Last Updated on: 16th May 2025, 03:14 pm
Microplastics have escalated from an environmental nuisance to a full-scale planetary emergency, according to Swedish sustainability entrepreneur Bengt Rittri, founder of clean water technology company Bluewater.
His comments follow a major peer-reviewed study published in Nature, which shows that microplastics have infiltrated ocean ecosystems so extensively that they are now affecting fundamental Earth systems.
Drawing on data from 1,885 marine monitoring stations spanning a decade (2014–2024), the study utilised cutting-edge detection methods to identify microplastic particles, sized between 1 and 100 micrometres, dispersed throughout the ocean’s depths – from surface waters to more than 6,800 metres below. Notably, the Mariana Trench exhibited concentrations over 13,500 particles per cubic metre, while upper Atlantic waters averaged 2,200 per cubic metre.
Researchers concluded that plastic waste, including both buoyant and dense polymers like PET, is introducing ‘allochthonous carbon’ – carbon not naturally part of the marine system – into the ocean. This human-derived carbon is not only distorting radiocarbon dating techniques by several centuries but is also threatening critical processes such as nitrification and denitrification, with implications for marine life and climate balance.
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.”
To address this crisis, Bluewater is scaling up efforts to reduce exposure to microplastics at the consumption level. The firm produces advanced water purifiers suitable for domestic, commercial, and recreational use, which are designed to remove plastic particles, toxic chemicals like PFAS, and heavy metals such as lead from drinking water. Bluewater also offers eco-friendly hydration options, including durable stainless-steel bottles, aimed at curbing the use of disposable plastic bottles.
“Every action matters, and every single-use plastic bottle not used is a step toward restoring planetary health,” Rittri added. “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.”
Further details on Bluewater’s sustainable technologies and environmental initiatives are available at www.bluewatergroup.com.
