Open 9 am - 6 pm

Strolling along Lake Michigan with a plastic water bottle in hand, it’s hard to imagine how one item of plastic could do any harm. But once it’s thrown in the water or discarded on the beach it eventually breaks down into smaller pieces and pollutes a large freshwater ecosystem. Understanding where our plastic goes helps protect aquatic wildlife in our very own backyard — the Great Lakes. We are all connected by water and keeping our lakes, rivers and streams clean is essential for the health of aquatic animals and people alike.

Shedd's Oceanarium sits on the lake next to the Chicago skyline.

The Cost of Convenience

Plastic consumption is hard to ignore in our daily lives. From coffee served in plastic cups to online orders arriving with Styrofoam packing peanuts, plastic has a constant presence.

These common single-use plastic culprits, which also include straws, cutlery, grocery bags, water bottles and more, are all plastics that live a short life – they are normally used once, thrown away to go to the landfill or left littering our streets and shores. Yes, these items are momentarily convenient and useful, but when thrown away take up to 20 years to degrade into microplastics that make their way into our local rivers, lakes and streams.

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic that are less than 5 millimeters (about 0.2 inches) in size – roughly the thickness of a pencil! These plastic bits are hard to trace and end up consumed by many animals, like fish, which are then eaten by humans. As the food chain climbs, so does the amount of microplastic in the given animal or individual.

Taking action to stop plastic from getting into our waters at any point of their existence, like switching to reusable bottles or foregoing a straw, lowers the amount of microplastic entering our Great Lakes.

A clump of plastic garbage floats just off the shore of Lake Michigan.
Plastic and foam debris floats in the waters of Lake Michigan, visible from the edge of a pedestrian path bordering the lake along Chicago's skyline.

Plastic in Our Great Lakes

More than 22 million pounds of plastic enter the Great Lakes each year, which mainly comes from local sources. Moved by global ocean currents, trash and debris can travel to faraway coasts, but these currents do not exist in the Great Lakes. The plastic bottles, food wrappers and straws we see on our beaches and in our waters most frequently come directly from our communities.

The same can be said for rivers. The Chicago River can transport plastic that, if not intercepted during programs like Shedd Aquarium Action Days, makes its way further downstream to the Mississippi River, and eventually the ocean. Early plastic prevention is crucial in these situations since it can prevent further water contamination.

The Great Lakes are also a source of drinking water for over 40 million people. Even with proper filtration systems in place, the greater the amount of plastic entering our lakes, the higher the chance of microplastics entering our drinking water. Currently, almost all species of fish have microplastics in their bloodstream, negatively affecting their bodily functions. Being aware of the consequences of plastic and actively lowering the amount of plastic you use is critical to protect aquatic ecosystems and safeguard our sources of drinking water.

To young beach cleanup participants comb the grassy areas next to the beach for trash.
A beach cleanup participant carries a bucket along the water line looking for trash.

How to Take Action

These statistics can be a bit daunting, but there are ways where we can all make a difference. When we work together, the transition away from single-use plastics will result in less pollution.

Shedd fights against plastic pollution through reducing plastic use at Shedd, advocacy for local, state and national legislation that supports plastic reduction and organizing Shedd Aquarium Action Days including litter cleanups along the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. Action days are open to anyone who wants to help make a difference, like you!

You can also combat plastic pollution by investing in reusable products such as crocheted produce bags, metal water bottles and glass food containers. Additionally, choosing products at the store with minimal or no plastic packaging is an influential way to align your purchasing power with your environmental values.

Talking to your friends and family about plastic pollution can also have a real impact. Discussing the effects of plastic pollution can inspire attitude and behavior changes in your inner circle that can lead to even bigger shifts for businesses, corporations and governments.

The Let’s Shedd Plastic program supports restaurants and local businesses that are working to limit their reliance on plastic products. You can share this mission with your favorite restaurants in your own community, too! Making your neighborhood’s businesses aware of plastic free solutions can help trigger a ripple effect of change for your whole community.

Plastic consumption is steadily climbing and so is the need for plastic awareness and immediate action. The presence of plastic in our Great Lakes hinders aquatic animals and the surrounding communities from thriving.

Acknowledging the danger of plastic pollution and making the choice to do something about it will result in more protection for our shared waters. Shedd recognizes our connection to the Great Lakes and believes if we all act, in our own way, we can preserve our Great Lakes for future generations!