<p>In the time it takes to read this article, over 3,000 tonnes of plastic will have been produced, most of it designed for single use and then discarded. According to Plastics for Change, India generates 9.3 million tonnes (MT) of plastic waste annually, 43% of which is single-use plastic. Most of this ends up in a landfill, some of it is incinerated, and the rest often finds its way into a water body.</p>.<p>Plastic pollution knows no bounds. It has been found at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, inside Arctic ice, and even in human bodies (in the blood, lungs, breast milk, etc). Plastic does not decompose – it merely breaks down into smaller fragments and lingers in the environment indefinitely. These tiny fragments, or microplastics, are formed as larger plastics degrade and can have alarming health impacts, including but not limited to cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, neurological and cognitive disorders, and gastrointestinal issues.</p>.Plastic poison: It’s creeping up on you.<p>Globally, over 350 MT of plastic waste is produced annually. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, this figure could triple by 2060 if the current trends continue. Moreover, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reveals that only 9% of the total plastic waste is successfully recycled. Once celebrated as a breakthrough in material sciences, plastic has now become one of the greatest ecological threats that we face. This World Environment Day, the theme ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ reminds us that urgent, collective action is no longer optional.</p>.<p>This year’s World Environment Day comes at a pivotal moment when nations are in the midst of negotiating a Global Plastics Treaty. This will be a legally binding agreement that is designed to manage the entire life cycle of plastics, from production to disposal. The process was initiated by the United Nations Environment Assembly in 2022. Since then, member states have convened five times as part of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to chart a path towards tackling the global crisis. A critical session of this committee, INC-5.2, is scheduled for August 2025, where nations may finalise an ambitious framework centred on human health, environmental protection, and intergenerational justice.</p>.<p>India, one of the largest plastic producers and consumers in the world, is a key voice from the Global South. At INC-4 held in 2024, India stated that it opposes binding targets on the production of primary plastic polymers, citing economic concerns. India argued that limiting production would not necessarily change consumer behaviour and that the treaty should focus on addressing plastic pollution rather than restricting plastic production. Therefore, India emphasised that the scope of the treaty should be strictly limited to avoiding plastic waste leakage and cautioned against overlaps with existing multilateral environmental agreements, such as the Basel, Stockholm, and Rotterdam Conventions. These are multilateral agreements with a common mandate to protect the environment and human health from hazardous chemicals and wastes.</p>.<p>This position aligns with India’s developmental priorities, including economic growth, industrial competitiveness, and employment generation. However, while this view reflects the reality of protecting domestic economic interests, it may slow down India’s shift towards circular economy models. Without upstream controls, downstream waste management and recycling systems will continue to face unsustainable burdens.</p>.<p>India’s position holds significant sway in the global plastics treaty negotiations. As a key voice among emerging economies in the Global South, India is well-placed to shape the treaty – particularly on principles such as differentiated responsibilities and support for capacity building. It can advocate for a framework that includes robust provisions for technology transfer, financial assistance, and mechanisms for global cooperation that prioritise the needs of developing nations.</p>.<p>However, the strength of India’s international advocacy will depend heavily on its domestic actions. Systemic change must be anchored in national-level reforms across governance, industry practices, and consumer behaviour. India must move beyond raising awareness to establishing real accountability across the entire plastic value chain. By aligning its global leadership with bold domestic measures, India can not only safeguard its own environmental future but also steer the world towards a truly sustainable approach to plastic production and waste management.</p>.<p><strong>Redesign, rethink, reform</strong></p>.<p>Combating plastic pollution is more than an environmental mandate – it offers broad benefits for public health, economic resilience, and ecosystem restoration. Cleaner landscapes, safer food chains, reduced health risks, and more sustainable jobs are all part of the promise.</p>.<p>While individual action is a powerful lever of change, systemic transformation demands a collaborative strategy fuelled by social innovation, technology, and collective will. Real accountability requires action across the entire plastics value chain. Companies must embrace eco-design principles and invest in reuse and refill systems. Governments should enforce strict regulations, strengthen Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) norms, and promote sustainable alternatives through subsidies and funding. Consumers, in turn, need labelling and incentives to adopt sustainable choices.</p>.<p class="bodytext">India has the opportunity to lead by aligning innovation with inclusive policies and community-driven action. But, to truly move the needle, all actors – producers, policymakers, retailers, consumers, and waste workers – must share responsibility. Plastics must be designed for reuse, recovery, and reintegration – not disposal. With thoughtful design, responsible consumption, and equitable participation, India can transform its plastic waste crisis into a model of environmental renewal and social empowerment.</p>.<p class="bodytext"><span class="italic">(Pooja is an analyst in the <br />sustainability domain and Indu leads the Climate, Environment and Sustainability sector at the Centre for Study of Science, Technology and Policy)</span></p>
<p>In the time it takes to read this article, over 3,000 tonnes of plastic will have been produced, most of it designed for single use and then discarded. According to Plastics for Change, India generates 9.3 million tonnes (MT) of plastic waste annually, 43% of which is single-use plastic. Most of this ends up in a landfill, some of it is incinerated, and the rest often finds its way into a water body.</p>.<p>Plastic pollution knows no bounds. It has been found at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, inside Arctic ice, and even in human bodies (in the blood, lungs, breast milk, etc). Plastic does not decompose – it merely breaks down into smaller fragments and lingers in the environment indefinitely. These tiny fragments, or microplastics, are formed as larger plastics degrade and can have alarming health impacts, including but not limited to cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, neurological and cognitive disorders, and gastrointestinal issues.</p>.Plastic poison: It’s creeping up on you.<p>Globally, over 350 MT of plastic waste is produced annually. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, this figure could triple by 2060 if the current trends continue. Moreover, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reveals that only 9% of the total plastic waste is successfully recycled. Once celebrated as a breakthrough in material sciences, plastic has now become one of the greatest ecological threats that we face. This World Environment Day, the theme ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ reminds us that urgent, collective action is no longer optional.</p>.<p>This year’s World Environment Day comes at a pivotal moment when nations are in the midst of negotiating a Global Plastics Treaty. This will be a legally binding agreement that is designed to manage the entire life cycle of plastics, from production to disposal. The process was initiated by the United Nations Environment Assembly in 2022. Since then, member states have convened five times as part of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to chart a path towards tackling the global crisis. A critical session of this committee, INC-5.2, is scheduled for August 2025, where nations may finalise an ambitious framework centred on human health, environmental protection, and intergenerational justice.</p>.<p>India, one of the largest plastic producers and consumers in the world, is a key voice from the Global South. At INC-4 held in 2024, India stated that it opposes binding targets on the production of primary plastic polymers, citing economic concerns. India argued that limiting production would not necessarily change consumer behaviour and that the treaty should focus on addressing plastic pollution rather than restricting plastic production. Therefore, India emphasised that the scope of the treaty should be strictly limited to avoiding plastic waste leakage and cautioned against overlaps with existing multilateral environmental agreements, such as the Basel, Stockholm, and Rotterdam Conventions. These are multilateral agreements with a common mandate to protect the environment and human health from hazardous chemicals and wastes.</p>.<p>This position aligns with India’s developmental priorities, including economic growth, industrial competitiveness, and employment generation. However, while this view reflects the reality of protecting domestic economic interests, it may slow down India’s shift towards circular economy models. Without upstream controls, downstream waste management and recycling systems will continue to face unsustainable burdens.</p>.<p>India’s position holds significant sway in the global plastics treaty negotiations. As a key voice among emerging economies in the Global South, India is well-placed to shape the treaty – particularly on principles such as differentiated responsibilities and support for capacity building. It can advocate for a framework that includes robust provisions for technology transfer, financial assistance, and mechanisms for global cooperation that prioritise the needs of developing nations.</p>.<p>However, the strength of India’s international advocacy will depend heavily on its domestic actions. Systemic change must be anchored in national-level reforms across governance, industry practices, and consumer behaviour. India must move beyond raising awareness to establishing real accountability across the entire plastic value chain. By aligning its global leadership with bold domestic measures, India can not only safeguard its own environmental future but also steer the world towards a truly sustainable approach to plastic production and waste management.</p>.<p><strong>Redesign, rethink, reform</strong></p>.<p>Combating plastic pollution is more than an environmental mandate – it offers broad benefits for public health, economic resilience, and ecosystem restoration. Cleaner landscapes, safer food chains, reduced health risks, and more sustainable jobs are all part of the promise.</p>.<p>While individual action is a powerful lever of change, systemic transformation demands a collaborative strategy fuelled by social innovation, technology, and collective will. Real accountability requires action across the entire plastics value chain. Companies must embrace eco-design principles and invest in reuse and refill systems. Governments should enforce strict regulations, strengthen Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) norms, and promote sustainable alternatives through subsidies and funding. Consumers, in turn, need labelling and incentives to adopt sustainable choices.</p>.<p class="bodytext">India has the opportunity to lead by aligning innovation with inclusive policies and community-driven action. But, to truly move the needle, all actors – producers, policymakers, retailers, consumers, and waste workers – must share responsibility. Plastics must be designed for reuse, recovery, and reintegration – not disposal. With thoughtful design, responsible consumption, and equitable participation, India can transform its plastic waste crisis into a model of environmental renewal and social empowerment.</p>.<p class="bodytext"><span class="italic">(Pooja is an analyst in the <br />sustainability domain and Indu leads the Climate, Environment and Sustainability sector at the Centre for Study of Science, Technology and Policy)</span></p>
