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World Environment Day, celebrated on June 5, was established by the United Nations in 1973. This year’s host country is South Korea and the main messages are focused on fighting plastic pollution.

The theme of this year’s World Environment Day calls for action to address plastic pollution. The hashtag #BeatPlasticPollution is part of the global campaign, led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), aiming to mobilize communities worldwide to implement solutions. It builds on growing scientific evidence of the impact of plastic pollution and calls for reducing plastic use, reusing it, recycling it, and rethinking our consumption habits.

Plastics are part of everyday life, used in everything from kitchenware to medical devices. It’s estimated that humanity has produced about 9.2 billion tonnes of plastic since the mid-20th century, of which seven billion tonnes have become waste. In addition, plastic production is a major contributor to the climate crisis. It is among the most energy-intensive industrial processes, accounting for approximately 6% of global oil consumption.

Each year, some 11 million tonnes of plastic waste end up in rivers, lakes, seas, and finally, oceans. Plastic breaks down into microplastics—tiny fragments measuring between one nanometer and five millimeters. Such particles have been found in the deepest part of the ocean, the Mariana Trench, as well as on the highest point on Earth – Mount Everest.

An individual consumes over 50,000 plastic particles per year on average

Plastic enters the bodies of humans and animals through breathing and ingestion. It is estimated that each person on the planet consumes more than 50,000 plastic particles annually, and much more when inhalation is taken into account. Some studies suggest that nanoplastics smaller than one micrometer can even pass through the skin.

Microplastics also accumulate in soil through sewage, landfills, and the use of plastic in agriculture. One study found that microplastics disrupt photosynthesis, which may threaten food production.

The annual social and environmental cost of plastic pollution is estimated to be between USD 300 billion and USD 600 billion.

Circular economy as a solution

The key to reducing plastic waste lies in shifting to the principles of a circular economy. It involves rethinking how plastic products are designed, produced, and used. Current estimates show that only 21% of plastic is economically recyclable, meaning the value of the recycled material is high enough to cover the cost of collection, sorting, and processing. In reality, only around 9% of the plastic produced is recycled.

Plastic products should be designed to be reusable, and recyclable at the end of their life cycle. Additionally, companies should stop adding unnecessary microplastics to their products.

Strengthening waste collection and recycling systems would help prevent plastic products from entering the environment, where they break down into microplastics.

South Korea is among the trailblazers in tackling plastic waste

This year’s host of World Environment Day is the Jeju province in South Korea, which is among the countries leading the efforts to tackle plastic waste. It relies on decades of its experience engaging businesses through extended producer responsibility.

South Korea’s plastics strategy addresses the entire life cycle – from production and design to use, reuse, and recycling. Through collaboration between the government, industry, and citizens, the country is building a circular economy and reducing waste at the source.

In 2022, Jeju, an island and archipelago, set the goal to become free of plastic pollution by 2040. It is the only province in South Korea where residents are required to dispose of waste at specialized recycling centers, encouraging better waste separation and higher recycling rates. Jeju was also the first to introduce a deposit-refund system for single-use cups.