Practical ways that you can start acting right now
Every year on June 5, millions of people worldwide come together to celebrate World Environment Day, an opportunity to raise awareness and take action for the health of our planet. This year鈥檚 theme highlights one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time: plastic pollution. In this article, we鈥檒l explore the urgency of plastic pollution and share three ways to reduce plastic usage to get started reducing plastic usage today.
The Plastic Problem: A Crisis We Can鈥檛 Ignore
- More than 400 million tons of plastic are produced worldwide each year鈥攈alf of it designed to be used only once.
- Shockingly, less than 10% of plastic waste is recycled.
- An estimated 11 million tons of plastic end up in our lakes, rivers, and seas annually, equivalent to the weight of 2,200 Eiffel Towers.
Plastic pollution doesn鈥檛 stop there. Microplastics鈥攖iny plastic particles up to 5mm in diameter鈥攁re now present in the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. It鈥檚 estimated that each person consumes over 50,000 plastic particles per year, with even more entering our bodies through inhalation.
Discarded or burnt single-use plastics pose a severe threat to human health, biodiversity, and the stability of every ecosystem on Earth, from mountain peaks to the ocean floor.
Three Strategies to Reduce Plastic Usage in Your Daily Life
1. Refuse Single-Use Plastics
Carry a reusable water bottle, coffee cup, and shopping bag. Say no to plastic straws, cutlery, and packaging when you don鈥檛 need them. Supporting restaurants and cafes that offer sustainable alternatives also makes a difference.
2. Choose Refillable and Reusable Products
Replace disposable items鈥攕uch as cling film, plastic bags, and disposable razors鈥攚ith reusable alternatives. Look for refill stations for household and personal care products, and choose durable, long-lasting items instead of single-use ones.
3. Rethink and Advocate
Take stock of your plastic consumption and make mindful choices to reduce it. Choose products with minimal or no plastic packaging and support businesses that prioritize sustainability. Share your efforts and ideas with friends, family, and your community鈥攅very voice counts! By adopting these strategies to reduce plastic usage, you will be contributing to a positive change.
A Shared Responsibility, A Shared Future
As we observe World Environment Day 2025, let鈥檚 remember that small actions can add up to significant changes. Together, we can refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and rethink our plastic use鈥攂uilding a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable world for everyone.
At the Patel College of Global Sustainability, students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to effect positive change in the world. In the class 鈥淲aste Not, Want Not: Reconsidering Waste鈥�, students learn to develop innovative strategies and solutions to reduce waste and protect our planet.
During a field trip, the class visited the Pinellas County Waste-to-Energy facility and explored how the county handles over 1 million tons of waste annually, converting it into energy.
Join the movement and commit to action.