Stop plastic flood: World Environment Day 2025 calls for action!

Stop plastic flood: World Environment Day 2025 calls for action!

Weltumwelttag, Weltweit - On June 5, 2025, the World Environment Day was committed under the motto "No more plastic pollution". This day, which was launched by the UN General Assembly in 1972, aims to raise awareness of the threats of plastic pollution and to promote measures to combat this crisis. Activists worldwide have participated in numerous events to address the pressing problems of plastic overstimulation and to discuss solutions. [Noen] reports that annual plastic production is expected to reach 516 million tons by 2025.

Global plastic pollution is now a serious problem that affects all ecosystems from the deepest regions of the oceans to the highest mountains. An estimated 11 million tons of plastics come into waters annually, while around 13 million tons occur in the ground. Microplastics, which consists of disassembling plastic, has already established itself in the food chain and can have harmful effects on humans. It was detected in human arteries, lungs, brains and even in breast milk.

health risks and environmental consequences

The topic of microplastics is increasingly attracting attention, because it has been demonstrated not only in biological organisms, but also in the air and in the rainwater. An average person absorbs about 5 grams of microplastics every week, which corresponds to the weight of a credit card. [Schreiber formation] points out that the health consequences of microplastics, such as hormone disorders and an increased risk of cancer, have to be researched.

The main sources for microplastics are the abrasion of car tires, cosmetic products and synthetic clothing. In Germany, around 330,000 tons of microplastics are released into the environment every year. The need for immediate measures to reduce plastic production and use is more urgent than ever. Experts emphasize the urgently needed global cooperation to develop effective solutions against the growing flood of plastic

concrete measures and initiatives

More and more companies and organizations are offering sustainable alternatives to conventional plastic packaging. Axel Kaiser, founder of denttabs, offers toothbrush tablets, which are delivered in biodegradable packaging and thus represent an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional toothpaste tubes. These tubes often consist of difficult to recyclable materials and need up to 500 years for decomposition.

• A third of the plastic produced annually over 400 million tons come into the environment.
• The Great Pacific Garbage Patch has an area of over 1.6 million square kilometers.
• One to two million tons of plastic get into the oceans every year.

The increasing plastic production, which has increased continuously since 1950, makes it clear that there is a need for action. Suggestions such as disposal of disposable products, improving the recycling infrastructure and the support of sustainable innovations could help reduce the environmental impact of plastic. [Our World in Data] emphasizes that the failure of plastic waste contributes to environmental pollution, especially in poorer countries and that improvement in plastic waste management is urgently required.

The World Environment Day 2025 once again illustrated how important it is not only to talk about the problem, but also actively act in order to combat the foreseeable consequences of the plastic flood.