Plastic soup

• English
• Higher Education (degree)
• Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4)
• Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3)

Instructies

This introduction lesson is about the size, sources and possible solutions of the plastic soup. Also the challenges of recycling and what you can do to reduce your own plastic use are discussed.

Time: 30 minutes.

Contact: [e-mail] 

©️ Plastic Soup Foundation (2021)

Learning objectives

You are able to explain the dangers of plastic

You are able to explain what we can do to reduce the amount of plastic on the planet

What do you know about the term "plastic soup" ?

Which plastic items did you use today? 

Give as many examples as possible. 

Plastic is everywhere!

How much plastic do you think is produced each year?

1. 425 million kilo
2. 425 thousand kilo
3. 425 billion kilo
4. 425 trillion kilo

That is almost 13.500 kilos plastic per second.

How many large Coca-Cola bottles would that be?

1. 650 bottles per second
2. 5,650 bottles per second
3. 106,250 bottles per second
4. 306,250 bottles per second

00:51

How much plastic ends up in de 

oceans worldwide every minute? 

1. 1 garbage container
2. 6 garbage containers
3. 1 full garbage truck
4. 6 full garbage trucks

00:51

00:51

Why is the 

plastic soup 

a problem?

00:51

Plastic does not decompose. It breaks down into smaller particles and the problem becomes larger.

02:19

Think about all the plastic that has ever been produced in the whole world. How much of it might have been recycled? Only give the percentage number.

02:41

Why is recycling still a challenge?

New plastic
is cheaper

Dull work

Sorting is complex

Plastic is often 

broken.

There are many sorts of plastics.

Too expensive

02:41

Recycling everything would be wonderful, but unfortunately this simply does not happen.

What are the sources of the plastic soup?

The plastic soup starts in your own hands...

... or chilling at a festival.

The sea starts right here. 

Rivers wash it into the ocean.

The oceans are getting polluted. 

Animals get entangled.

Animals eat it.

We eat it.

Wij eten het op.

Wij eten het op.

Wij eten het op.

What can you do to reduce your plastic consumption?

REFUSE
REDUCE
RE-USE

REPAIR
RECYCLE

Ideas for a Plastic Diet 

Let’s do this together!

Discuss in pairs of two: what are things we can do to reduce the amount of plastic?

Do you think we will solve the plastic problem?

Learning objectives

You are able to explain the dangers of plastic

You are able to explain what we can do to reduce the amount of plastic on the planet