The oceans are choking on plastic. From microplastics in fish to vast garbage patches floating in the Pacific, plastic pollution has become a global emergency. But when it comes to fixing the problem, the question of responsibility is far more complex than it appears. Is it the consumer, for using single-use plastics? The corporations, for producing and marketing them? The governments, for weak regulations? Or perhaps the global system that enables it all? The truth is, responsibility lies at every level. Plastic production has skyrocketed over the past 50 years, with the vast majority used for packaging that is discarded almost immediately. Recycling rates remain dismally low, and much of the world’s plastic waste ends up in waterways—often exported from wealthy nations to less developed ones. Corporations have long deflected blame through “recycling” campaigns while continuing to produce billions of tons of new plastic. Governments have been slow to implement bans, deposit systems, or producer responsibility laws. Consumers, meanwhile, often lack sustainable alternatives due to cost or accessibility. Solving the ocean plastic crisis requires a systemic shift: reducing plastic production, redesigning products and packaging, investing in waste infrastructure, and holding producers accountable. Ultimately, it’s not just about cleaning up the mess—it’s about changing the system that creates it.