World Environment Day 2025: Beat Plastic Pollution

The United Nations in India has launched the Plastic Pollution Literacy Kit, a new digital educational tool designed to empower everyone from schoolchildren to CEOs with practical knowledge to tackle the growing problem of plastic waste.

Developed by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the kit targets a wide audience — from policymakers and educators to industry leaders, youth and local communities. It lists accessible, role-specific actions to phase out single-use plastics and foster circular economy practices.

"This Kit is a timely contribution to India’s important efforts to tackle plastic pollution. It sets out in simple, clear language the many ways in which we can all play our part to make a difference, to create a jan andolan (people’s movement) of change," said Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator in India. Access the kit here: https://india.un.org/en/295741-plastic-pollution-literacy-kit

A Full Week of Action

The launch capped a full week of coordinated events for World Environment Day led by UNEP India, bringing together key partners to share solutions and inspire collective action:

Media Orientation Workshop: Held on 30 May, in partnership with Mongabay India and the Centre for Media Studies, and UN Information Centre New Delhi, this workshop equipped journalists and content creators with tools to translate complex data on plastics into compelling stories. The three-hour session focused on solution-oriented storytelling rather than doom-mongering.

 

Tide Turners Plastic Challenge National Youth Summit: One of the world's largest youth-led environmental movements celebrated its winners on 2 June — young Indians turning the tide through local innovations. A stand-out feature was a youth photo exhibition, showcasing creative solutions such as coconut leaf straws replacing single-use plastic, and life jackets made from recycled materials. Other highlights included the launch of Waves of Change, a collection of youth-led impact stories, and a panel discussion on storytelling for advocacy, featuring UNEP Goodwill Ambassador Ms. Dia Mirza, WWF India CEO Mr. Ravi Singh, and Centre for Environment Education Founder Mr. Kartikeya Sarabhai.
 

Roundtable on Industry Solutions: In a dialogue with private sector leaders, UNEP convened a roundtable focused on sustainable packaging, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and circular economy innovations on 3 June. Amitabh Kant, India's G20 Sherpa, delivered the keynote address, urging deeper corporate commitment to ending plastic pollution. Moderated by Dia Mirza, the discussion featured industry case studies now being compiled for submission to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Companies shared innovations in packaging, collaboration with recyclers, and efforts to bring small businesses into the fight.

Why It Matters

Plastic pollution is a planetary crisis. Since the 1950s, the world has produced more than 9.2 billion tons of plastic — nearly 7 billion tons have ended up as waste. Only 9% has been recycled. In just two months, countries will come together to try to hammer out a new global treaty to end plastic pollution. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in his World Environment Day message, called for an “ambitious, credible and just agreement” that tackles the full lifecycle of plastics, reflects community needs, aligns with the SDGs and is implemented quickly and fully.

World Environment Day 2025: #BeatPlasticPollution

To rally momentum, UNEP is leading the 52nd annual World Environment Day on 5 June, the world’s largest platform for environmental outreach. This year’s commemoration is hosted in Jeju, Republic of Korea, under the theme #BeatPlasticPollution. Since launching in 2018, the UNEP-led campaign has advocated for a just and inclusive transition away from plastic dependency. The day brings together governments, businesses, communities, and individuals in a shared mission to protect and restore the planet, while advancing progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially those linked to climate action and sustainable consumption.