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 ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½app×îа汾. Retrieved August 20, 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. ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½app×îа汾. Accessed August 20, 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). ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½app×îа汾. ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½app×îа汾 Inc.. Accessed: August 20, 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)." ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½app×îа汾, ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½app×îа汾 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) ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½app×îа汾, /statistics/1192551/macro-microplastics-volume-lost-to-environment/ (last visited August 20, 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/
