World Environment Day Calls On You To #BeatPlasticPollution

Why is the full lifecycle of plastics — including production — so important? Plastic degrades into microplastics, pieces less than 5 millimeters long. Nanoplastics, which measure less than 1 micrometer, are the smallest of these and the most likely to get into our blood and tissues. World Environment Day, which took place on June 5, 2025, called for collective action to tackle this plastic pollution by drawing inspiration from nature and showcasing real-world solutions.

The theme of the World Environment Day 2025 was #BeatPlasticPollution, a campaign led by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) to encourage individuals, organizations, industries, and governments to adopt sustainable practices that drive systemic change.

It was no coincidence that the event came exactly two months before countries meet again to continue negotiating a global treaty to end plastic pollution.

The need to develop a common understanding of what constitutes a healthy, circular economy for plastics must be developed and implemented — soon. That’s because the world produces more than 460 million tons of plastic every year. These tiny plastic particles are affecting humans and other life on Earth in serious ways.

Inger Andersen, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program, spoke at the World Environment Day 2025 commemoration ceremony.

“Ending plastic pollution is clearly a human health, planetary health, economic health and business health imperative. And ending plastic pollution is possible. But we cannot lean solely on recycling. Only by tackling the full life cycle, as well as using circular approaches, can we ensure that plastic pollution stays out of our oceans, our soils, and our bodies. This means a complete rethink of how we design, make, use, and reuse plastics.”

On June 4, a pre-World Environment Day forum, “A New Beginning with Plastic Production Cut — Towards an Ambitious Global Plastics Treaty,” was hosted by Uproot Plastics, a coalition comprised of 16 domestic and international NGOs committed to eradicating plastic pollution. The Coalition seeks action for a carcinogen-free Korea. Uproot Plastics (플뿌리연대) called for “Korea to step up, restore trust, and lead the world toward a strong, legally binding agreement to end plastic pollution.”

Ironically, South Korea, the host of this year’s World Environment Day, is the fourth largest producer of plastic polymers as of 2024, behind Saudi Arabia, the United States, and China in the lead.

A World Environment Day press release described South Korea’s “ambitious campaign to reduce plastic pollution, drawing on the combined might of governments, businesses, and citizens.” The idea is to reduce the number of single-use plastic products used by consumers while reusing and recycling as much as possible to support circularity. (Guess South Korea didn’t get an advanced copy of Andersen’s speech, eh?) The province’s goal is to end plastic pollution by 2040. A pillar of that plan is convincing residents to abandon single-use plastics.

How Pervasive is Plastic in our Environment?

Plastic is found in so many places in our lives that we’ve become desensitized to it.

Plastics and microplastics are now ubiquitous in our environment. They are becoming part of the Earth’s fossil record and a marker of the Anthropocene, our current geological era. They have even given their name to a new marine microbial habitat called the “plastisphere.” Plastics are increasingly found in all environmental media, including terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere. Each year, approximately 13 million tons of plastics accumulate in our soils.

The truth about plastics is perverse. They have infiltrated every part of the environment and human life cycle. Plastics can break down into microplastics in the environment, potentially contaminating drinking water and soil. Scientific research tells us that these microplastics reside in human matrices, including lungs, placenta, blood, organs, breast milk, and even in fetuses before they’re born.

Plastics generate huge and ever-growing amounts of carbon emissions. They are filling up our oceans, choking marine ecosystems, and infiltrating the coastal communities who rely on marine habitats.

Have you ever thought about that clear plastic over your takeout spicy chicken wings or prepped veggie and hummus sandwich? Yes, it’s true that packaging is necessary for food to be delivered in good quality all the way from production to consumption. Disposable packaging is really convenient, too, so it’s become an essential part of most contemporary food and beverage supply chains. Yet environmental problems related to packaging waste have grown exponentially during the last decades.

A recent global study has revealed a concerning link between microplastic pollution and declining food production. Researchers analyzed over 3,000 data points, revealing that microplastics disrupt photosynthesis in plants and algae, which could lead to an annual reduction of up to 360 million metric tons in crop production and 24 million metric tons in seafood harvests. The study found that microplastic pollution reduces photosynthesis efficiency by 7-12% in plants and algae, primarily by decreasing chlorophyll levels by 11-13%. Smaller microplastics (≤100 nm) have a greater impact because they can penetrate cells more easily, disrupting energy production, increasing oxidative stress, and interfering with key photosynthetic enzymes. Additionally, microplastics create shading effects that further limit light absorption.

Wastewater effluents contain various types of microplastics (MPs), among which polyethylene terephthalate (PET) MPs are the most abundant, constituting approximately 50% of MPs in the effluents. In fact, as an extensively used polymer in disposable plastic containers, PET accounts for 12% of global solid waste. That’s why research has zeroed in on the fate of PET, especially within the context of the biodeterioration and biodegradation of PET plastic materials by wastewater treatment plant-associated microorganisms.

Current projections are for plastic production to triple by 2060 unless world leaders take significant action.

What’s Next in the Plastic Pollution Fight?

Countries will vote on a plastics treaty ban on August 5-14 in Geneva, Switzerland. The outcome is unclear, as a small number of mainly petrochemical producing nations have consistently blocked progress towards a treaty. Ana Rocha, GAIA’s Global Plastics Policy Director states, “It’s time to turn off the plastics tap.”

In the meantime, there are steps we each can take to reduce plastic absorption in our own lives.

Stop drinking from plastic water bottles — reject all single-use plastics.
Don’t heat food in plastic containers.
Use glass or steel containers for food storage.
Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables so you avoid the microplastics in packaged and highly processed foods.
Buy in bulk, and bring your own reusable bags to carry the groceries home.

“The choices we make can help shape industries, shift markets, and redefine our collective future,” Andersen reminded her audience. “So, on World Environment Day, let us all pledge to do what we can to end plastic pollution.”