Plastic Pollution Growing Threat To Our Planet
Sudeepa Lakshan
June 5, 2025
Every year, on June 5th, the world pauses to reflect on the state of our environment. Since its declaration by the United Nations in 1972, World Environment Day has grown into a global platform for raising awareness and inspiring action. The theme for 2025, “Together to End Plastic Pollution,” is a powerful reminder of an escalating crisis that touches every corner of the planet.
Plastic is everywhere. It wraps our food, holds our drinks, packages our products, and even finds its way into the clothes we wear. While plastic has brought undeniable convenience and innovation, its widespread use and mismanagement have created a problem of staggering proportions. From the depths of the oceans to the peaks of mountains, plastic waste is polluting ecosystems, harming wildlife, and posing serious risks to human health. The challenge we face is not just to clean up the mess but to fundamentally rethink how we produce, use, and dispose of plastic.
The Plastic Problem – A Story of Excess
Plastic was once hailed as a revolutionary material. The invention of the first fully synthetic plastic, Bakelite, in 1907 marked a turning point in human history. It offered a cheap, durable, and versatile material that quickly found applications across industries. But things quickly took a turn. By the 1950s, global plastic production began to soar. In the 1970s, plastic waste started accumulating at an alarming rate, and by the 1990s, the problem had tripled.
Today, the world produces over 430 million tonnes of plastic every year, and more than two-thirds of it is for single-use products that are discarded within a short time. Despite the growing awareness, less than 10% of all plastic produced has ever been recycled. The rest ends up in landfills, burned in incinerators, or accumulateinto the environment.
Plastic waste has been found in the most unexpected places such as the Mariana Trench, the Arctic ice, and even the summit of Mount Everest. It has infiltrated our rivers, lakes, and oceans, where it entangles marine life and chokes coral reefs. Scientists estimate that between 75 to 199 million tonnes of plastic have already accumulated in marine environments. Every year, around 12 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans. It is roughly a truckload every minute.
Microplastics – The Invisible Threat
One of the most insidious aspects of plastic pollution is the rise of microplastics, tiny plastic particles less than five millimeters in size. These particles are created when larger plastic items break down over time due to sunlight, wind, and waves. Microplastics are now so widespread that they are found in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat.
Recent studies have detected microplastics in human organs, blood, and even in the placentas of newborn babies. In 2025, a groundbreaking study revealed microplastics in the brains of elderly patients, raising serious concerns about the potential for neurological damage. Scientists believe microplastics can trigger inflammation, disrupt hormone systems, and contribute to conditions like cancer and reproductive disorders.
The problem extends beyond microplastics. New forms of plastic pollution, like Plasticrust (where plastic bonds to rocks), Plastiglomerates (plastic fused with sand or coral), and Plastic Rain (where plastic particles fall from the sky with rain), reveal just how deeply plastic has infiltrated systems of Earth.
The Climate Connection
Plastic pollution is not just an environmental problem; it is also a climate problem. Around 98% of single-use plastics are made from fossil fuels. From extraction to production, plastic emits significant amounts of greenhouse gases. If current trends continue, plastic production could account for 19% of the global carbon budget by 2040making it a major contributor to climate change.
Burning plastic waste in incinerators releases carbon dioxide and toxic pollutants like dioxins and furans. Landfills containing plastic waste release methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Plastic in the oceans can interfere with the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon, further accelerating global warming. Tackling plastic pollution is, therefore, a crucial part of addressing the climate crisis.
Wildlife and Ecosystem Impacts
The impacts of plastic on wildlife are heartbreaking. Over 1,000 species of marine animals have been documented eating plastic or becoming entangled in it. Seabirds, turtles, whales, and fish mistake plastic for food, leading to internal injuries, starvation, and death. In 2023, researchers discovered microplastics in 90% of seabird species studied.
On land, plastic waste can clog waterways, disrupt agriculture, and degrade soil quality. Microplastics in soil can alter its structure, affecting the growth of crops and harming beneficial organisms like earthworms. Plastic pollution threatens the delicate balance of ecosystems, undermining biodiversity and resilience.
The Search for Solutions
The good news is that the world is waking up to the plastic crisis. In 2022, the United Nations began negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty aimed at creating a legally binding framework to end plastic pollution. By 2025, while progress has been made, negotiations remain challenging, with debates over the scope of the treaty, targets for plastic production reduction, and accountability for producers.
Some countries have taken bold steps. The European Union, Canada, and several G20 nations have begun phasing out oxo-degradable plastics – a type of plastic that fragments but does not truly biodegrade. Germany, South Korea, and Kenya have strengthened Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws, holding producers accountable for the full lifecycle of their plastic products.The UN Global Plastic Monitoring Network, launched in 2025, now provides real-time data on plastic pollution across ecosystems. Meanwhile, the Plastic Transition Fund has mobilized investment from development banks and private sectors to support a shift towards a circular economy.
Innovations are also emerging. In 2024, scientists developed a biodegradable sponge made from cotton and squid pen that can absorb 99.9% of microplastics from water. Other researchers are exploring enzymes that can break down plastics naturally, offering hope for future solutions.
What Can We Do?
While systemic change is essential, individual actions matter too. Here are some steps we can take:
- Refuse Single-Use Plastics – Say no to plastic straws, bags, and cutlery. Carry reusable alternatives.
- Reduce and Reuse – Buy in bulk, avoid over-packaged products, and reuse containers.
- Recycle Properly – Learn about local recycling rules and sort waste correctly.
- Support Eco-Friendly Brands – Choose products with less packaging or made from recycled materials.
- Advocate for Change – Write to policymakers, join local clean-up efforts, and raise awareness in your community.
- Educate and Engage – Talk about the plastic crisis with family, friends, and on social media. Change starts with knowledge.
A Future Within Reach
Plastic pollution may seem overwhelming, but it is a problem we can solve. History has shown that when societies unite around a cause, change is possible. The ozone layer crisis of the 1980s was addressed through the Montreal Protocol. The climate crisis is seeing growing momentum for renewable energy and emission cuts. Plastic pollution demands a similar global effort.
World Environment Day 2025 is not just a date on the calendar; it is a call to action. It is a reminder that we must choose a different path, one where plastic is no longer treated as disposable, but as a resource to be used wisely and sparingly.Together, we can reduce plastic pollution, protect wildlife, safeguard human health, and build a cleaner, more sustainable planet for generations to come.Let us act now, before the tide of plastic swallows our future.
FAQs