Waste that ends up in the ocean is often overlooked. From solid garbage to sewage disposal to fertilizer runoff, more than 80% of waste that ends up in the ocean is generated on land, and one of the major contributors to this mess is plastic. And a certain type of plastic – microplastics – are wreaking havoc. These tiny toxic particles are found in many products from shower gel, toothpaste and makeup and they all wash down the drain impacting marine life and human health.

Filtering A Plastic Ocean profiles ocean activist Marc Ward and his simple invention that removes toxic microplastics from the beach, and therefore the ocean. The film explores the impact these deadly plastics have on marine wildlife and human health and shows how this ground-breaking technique is making beaches safer around the world.