World Environment Day #BeatPlastic24 hour challenge

The 5th of June 2023 marks World Environment Day. The theme for this year is #BeatPlasticPollution.

Why do we need to take action against plastic pollution?

We have become dependent on single-use plastic products. Traditional plastics cannot biodegrade in a way that’s not damaging to the environment leading to severe social, economic, and health consequences. BUT:

• 1 million plastic bottles are purchased globally every minute.
• 5 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide every year.
• half of all plastic produced is designed for single-use purposes – used just once and then thrown away.
• 85 percent of total marine waste comes from plastics causing harm to animals & ecosystems.
• Humans are at risk from marine plastic pollution by inhaling microplastics through the air, consuming them through food and water, and even absorbing them through the skin.

Find out more here.

How you can act! 

We are asking you to join us in taking a global 24-hour social media challenge to beat plastic pollution #BeatPlastic24. We can't address a problem unless we're aware of it. So let's raise awareness about how much single-use plastic is a part of our daily lives:

Action 1 - Join the 24-hour challenge using the #BeatPlastic24 hashtag and posting a badge "Join me in the #BeatPlastic24 challenge" on your choice of Facebook / Instagram / LinkedIn. 

Action 2 - Post a photo in the feed on your Facebook or Instagram or LinkedIn or Twitter each time you reach to use single-use plastic in your daily life today using the hashtag #BeatPlastic24.

Action 3 - At the end of the 24-hour period post on your choice of social media: "I completed the #BeatPlastic24 challenge" badge and hashtag. Both badges are below for downloading.

Examples of single-use plastics:

• Cotton bud sticks
• Cutlery, plates, straws and stirrers
• Balloons and sticks for balloons
• Food containers
• Beverage containers
• Cigarette butts
• Plastic bags
• Packets and wrappers
• Wet wipes and sanitary items

Check out these links for some solutions to plastic pollution:

Get Solutions (worldenvironmentday.global)

Turning off the Tap: How the world can end plastic pollution and create a circular economy | UNEP - UN Environment Programme