Overview

• A study published in *Science Advances* forecasts that microplastic levels in the environment could multiply by 2060, even under strong waste-management policies.
• Annual plastic inputs to oceans are projected to peak at 23 million tonnes by 2045, with total ocean plastic mass potentially reaching 1.2 billion tonnes by 2060.
• Researchers revised previous estimates, reporting that 16 million tonnes of plastic entered oceans in 2019, significantly higher than earlier OECD figures.
• The study highlights ongoing plastic degradation at a rate of 3% per year and the role of unlined coastal landfills, which could continue releasing plastics after 2060.
• Microplastic concentrations in the ocean's upper 50 meters could rise from 6.2 ng/L in 2015 to 19–27 ng/L by 2060, underscoring persistent environmental risks.