It is a special celebration that brings communities together for the benefit of Mother Nature to remember that planet Earth is our one and only home. It allows, each year, to get our communities together and think about the planet issues we are fighting against and to find achievement. We are all responsible for protecting our planet and looking after all the species that live here. This campaign promotes harmony with nature and reminds us of the importance of protecting all the different ecosystems and species on our planet.
Specifically, this year the chosen topic is “Planet vs. plastics”, and it is a calling for students, parents, businesses, governments, churches, unions, individuals, and NGOs to stop plastics for the sake of human and planetary health, demanding a 60% reduction in the production of plastics by 2040 and an ultimate goal of building a plastic-free future for generations to come.
“The planet vs. plastics campaign is a call to arms, a demand that we act now to end the scourge of plastics and safeguard the health of every living being upon our planet.” (Kathleen Rogers, President of EARTHDAY.ORG.)
While the concept of plastic emerged in the mid-19th century, it was not until the 20th century that the plastics industry truly took off. Many of the current challenges associated with plastic originated in the post-war period when plastic began replacing more costly materials.¹ Nicola de Blasio, from the Harvard University, highlights that the key characteristics of this polymeric material—its affordability, durability, and lightweight nature—have facilitated the development of modern life.We are confronted with staggering statistics: over 500 billion plastic bags were produced worldwide last year alone, equating to a million bags per minute. The amount of plastic production has grown up to over 380 million tons annually. Astonishingly, more plastic has been manufactured in the past decade than throughout the entire 20th century, and the industry shows no signs of slowing down, with plans for exponential growth in the foreseeable future.²
However, despite its revolutionary impact, the lack of consideration for its end-of-life and the exorbitant costs associated with recycling have transformed this versatile material into the primary driver of a global environmental crisis, commonly referred to as "plastic pollution." Projections indicate that approximately 220 million tons of plastic waste will be generated in 2024 alone, marking a 7.11% increase in plastic waste levels since 2021.³
“Close to 50% of the world’s population currently live in areas where waste generated has already exceeded the capacity to manage it, with the figure projected to rise to 66% by 5 September 2024.”(Sarah Perreard.)
Thankfully, addressing plastic overproduction and consumption is within our reach. EarthDay.org has set a significant worldwide target aiming for a 60% reduction by 2040. These goals include:
- Promoting widespread public awareness of the damage done by plastic to human, animal, and all biodiversity’s health and develop the side researching be conducted on its health implications, including the release of any and all information regarding its effects to the public,
- The rapid elimination of all single-use plastics by 2030 and completion of this elimination project in the United Nations Plastic Pollution Treaty in 2024,
- The requirement for laws, rules or regulations to end the scourge of fast fashion and the large amount of plastic it produces as well as a huge amount of water used,
- Investing in innovative technologies and materials to build a plastic-free world.⁶
We have both produced and become overly reliant on plastic, reaching a stage where managing its waste poses a significant challenge. Now is the time to shift our approach and take decisive action, as every day should be regarded as Earth Day in our commitment to preserving our planet.
² EarthDay (2024). Planet vs.Plastic Global Theme for Earth Day 2024. Earthday. Retrieved from https://www.earthday.org/
³ Perreard S. (2024). It’s time to break the cycle of plastic overshoot. Euronews. Retrieved from https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/04/11/its-time-to-break-the-cycle-of-plastic-overshoot
⁴ Science Museum (2019). The Age of Plastic: From Parkesine to Pollution. Science Museum. Retrieved from sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/chemistry/age-plastic-parkesine-pollution
⁵ EarthDay.Org. (2022). Plastic Pollution Primer and Action Toolkit. End Plastic Pollution. EarthDay. Org.
⁶ EarthDay.org (2024). Earth Day 2024 Action Toolkit. EarthDay.org.