World Environment Day: A call for a sustainable future without plastic pollution

On June 5, we mark World Environment Day with a clear message - to defeat plastic pollution. The United Nations Environment Programme's campaign calls on us to rethink our daily habits and reduce the harm of plastic on nature and human health. Every year, 11 million tons of plastic are dumped into lakes, rivers and seas globally, and another 13 million tons accumulate in the soil. Plastic clogs landfills, pollutes the oceans, and burns in toxic smoke, becoming one of the most serious threats to the planet. Forecasts show that by 2025, plastic use will reach 516 million tons, and by 2060, more than twice as much. Currently, only 9% of the plastic produced is recycled, which underscores the need for sustainable alternatives and circular economic models.

World Environment Day is the most significant international day dedicated to nature conservation. It has been held annually since 1974, and this year it focuses on the circular economy as a solution to the plastic problem. This means that plastic products must be designed and collected as waste so that they can be reused, recycled, and transformed into a resource for the economy. This goal is also recognized by Bulgaria, as the Ministry of Environment and Water is organizing 70 diverse initiatives with thousands of children and young people in partnership with local authorities and non-governmental organizations.

World Environment Day this year is an opportunity to put sustainability at the center of the public agenda. With joint efforts of institutions, businesses, and citizens, we can put an end to plastic pollution and redefine our relationship with nature.