World Environment Day 2025: Let’s put an end to plastic pollution

On June 5th, we celebrate another edition of World Environment Day, a key moment to reflect on how we coexist with the planet. This year’s slogan, promoted by the UN, is direct and powerful: “Beat plastic pollution”.

The goal? To tackle one of the greatest environmental and health challenges of our time. Because plastic, despite its usefulness in many areas, has created a global crisis that affects everyone, from ecosystems to our own bodies.

Plastic: from revolutionary invention to global problem

Since the mid-20th century, plastic production has been growing non-stop. Today, over 430 million tonnes are produced every day. A large share is used for packaging and single-use items, many of which are used for just a few minutes but take hundreds of years to break down.

Poor plastic waste management has caused an alarming increase in pollution in oceans, rivers, soils, and even the atmosphere. But beyond the environmental impact, there’s rising concern about the presence of microplastics in our daily lives.

Microplastics: invisible but everywhere

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles (less than 5 mm) that can come from the breakdown of larger plastics, synthetic clothing, packaging degradation, or cosmetics containing microbeads. They have already been found in surprising places:

In drinking water (bottled and tap).
In food like fish, seafood, and salt.
In the placenta of unborn babies.
In human blood, lungs, and even the brain.

The challenge of recycling and the importance of proper waste management

Only a small fraction of global plastic is effectively recycled. This is due to various factors: hard-to-separate packaging design, material contamination, lack of infrastructure, or low citizen participation.

That’s why responsible waste management at both institutions and business levels is essential. In many countries, new initiatives are being implemented:

Sorting plastic waste properly.
Revalorizing materials through specialized facilities.
Exporting recyclable waste to authorized plants in other countries when the local territory lacks the infrastructure for final treatment.

This well-managed export process, in collaboration with licensed waste operators, is crucial to ensure proper treatment and support the transition to a Circular Economy.

What can we do as a society?

Ending plastic pollution requires a collective effort, but everyone can contribute, governments, businesses, schools, and of course, citizens.

Some key actions include:

Reducing the use of single-use plastics like bags, cups, or cutlery.
Reusing containers, lunch boxes, and fabric or silicone bags.
Buying in bulk or choosing products with recyclable packaging.
Correctly sorting waste and using appropriate recycling points.
Choosing products with less plastic or made from recycled materials.
Taking part in community cleanup events, such as river or forest cleanups.

Businesses also have a key role: implementing packaging reduction policies, innovating through eco-design, and collaborating with licensed waste managers to ensure real traceability of waste.