Tackling the Rising Tide of Plastic Pollution: World Environment Day 2025
Estimates suggest that humanity has produced over 9.2 billion tonnes of plastic material since the 1950s, with 7 billion tonnes now sitting as plastic waste. The world now produces more than 430 million tonnes of plastic annually, two-thirds of which are short-lived products that soon become waste, filling the ocean and working their way into the human food chain. Globally an estimated 11 million tonnes of plastic waste leak into aquatic ecosystems every year, and only 10% of plastic waste globally ends up recycled.
This over-consumption and over-reliance on plastic is only set to continue. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development forecasts that by 2060 plastic waste will nearly triple to one billion tonnes a year.
World Environment Day 2025 is calling for an end to plastic pollution. Started in 1973, the day aims to bring millions of people around the world together in a shared mission to safeguard and restore the planet. It’s become the largest global movement for environmental outreach, engaging people from across more than 150 countries.
2025’s key theme, plastic pollution, tackles one of the biggest challenges to our climate and environment. The production of plastics requires fossil fuels and was responsible for 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2020. When plastics are disposed of – in landfills or through incineration – these processes also produce climate-warming gases. In developing countries, plastics are more frequently burnt to deal with their presence as waste materials. This burning produces methane in addition to carbon dioxide, which has a much higher greenhouse effect.
The benefits of reducing plastic pollution are self-evident from an environmental standpoint, but there are economic benefits that also merit attention. The annual social and environmental cost of plastic pollution ranges from $300 to $600 million. Every dollar invested in reviving degraded landscapes impacted by plastic pollution brings up to 30 dollars in economic returns. Solutions to plastic pollution shouldn’t be thought of as an expense, but rather an investment in healthy societies and a healthy planet.
Plastic pollution is one of the most fixable of today’s environmental challenges, with obvious solutions at hand. Governments, manufacturers, and consumers all play an important role in reducing plastic waste. For manufacturers, redesigning plastic products so they last longer, are less dangerous, and can ultimately be reused and recycled has hugely positive impacts. For governments, enforcing an extended producer responsibility model means companies take environmental responsibility for the products they’ve put on the market throughout their lifecycle. Paying to support the reduction of packaging waste, the eco-design of packaging, reuse and recycling programs as well as public awareness campaigns. And for consumers, educating themselves on processes of recycling, and the role they play in reducing plastic waste is vital.
In Kenya, the government has taken some measures to reduce plastic waste. In 2017 there was a nationwide ban on plastic bags, enforced as one of the most stringent globally. While this made some impact, it didn’t extend to other plastic products such as bottles, bin bags, and takeaway containers. In 2020, the government extended the ban to include single-use plastic in protected natural areas and introduced policies to encourage a more circular economy and expand producer responsibility frameworks. Nevertheless, the challenge remains vast. In Mombasa alone, 3.7 kilos of plastic per capita leach into bodies of water annually.
Haller has worked to reduce plastic pollution in Mombasa through organised beach clean-ups as well as plastic-waste collection walks through Nguuni Nature Sanctuary and Haller Park. The Haller team also encourages the innovative re-usage of plastic materials in regenerative farming. For example, creating drip-irrigation systems using plastic bottles, using plastic bottles to create greenhouses and plastic tubs as seed trays. Through the Haller Farmers app and community outreach sessions, we’re educating the next generation on the importance of recycling and the role they can play in developing a more circular economy.
This year’s World Environment Day falls exactly two months before countries are set to meet again to negotiate a global treaty to end plastic pollution, starting August 5th. The resolution was reached in March 2022 to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, but nothing has been formalised.
How can you support?
Donate to support conservation-focused education and training
Download the Haller Farmers App and share it with your community
Visit Nguuni and witness our integrated agroforestry and ecosystem restoration efforts (and share your visit!)
Partner with us to expand this work to new regions and audiences