In a world that consumes over 430 million tonnes of plastic every year, it’s hardly surprising though

no less alarming that 12 million tonnes of it end up in our oceans annually (UNEP 2023). What’s
more startling is that only 9% of all plastic ever produced has been recycled. The rest? It ends up
either buried in landfills, incinerated into our skies, or drifting through rivers, wrapped around
mountain slopes, or floating sometimes serenely, often menacingly, in our seas. In fact, plastic
pollution poses a major threat, with 18–20% of global plastic waste leaking into the oceans each year,
a figure that could soar to 37 million tonnes by 2040 if current trends continues.
This crisis is made worse by the sheer volume and longevity of plastic waste. Since 1950, humanity
has produced more than 8 billion tonnes of plastic, and more than half of it has been dumped in
landfills, where it can take up to 1,000 years to degrade. During this slow decay, plastics leach toxic
chemicals into the soil and groundwater, threatening entire food chains and the safety of drinking
water. While recycling is often held up as a solution, it contributes little to the bigger picture. Much of
it is too complex, contaminated, or expensive to process and some recycling facilities, ironically create
their own environmental problems.
On a global scale, larger countries are naturally the biggest producers of plastic waste. The 2025
Mismanaged Waste Index shows China leading with 37.6mt , followed by the United States (22.8
mt), Brazil (4.9 mt), and Mexico (4 mt). However, these absolute numbers don’t tell the full story.
When we look at plastic consumption per person, it is often the wealthier, more industrialised nations
that top the charts. Their high disposable incomes, widespread use of single-use plastics, and deeply
ingrained throwaway culture result in significantly higher per capita plastic footprints, even if their
populations are smaller. India, in particular, faces a unique challenge. The country burns roughly 5.8
million tonnes of plastic each year and releases another 3.5 million tonnes into the environment as
debris—whether on land, in the air, or in water bodies. Cumulatively, India contributes 9.3 million
tonnes of plastic pollution annually.
But plastic pollution isn’t just an ocean problem it begins on land, where most plastic is produced,
used, and discarded, often without proper waste management. A recent study by researchers reveals
that the world generates around 251 million tonnes of plastic waste every year enough to fill nearly
200,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Alarmingly, about 52.1 million tonnes of this waste, or
one-fifth, is emitted directly into the environment meaning it isn’t collected, treated, or disposed of
properly. This unmanaged plastic becomes a ticking time bomb, and its effects are most visible in our
soils, where it slowly breaks down into microplastics though small in size, posing a major threat by
altering soil chemistry, disrupting natural soil structure, and harming crucial soil-dwelling organisms
like earthworms and fungi. It sets off a chain of ecological damage that can eventually reach humans
through contaminated food and water sources.
And once these plastics make their way into aquatic environments, the consequences become even
more dire. Marine ecosystems are particularly vulnerable. Plastics account for at least 85% of marine
litter, and their persistence means they accumulate year after year. Beyond the open ocean, coastal
ecosystems are on the frontlines of this crisis. Plastics clog rivers and estuaries, smother coral reefs,
and degrade vital habitats such as mangroves and salt marshes, which serve as nurseries for marine
life and buffers against storms. The economic costs are also significant: plastic pollution undermines
tourism, fisheries, and coastal livelihoods, while the health risks posed by microplastics in seafood and
drinking water are only beginning to be understood.
As plastic continues to infiltrate every corner of the Earth from the peaks of mountains to the depths of
the ocean the need for urgent, coordinated action has never been clearer and recognizing the urgent
threat of plastic pollution, UNEP made it the theme of World Environment Day 2025, calling for
systemic change in how plastics are produced, used, and managed. Simultaneously, In June 2025, the
UNOC in Nice united over 170 countries under the theme "United for Urgent Action." The
conference adopted the Nice Ocean Action Plan and a political declaration, with plastic pollution as a
central focus. These efforts underscore a renewed global commitment to protecting marine ecosystems
and accelerating progress on ocean sustainability.
Recognizing the critical nexus between plastic pollution and ocean health, the India Water Foundation
(IWF) convened two landmark dialogues to address the dual challenges of plastic pollution and marine
ecosystem degradation. On June 3, a High-Level Multi-Stakeholder Policy Dialogue, supported
by the National Water Mission, brought together policymakers, scientists, international experts, and
civil society to address plastic pollution’s impact on biodiversity. Dr. Arvind Kumar, President of
IWF, set the tone by linking plastic pollution to the broader planetary crises of climate change,
biodiversity loss, and toxic pollution. Speakers, including Hon’ble MoS Shri Raj Bhushan
Chaudhary and CBD Executive Secretary Ms. Astrid Schomaker, emphasized India’s policy
leadership and the need for aligning the Global Plastics Treaty (INC) with biodiversity frameworks
like the KMGBF. Building on these insights, key interventions from UNEP, FAO, IUCN, Wetlands
International, and NEERI highlighted the need to include plastic management in wetland and
watershed planning, improve EPR compliance using digital tracking, and support circular economy
models with new financial tools.
In addition, IWF hosted an official side event at the UNOC 2025 titled “Multi-sectoral Partnerships
for the Conservation and Restoration of Marine and Coastal Ecosystems.” This high-level
dialogue brought together global experts from UNEP, FAO, ADB, INCOIS, WorldFish, and other
organizations. Chaired by Shri Bharat Lal, Secretary General of the NHRC, the session foregrounded
the ocean’s indispensable role in climate regulation, biodiversity protection, and socio-economic
equity. He highlighted that if the ocean were measured as an economy, it would rank as the seventh
largest in the world underscoring the urgency of adopting a rights-based, inclusive approach to marine
governance and advocated for data-driven policymaking, cross-sectoral collaboration, and targeted
investment to accelerate restoration and resilience. Dr. Arvind Kumar and global speakers framed the
ocean as a critical climate ally under threat, emphasizing science-based policy, rights-based
frameworks, and nature-based solutions like mangrove restoration and seagrass recovery.
Key recommendations emerging from both dialogues included: strengthening integrated ocean-
plastic governance, scaling up decentralized and inclusive waste management infrastructure,
mobilizing blended blue finance through blue bonds and biodiversity credits, embedding plastic
monitoring in national ecosystem assessments, and ensuring equity through active participation
of women, youth, and Indigenous communities. Both forums underscored that combatting plastic
pollution and restoring marine ecosystems require coordinated, transdisciplinary actions that bridge
science, policy, and local leadership.