost-to-environment/
