Today, June 5th, is the World Environment Day.
World Environment Day is the biggest international day for the environment. It is led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
This year’s theme is focused on solutions to plastic pollution under the UNEP’s #BeatPlasticPollution campaign. It is a reminder that people’s actions on plastic pollution matters.
But why is the fight against plastic pollution so important? Here are some facts:
👉 Plastics and microplastics are everywhere. Microplastics have even been found in fresh Antarctic snow.
👉 Because plastic is not biodegradable, it simply breaks apart into smaller and smaller pieces over time, creating what’s known as micro- or nanoplastics.
👉 Despite their small size, microplastics and nanoplastics pose a huge threat to human health and the health of vital ecosystems, as microplastics act as tiny “sponges” and contain many different chemicals.
Even though plastics and especially single-use plastic products are everywhere and for many of us, have become an integral part of our daily lives, it is good to remember that all of us can contribute to reducing the amount of plastic waste by choosing more sustainable options in our everyday lives, such as:
💡 Avoiding single-use plastic products whenever possible.
💡 Adopting reusable items for everyday life, such as reusable water bottles and shopping bags.
💡 Avoiding products with excess or unnecessary plastic packaging and looking for plastic-free alternatives.
Here are some links to read more about the topic:
https://www.unep.org/interactives/beat-plastic-pollution/
https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/42437/Plastic_Pollution_WED23EN.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
