Plastics, once hailed as a revolutionary invention, have become an environmental menace. The world produces over 400 million tons of plastic annually, half of which is designed for single-use. Only less than 10 percent of this plastic is recycled. The rest ends up in landfills, is incinerated, or worse—finds its way into our rivers, lakes, and oceans. An estimated 11 million tons of plastic leak into aquatic ecosystems each year, endangering over 800 marine species through ingestion and entanglement, according to the United Nations World Environment Day website.

June 5 is World Environment Day, the United Nations’ largest global platform for environmental outreach since 1973. The program is led by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

World Environment Day 2025 brings urgent attention to a crisis choking our planet – plastic pollution. Under the theme #BeatPlasticPollution, this year’s commemoration is not just a reminder of the damage done—it’s a global call to action.

In the Philippines, plastic pollution is a very serious problem. According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the country generates approximately 61,000 metric tons of solid waste daily, of which 24 percent is plastic waste. This includes disposable packaging, plastic bags, and cutlery—items that are often used just once but stays in the environment for centuries.

Coastal communities, dependent on marine biodiversity for livelihood and sustenance, are at the frontline of this crisis. Marine life such as sea turtles, fish, and even dugongs mistake plastic for food, leading to injury or death.

But while the numbers paint a bleak picture, they also reveal something critical – this is a crisis with solutions that are within reach—if we act with urgency and unity.

Around the country, awareness campaigns and community clean-ups will be held throughout June which has also been declared as Philippine Environment Month. Environmental groups, local government units, private companies, and schools will be leading efforts to clean shorelines, promote recycling, and educate citizens on sustainable consumption. In urban centers like Metro Manila, innovative startups will present biodegradable alternatives and circular economy solutions.

On the policy front, the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022 mandates companies to take accountability for the plastic waste they generate, encouraging them to redesign products for recyclability and fund recovery systems. There are local ordinances in various provinces and cities that ban single-use plastics. These policies are vital in creating systemic change—but they must be enforced and scaled up nationwide.

Internationally, negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty are ongoing, aiming to curb plastic production and leakage at every stage of the material’s lifecycle.

As UNEP and the Climate Change Commission emphasize, we must all embrace the 5Rs –refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and rethink. This means refusing unnecessary plastic, bringing reusable bags and containers, supporting products with minimal packaging, and demanding accountability from brands.

Plastic pollution is not only an ecological disaster but a public health threat. Microplastics have infiltrated our food, air, and water. Studies say that the average person may be ingesting over 50,000 microplastic particles annually—many of which can enter our bloodstream and organs.

Today, let us reflect on the fact that our future is going toward more plastic waste if we do not act now. Let us work on solutions, not just on June 5, but every day, to protect our ecosystems, our health, and the generations to come.