Turning off the Tap: How the world can end plastic pollution and create a circular economy, a ground breaking UN report, has been released today.

The report, produced by the UN Environment Programme, looks at the system change need to address plastic pollution. It looks at accelerating the change and creating a circular economy by reusing, recycling and reorienting and diversifying problematic and unnecessary plastic use.

The reports maps a pathway to circularity and del with the legacy of plastic pollution.

A virtual event looking at the challenges and opportunities in plastic circularity in South-East Asia will be held on May 24.



The session will look at success stories and lessons learned and will bring together stakeholders from the private and public sectors.



The event will be held online at 10am Central European Time. To join the event register now.





 

A six-week online course will be launched on World Environment Day, held on 5 June, to help participants learn about sustainability, system change and the impact their lifestyles have on the planet.

The course will be available in French, English, Russian and Spanish and each week participants will share their progress with teammates to motivate each other.

The ‘My Sustainable Living Challenge’ is organised by the UN System Staff College and UNEP and registration is now open.

Microplastics, tiny plastic particles found in many everyday items such as clothing, cosmetics and cigarettes, are entering our food chain and the air we breathe.

The particles, that can be up to five millimetres in diameter, have serious health implications and solving the issue is complex, critical and pressing.

For further information read UNEP's article: Microplastics: The long legacy left behind by plastic pollution

Every minute of every day over 300,000 disposal nappies are burnt or sent to a land fill.



The nappies, which contain plastic and babies waste, are difficult to recycle and are a large contributor to plastic pollution.



As we approach this year’s World Environment Day, hosted by Côte d'Ivoire in partnership with the Netherlands under the theme #BeatPlasticPollution, UNEP's story Baby steps: How to reduce plastic nappy waste explores the alternatives.

 

The fourth iteration of The Global Dialogue on Ocean Accounting will be held virtually on June 13.

The event will look at the importance of economic, environmental and social data in understanding sustainable ocean economies.

Two events will be held, in order to accommodate multiple time zones, and both will include case studies and breakout sessions to share knowledge and identify opportunities.

The timings of the events are Asia and the Pacific time zone 09:00 Male, 14:00 Sydney, 16:00 Suva, 04:00 GMT and Africa, the Americas & Europe time zone 07:00 Los Angeles, 10:00 New York, 15:00 London, 16:00 Maputo, 14:00 GMT.

Register for the Asia and Pacific event. Register for the Africa, Europe and Americas event.

A traditional dhow boat, made entirely of recycled plastic, which was launched in 2019 in East Africa, continues to raise awareness ahead of World Environment Day on 5 June.

Made from 10 tonnes of plastic waste, collected from the beaches of Kenya, the Flipflopi Project is helping highlight the issue of plastic pollution in the oceans.

The theme of World Environment Day 2023 is #BeatPlasticPollution and with around 11 million tonnes of plastic entering the ocean each year the need is acute. For more information, check out UNEP's article: How a boat made of plastic put the spotlight on pollution.

A Canadian social enterprise, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary, is also celebrating stopping 80 million kilograms of plastic, the equivalent of 4 billion bottles, from reaching the ocean.



Plastic Bank has worked with communities around the world to set up recycling communities in Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa where plastic waste is exchange for income.

We are buying more clothes than ever and keeping them for less time, the impact of “Fast Fashion” on the planet is devastating.

As we approach World Environment Day on 5 June the importance of reusing and repurposing clothes, rather than burning or dumping them just because they are last season’s style, should not be overlooked.