Ditch plastic and embrace green living on World Environment Day

Every year on June 5, the world comes together to observe World Environment Day, a moment to reflect, reset, and recommit to safeguarding our planet. In 2025, the United Nations has renewed its urgent call to action with the theme “Putting an End to Plastic Pollution”—a powerful reminder that the fight against one of our planet’s most persistent pollutants is far from over.

Plastic pollution is now one of the gravest environmental challenges. Every year, around 400 million tonnes of plastic waste is generated globally, much of it ending up in landfills, oceans, and even the food we eat. Microplastics have been detected in the deepest ocean trenches and the air we breathe. As production outpaces our ability to manage waste, urgent steps are needed to reverse this tide of toxicity.

The 2025 campaign urges individuals, industries, and governments to take decisive steps toward reducing, reusing, and recycling plastic. The focus is not only on banning single-use plastics but also on reshaping our habits and systems to build a future free of plastic dependency.

In this aspect, let’s look at 3 eco-friendly habits to adopt this World Environment Day to battle against rising plastic pollution:

1. Say No to Single-Use Plastics
Make a conscious switch to reusable alternatives. Whether it’s carrying your own shopping bag, using a steel water bottle, or avoiding plastic cutlery, small daily decisions create a big impact over time. By reducing the demand for disposables, we directly reduce the supply.

2. Choose Sustainable Packaging
Support brands that use biodegradable or recyclable packaging. Be mindful while shopping—look for minimal packaging or products wrapped in paper, glass, or compostable materials. Encourage local businesses to shift to eco-friendly packaging solutions by voicing your preferences as a consumer.

3. Segregate and Recycle Responsibly
Proper waste segregation at home is a powerful tool in managing plastic waste. Separate dry waste (like plastic, paper, and glass) from wet waste, and ensure plastics are clean and dry before recycling. Participate in community drives or workshops on home composting and waste management.

Each of us has a choice—to contribute to the plastic problem or be part of the solution. Governments and organisations may set policies, but lasting change begins with people. Therefore, by adopting sustainable habits and raising awareness, we take meaningful steps toward healing the planet.

Adding his views, Aryan Sharma, an alumnus of Apeejay Stya University, Gurugram, emphasised, “Ditching plastic is not just a symbolic gesture—it’s a necessary shift in how we interact with the environment. As individuals and future professionals, embracing green living means making conscious, consistent choices that go beyond a single day. It’s about promoting sustainable consumption, supporting innovation in eco-friendly alternatives, and advocating for stronger policies around waste management. On this World Environment Day, let’s commit to transforming awareness into action—not just by refusing plastic, but by inspiring others through education, example, and accountability. Our collective choices today shape the environmental legacy we leave for tomorrow.”

Let June 5, 2025, be more than just another Environment Day. Let it mark the start of a cleaner, greener, and plastic-free future. Because beating plastic pollution isn’t a trend—it’s a necessity.