Greta Jimenez
Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues, with plastic waste entering our oceans at a rate of more than a dump truckload per minute. This waste breaks down into microplastics, which have been found everywhere from Mount Everest to the Mariana Trench, as well as in human blood, lungs, and feces. The impacts of plastic pollution are far-reaching, affecting ecosystems, human health, and the climate. In recognition of this, various organizations and governments are taking action to address plastic pollution. For instance, the World Wide Fund (WWF) is advocating for government action at all levels, including executive and congressional action in the US, while also engaging with supporters to push for improvements in infrastructure and producer responsibility. The United Nations Environment Assembly has agreed to negotiate a global treaty to end plastic pollution by 2025, and organizations like the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are supporting this effort by calling for ambitious reductions in plastic production and improved product design. At the local level, individuals are lobbying governments and businesses to reduce single-use plastics and improve waste management. These collective efforts demonstrate a growing awareness of the plastic pollution crisis and a commitment to finding solutions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| People taking action through government and business lobbying | Yes, individuals are encouraged to talk to their local representatives and support businesses that are striving to reduce single-use plastic products |
| Global treaty to end plastic pollution | In March 2022, the United Nations Environmental Assembly agreed to negotiate a treaty to end plastic pollution by 2025 |
| US government's role | The US government has an important seat at the table for the treaty negotiations |
| WWF's vision | No Plastic in Nature by 2030 |
| WWF's approach | WWF engages its networks of activists, policymakers, industry leaders, and other collaborators and rights holders to transform the world's plastic systems |
| WWF's call to the government | WWF calls for federal agencies to use all existing authorities to reduce plastic waste and for bipartisan legislative solutions |
| California's step | California passed legislation to ban all plastic bags by 2026 |
| UNEP's work | UNEP's body of work demonstrates that the problem of plastic pollution is connected to other environmental stressors like climate change, ecosystem degradation, and resource use |
| World Environment Day | Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Environment Day is the biggest international day for the environment with millions of people engaging globally |
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What You'll Learn
- People are lobbying governments and businesses to address plastic pollution
- Some governments are banning single-use plastic bags
- The UN is negotiating a global treaty to end plastic pollution
- People are supporting businesses that reduce single-use plastic
- People are advocating for change and holding producers responsible
People are lobbying governments and businesses to address plastic pollution
Plastic pollution is a pressing environmental issue that has prompted a global response. While some governments and businesses have taken steps to address plastic pollution, lobbying groups backed by powerful multinational corporations often stand in the way of progress.
One prominent example of lobbying hindering progress is the work of Keep America Beautiful, a non-profit created in the 1950s by big beverage companies like Coca-Cola and Anheuser-Busch. This group has publicly opposed and marketed against legislation that incentivizes reuse and recycling, such as Oregon's "bottle bill," to protect the financial interests of the companies they represent.
In another instance, the American Progressive Bag Alliance spent over $3 million to petition against a 2015 California law banning plastic bags. At least ten US states have passed similar preemption laws, prioritizing disposable plastics' financial benefits over environmental concerns.
However, there are also instances of successful lobbying for environmental protection. The Plastic Pollution Coalition, for example, is a non-profit communications and advocacy organization that collaborates with a global alliance of organizations, businesses, and individuals to create a world free of plastic pollution and its toxic impacts. They urge governments to take a stronger stance on the Global Plastics Treaty and reduce plastic production.
The Geneva Environment Network and its partners support actors in the Geneva community and beyond through the Geneva Beat Plastic Pollution Dialogues. They have been actively engaged in the negotiation process toward a treaty to end plastic pollution, demonstrating the growing international cooperation to tackle this crisis.
While lobbying can be a powerful tool for shaping legislation, it is essential to recognize the influence of multinational corporations in derailing efforts to address plastic pollution. As public awareness of the issue grows, it is crucial to continue advocating for ambitious solutions and holding governments and businesses accountable for their role in creating a sustainable future.
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Some governments are banning single-use plastic bags
Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues, with the overwhelming rise in disposable plastic products. Single-use plastics account for 40% of the plastic produced every year, and many of these products have a lifespan of minutes to hours, yet they can persist in the environment for hundreds of years.
To combat this, some governments have taken steps to limit or ban the use of single-use plastic bags. This approach has gained momentum in the early 21st century, with a global trend towards phasing out lightweight plastic bags. Various governments have banned the sale of these bags, and some have implemented taxes on their production or use. Well-designed plastic bag bans have proven to reduce plastic bag use and associated litter and pollution.
One notable example is California, which passed legislation to ban all plastic bags by 2026. This includes Senate Bill 270, banning free single-use plastic bags in grocery stores, with specific requirements for bag thickness, recycled content, and recyclability. California's ban has significantly reduced plastic bag consumption and led to a decline in plastic bags found in coastal cleanups.
Other U.S. states with single-use plastic bag bans include Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. Internationally, countries like Colombia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Uruguay have also implemented bans or taxes on plastic bags. These efforts demonstrate a global recognition of the need to address plastic pollution and its environmental impacts.
While plastic bag bans are effective, they should be carefully designed to avoid loopholes that allow thicker "reusable" plastic bags, which may still be treated as single-use. Policymakers should also encourage the use of genuinely reusable bags and support alternatives to single-use plastic bags. By combining legislation with public education and encouragement of reusable options, plastic bag bans can be a powerful tool in the fight against plastic pollution.
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The UN is negotiating a global treaty to end plastic pollution
Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues, with the overwhelming rise in disposable plastic products. Plastic pollution can alter habitats and natural processes, affecting millions of people's livelihoods, food production capabilities, and social well-being. It has also become a serious global health issue, with microplastics found in people's blood, lungs, and even faeces.
The third session, INC-3, took place in November 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya, and the fourth session, INC-4, was held in April 2024 in Ottawa, Canada. The first part of the fifth session, INC-5, was held in November 2024 in Busan, Republic of Korea, with more than 170 countries in attendance. However, despite pressure from a majority of countries, negotiators failed to agree on including measures to reduce plastic production.
The UN treaty negotiations are a critical opportunity to address plastic pollution, with the goal of completing the negotiations by the end of 2024. The support for a global treaty extends beyond governments, with millions of individuals signing petitions and calling for action. It is hoped that a comprehensive treaty will address the full life cycle of plastics, from extraction to disposal, and include measures to reduce plastic production and consumption, phase out harmful products and chemicals, and improve waste management systems.
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People are supporting businesses that reduce single-use plastic
People are increasingly aware of the harmful effects of plastic pollution and are taking action to address this issue. One way individuals are making an impact is by supporting businesses that actively reduce their single-use plastic consumption. This trend is encouraging companies to adopt more sustainable practices and products, which is beneficial for the environment and can also be cost-effective.
Single-use plastics are a significant contributor to plastic pollution, with items such as plastic bags, food wrappers, and bottles being used for mere minutes but persisting in the environment for hundreds of years. By encouraging the reduction of these products, individuals are helping to decrease the amount of plastic waste that ends up in our oceans and ecosystems.
Many businesses are responding to this consumer demand for more sustainable practices. Some companies are experimenting with designs that reduce waste or utilize reusable or compostable components. For example, bringing reusable bags when grocery shopping can save costs for both businesses and consumers, and reusable products can also reduce supply and storage expenditure for businesses.
In addition to supporting businesses that reduce single-use plastic, individuals are also advocating for local plastic bans and contacting companies directly to express their concerns about packaging. These collective actions are having a positive impact on the environment and are helping to reduce the amount of plastic pollution in our world.
While these efforts are promising, it is important to recognize that plastic pollution is a global issue that requires collective action on a larger scale. A future plastics treaty, as discussed at the United Nations Environment Assembly in 2022, could provide a common approach and spur further action from governments and industries. By continuing to support businesses that reduce single-use plastic and advocating for systemic change, individuals can play a crucial role in addressing the plastic pollution crisis.
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People are advocating for change and holding producers responsible
Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues, with plastic waste flowing into nature at an unprecedented rate—more than a dump truckload every minute into our oceans alone. The best way to reduce plastic pollution, according to scientists and conservationists, is to prevent plastics from entering waterways and improve waste management systems, recycling, product design, and reduce manufacturing single-use plastics.
Many people are advocating for change and holding producers responsible to address the plastic pollution crisis. For instance, 85% of the American public thinks plastic waste pollution is a serious problem that requires immediate political action. The WWF is one such organization advocating for bipartisan legislative solutions and federal funding to address plastic pollution. They are also engaging with supporters across the US to advocate for improvements in infrastructure and holding producers responsible for sourcing non-virgin plastic materials.
The WWF's global initiative takes a holistic approach to enable action, engaging networks of activists, policymakers, industry leaders, and other collaborators to transform the world's plastic systems. They are advocating for a legally binding global treaty on plastic pollution that is bold, ambitious, and effective. This treaty should include specific and unambiguous rules at every point in the plastic life cycle and target high-risk plastic products like single-use plastic and microplastics.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, in collaboration with UNEP, has also outlined specific steps that individuals, companies, and policymakers can take to address plastic pollution. For example, individuals can opt for products with natural exfoliants instead of microplastics, make their own meals to avoid takeout containers, and choose products with non-plastic packaging. Companies can improve product design with full lifecycle approaches for a more circular economy. Policymakers can support nature-positive Extended Producer Responsibility Systems that go beyond waste management.
Social media campaigns and celebrity endorsements can also help to advocate for change and hold producers responsible. For example, the #BanPlasticsKE campaign in Kenya used social media to call on the government to ban plastic bags. The Be Ready To Change campaign in Europe used humour and social norms to communicate that single-use plastic products are no longer socially acceptable.
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Frequently asked questions
Many organizations are taking action against plastic pollution, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Many governments are taking steps to address plastic pollution. For example, California has passed legislation to ban all plastic bags by 2026. The US government has also played an important role in negotiating a global treaty to end plastic pollution.
It is difficult to say exactly how many people are taking individual action, but millions of people from across the world engage in World Environment Day, an annual event led by UNEP. Individuals can take action by lobbying governments and businesses, supporting businesses that strive to reduce single-use plastic, and reducing their own plastic waste.
While it is unclear how many scientists are working to address plastic pollution specifically, many scientists and conservationists agree that the best way to reduce plastic pollution is to prevent plastics from entering waterways and improve waste management systems.
