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Beat Plastic Pollution

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Stories

What is the life-cycle approach and how can it help tackle plastic pollution?

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Gameplan: It’s time to Beat Plastic Pollution

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The hidden truth to Beat Plastic Pollution

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A digital hub to #BeatPlasticPollution

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Plastic pollution is out of control. Fueled by unsustainable production and consumption, the rapidly increasing levels of plastic pollution have created a serious environmental problem on a global scale, putting the world’s health and economic and social well-being at risk.

To solve the plastic pollution emergency…

Governments, industry, and individuals must embrace a circular approach that considers the full life cycle of plastics, from production, to consumption, to waste management. This means that when plastic is introduced into the economy, it remains there, while harmful, avoidable, and unnecessary plastics are eliminated and substituted with sustainable options and practices.

Ambitious actions and strategies

The #BeatPlasticPollution calls for a stronger, more agile, innovative, and forward-looking presence to engage governments, industry, and individuals in making deliberate changes and choices across the plastic value chain to eliminate the use of unnecessary, avoidable, and problematic plastic products.To address this systemic challenge, the following actions need to be ambitiously applied and integrated:Reduce  the size of the plastics problem by eliminating problematic or unnecessary plastics, including hazardous chemicals.Design for circularity by ensuring all plastics are reusable, recyclable, or compostableClose the loop by collecting and recycling plastics.Improve waste collection across the globe and responsibly dispose of plastics that cannot be recycled

Plastic pollution action strategies

“It is clear that we cannot put the brakes on action to address plastic pollution. This is such a big challenge, we need to come at it, through different tracks, all converging on the same road.” - Inger Andersen

A system change is necessary to address the full life cycle of plastics. From extracting raw materials to designing new sustainable alternatives, to improving collection and waste management infrastructure, innovative thinking is essential in eliminating unnecessary, avoidable or problematic products.

Reports and Toolkits

UNEP’s reports and toolkits share sound science and information to build knowledge and capacity.

Related campaigns & initiatives

UNEP’s advocacy campaigns and related initiatives are mediums to promote change, engage diverse voices, showcase best practices, and transform habits, practices, standards and policies around the globe.

Initiatives to Follow

#BeatPollution is a UNEP campaign to stop the pervasive impact of pollution on people and the planet's health. The campaign drives rapid, large-scale and coordinated action for a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable future. Campaign activities show the impact of pollution on climate, nature and biodiversity, and health, and offer a platform to inspire thriving circular economies and enable the transition to a pollution-free planet.  

© UNEP