Inger Andersen, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has announced that an astonishing 19-23 million tonnes of plastic waste leak into aquatic ecosystems each year, polluting lakes, rivers, and seas.
Additionally, approximately 13 million tonnes of plastic accumulate in soil.
According to Andersen, plastic waste has detrimental effects on species, ecosystems, and economies.
The consequences include lost income from tourism, polluted beaches and rivers that require cleanup, clogged drains that worsen flooding, and growing concerns about human health implications.
During the World Environment Day event in Jeju, Republic of Korea, monitored by Plastic Journalist Fatawu Bayaga, Andersen noted that while plastic has a role in society, the current production, usage, and disposal practices are overwhelming the world with pollution.
“Every year, 19-23 million tonnes of plastic waste enter our environment. Microplastics are increasingly found in human arteries, lungs, brains, placentas, and breast milk—where they have no place,” she stated. “Ending plastic pollution is a crucial imperative for human health, planetary health, economic health, and business health.”
Ms Andersen further indicated that resolving the issue of plastic pollution is achievable but cannot rely solely on recycling.
“We must tackle the entire lifecycle of plastics and adopt circular approaches to prevent pollution from entering our oceans, soils, and bodies. This requires a comprehensive reevaluation of how we design, produce, use, and reuse plastics,” she added.
Product designs should facilitate multiple uses and be economically recyclable at the end of their life without exposing anyone to harmful chemicals.
“We need to tackle the lifecycle of plastics, enable the deployment of alternatives and stop plastic pollution leaking into the environment. Refill and reuse systems must become far more prevalent. We must encourage the private sector to innovate, take responsibility and finance an end to plastic pollution.
Crucially, we must ensure a just transition to protect the lives and livelihoods of the many people involved in the plastics industry, particularly waste pickers and poor communities who currently are often forced to rely on products delivered in single-use packaging,” Ms Andersen said.
The world is already progressing towards ending plastic pollution. Over 90 countries have implemented restrictions on single-use plastic bags, and various reuse pilots around the globe inspire a more circular future.
Many nations are exploring regulations to incentivize the design of reusable products and packaging, and during the UN Environment Assembly in 2022, countries initiated negotiations for an international legally binding agreement addressing plastic pollution, particularly in marine environments.
The most recent round of negotiations in Busan, Republic of Korea, made significant progress, with negotiators preparing for the fifth session of talks in Geneva, Switzerland, scheduled for August.
