Every year on June 5, World Environment Day (WED) unites people across the globe in raising awareness and taking action on pressing environmental issues.
This year the spotlight is on plastic pollution, one of the most urgent and pervasive threats to ecosystems, biodiversity and human health.
The Republic of Korea will host World Environment Day 2025, on the theme, “Ending Plastic Pollution,” promoted through the global campaign #BeatPlasticPollution.
As part of the international campaign, the Global Partnership on Plastic Pollution and Marine Litter (GPML) is leading a collective call to action to tackle plastic pollution on land and in the oceans. Every year on June 5, over 150 countries come together under the leadership of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to celebrate this global green movement with one shared purpose: protecting our only home Earth.
WED began in 1972, following the historic United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm, which marked the first major international discussion on environmental issues.
WED serves as a launch pad for lasting impact. Initiatives such as Sri Lanka’s national call on reducing the use of plastics and Jeju Island’s “Plastic Zero” vision in South Korea are just two examples of how this single day can trigger changes in policy, production and personal behaviour.
So, grab your reusable water bottle, polythene bags …. step outside and be part of the movement. Because on June 5, you’re not just a bystander you’re part of the solution
Sri Lanka’s commitment: “Let it Sprout” (Dalulanna Idadenna)
Responding to this global call for restoration, Sri Lanka has unveiled its national theme for World Environment Day 2025: “Let it Sprout”. The message is simple yet powerful, an appeal to reduce the human footprint on the environment and allow natural systems to recover.
Led by the Ministry of Environment, Sri Lanka has launched a series of bold initiatives aimed at ending plastic pollution, with a strong emphasis on behavioural change, community engagement and policy enforcement. These efforts are carried out in collaboration with affiliated environmental agencies, schools, Local Government authorities and civil society organisations.
The global plastic crisis: why now matters more than ever
Plastic, once hailed as a revolutionary material, is now one of the most destructive elements of modern consumerism. Lightweight, cheap and durable, it is used extensively in packaging, household items, clothing and electronics. However, its very durability means that it does not biodegrade, instead, it breaks down into tiny particles called micro plastics, which are increasingly detected in soil, water, food and even human breast milk.
In Sri Lanka, studies have shown alarming levels of micro plastics in marine ecosystems and freshwater sources, indicating the extent to which plastic pollution has infiltrated our natural environment. Rivers such as the Kelani and Mahaweli have become conduits of plastic waste flowing into the ocean. Coastal regions, especially after monsoons, are littered with polythene, plastic bottles, sachets and fishing gear, threatening marine biodiversity and fishing communities.
Plastic in breast milk: a wake-up call
One of the most disturbing findings in recent years is the presence of micro plastics in human breast milk. Such findings reinforce the urgency of national and global action. The long-term health implications of micro plastic exposure remain under study, but their presence in the most intimate and life-sustaining aspects of human biology is an undeniable alarm.
Why polythene remains popular despite the damage and the need for viable alternatives
Their popularity is largely driven by affordability, convenience and accessibility, particularly in rural and low-income communities.
However, this short-term convenience carries a long-term environmental cost. Improperly discarded plastics block drainage systems, contribute to urban flooding, damage farmlands and pose a serious threat to wildlife and marine ecosystems. The persistence of plastic waste in the environment has also led to the accumulation of micro plastics in water sources and even in human food chains, raising significant health concerns.
To reduce this dependency, viable, eco-friendly alternatives must become more widely available and affordable. Encouragingly, several local and global initiatives are promoting alternatives such as reusable cloth bags, jute sacks, biodegradable packaging materials, and containers made from banana leaves, coconut husk or recycled paper.
Education and incentives are essential to support this transition. Retailers and consumers alike must be encouraged to adopt reusable, while policymakers should create an enabling environment for innovation in sustainable packaging.
Ultimately, the shift away from polythene is not only an environmental imperative but also an opportunity to reshape consumption habits, support green entrepreneurship and build a circular economy that benefits both people and the planet.
The ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ vision
At the heart of Sri Lanka’s environmental agenda is the transformative ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ initiative, a flagship national program that places environmental stewardship and sustainability at the core of development planning. Recognised as one of the main pillars in the fight against plastic pollution, this initiative reflects the Government’s firm commitment to protecting natural resources while promoting healthier, cleaner communities.
The initiative is guided by the well-established principles of the “3Rs” Reduce, Reuse and Recycle aiming not only to limit the generation of plastic and polythene waste but also to reshape public attitudes and institutional practices.
Importantly, the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ initiative is not limited to waste management,it is an evolving framework that connects climate goals, public health, urban beautification, eco-tourism and green jobs. By framing environmental protection as both a responsibility and an opportunity, the initiative encourages all sectorsfrom schools to corporationsto become active participants in shaping a sustainable future.
As Sri Lanka aligns its national priorities with global environmental movements such as World Environment Day 2025, the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ initiative serves as a model of integrated, people-centred environmental governance, reinforcing that ending plastic pollution is not a single action but a collective journey.
Polluter pays and turning plastic waste into value
The principle of “Polluter Pays” encourages those responsible for environmental pollution to bear the costs of managing it. In the context of Sri Lanka’s growing plastic crisis, this concept is increasingly relevant.
One innovative and practical outcome of this approach is the creation of plastic bricks. Made by compressing or melting down non-recyclable plastics and mixing them with sand or binding materials, these bricks are durable, water-resistant and environmental-friendly. Plastic bricks offer a sustainable alternative to conventional construction materials, supporting eco-friendly building solutions while reducing the environmental burden of plastic waste.
Through stronger enforcement of polluter pays policies, support for waste collectors, and promotion of innovative solutions such as plastic bricks, Sri Lanka can take significant steps towards a circular economywhere waste is not merely discarded, but repurposed into valuable, usable resources that support waste-to-resource transformation.
Green cities: planting the future
Another key initiative under Sri Lanka’s WED 2025 program is the Green Cities Tree Planting Campaign. This initiative aims to transform urban landscapes by integrating green spaces into city planning.
Schools, youth groups, religious institutions and businesses are all being encouraged to take part. The campaign emphasizes the symbolic and practical power of trees each planted tree not only sequesters carbon, but also offers shade, shelter and beauty in a rapidly urbanising world.
If every household reduces single-use plastic, if every school plants trees, if every citizen takes responsibility, Sri Lanka can become a global example of sustainable recovery and ecological restoration.
Let us not just observe World Environment Day let us embody its message. Let us truly “Let it Sprout.”
