There is so much plastic in the world, it could easily be viewed as the signature waste of the human race.

From Tupperware to the bumper on your hybrid car, much of plastic benefits people every day. But a great deal of plastic has become a lingering, cancerous pollution that kills animals, fish and mammals.

The Surfrider Foundation, a nonprofit water quality and coastal preservation organization, estimates that nearly every piece of plastic that was ever created is still out there — and a lot of it is in the ocean. Each year it kills 1 million seabirds and 100,000 mammals who either ingest it or get tangled in it.

So last month, the ocean watchdog group launched a national campaign, Rise Above Plastics, to reduce the amount of plastic waste in the ocean. The group's O'ahu chapter kicked off the local campaign earlier this month. It plans to work with other environmental groups to educate the public, said Krista Ruchaber, co-founder of Styrophobia, a local company that sells biodegradable takeout containers, cups and cutlery.

Styrophobia and Ruchaber, the company's 35-year-old managing partner, were honored by the Surfrider Foundation at its annual John Kelly Environmental Achievement Awards.

Ruchaber offered her take on the problem of plastic pollution.

What does Rise Above Plastics hope to achieve?

"It is about educating the public about choices," she said. "All this affects every person on the island. Everybody is paying for our landfill. So when I say consequences for our choices, I am talking about all the Styrofoam and plastics that are going to our landfill and the impact of that. How about the plastic bags that are flying in the trade winds into the ocean? What about the animals getting entangled in that?"

How are plastics threatening the quality of life in Hawai'i?

"Marine debris is a problem for mammals and there is ongoing research indicating that carcinogens are in plastics," Ruchaber said. "We are looking at human health issues. We are not sustainable as an island chain. We do know the quality of the water is changing out there and that is related to tourism. Our main economy is tourism and if we are killing and affecting what is bringing people here, how are we being sustainable? It is very counterproductive."

So everyone in the Islands has a stake in reducing the amount of plastic pollution in Hawai'i?

"Hawai'i is this paradise," she said. "Everyone in the world sees us as a paradise, so we have a responsibility and an opportunity to make an example of that. It doesn't take that drastic a change in your lifestyle for each person individually to do this. There are very simple things you can do that can make a large impact."

OK, what can people do to reduce the proliferation of single-use plastic items?

"Take your own bag to the store," Ruchaber said. "Carry your own reusable container, either for your water or your coffee in the morning. And chose not to accept Styrofoam and plastics. Make conscious choices. When you go to restaurants, ask for biodegradables."

How much impact can one person really have?

"It does take some changes in initial thinking, but it is rewarding," she said. "We all have to believe that we do make a difference and that we can make an impact, and collectively it will be a huge difference."