Collective local actions for a global plastic-free future - Manipur's Greener Environment Push -

Prof Kshetrimayum Birla / Laishram Nillapriya *

The world marks and celebrates "World Environment Day" on 5th June, 2025, under the global theme 'Ending Plastic Pollution Globally' in which the Republic of Korea host and lead the global celebrations of this auspicious day highlighting the widespread effects of plastic garbage to humankind while encouraging local communities to adopt strategies to manage and decrease its uses.

This powerful campaign is going to serve as a powerful reminder that the fight against environmental degradation begins at home. Our beautiful State of Manipur, like other region of the rest of the globe is presently engulfed with the encroaching problem of plastic pollution, a contemporary hazard that jeopardizes its cultural legacy and natural beauty. And the only shining ray of hope now lies in local action.

Plastic is used in practically every aspect of modem life from food and drink to building materials and household goods. It has astounding effects on both the environment and human health. In the natural world, plastics are everywhere. Throughout their life cycle, they contribute significantly to carbon emissions, making about 3.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Plastic trash is a chemical waste problem in addition to a solid waste management problem. Hazardous compounds are released into the air, water, and soil during the life cycle of plastics, particularly when plastic trash is not carefully controlled. This poses serious threats to both human health and the environment.

Due to their widespread use, plastics—particularly single-use plastic (SUP) products—have detrimental effects on the environment, society, economy, and human health. It is estimated that single-use plastic accounts for 50% of all plastic usage and thus plastic packaging pollutes not only the environment but also ends up in the world's oceans.

The United Nations estimates that humans generate 300 million tons of plastic waste year, of which 11 million tons end up in the ocean. It is estimated that our oceans may contain more plastic than fish by 2050. All these plastic never truly goes away instead, it gets smaller and fish or farm animals absorb these smaller particles, which are then ingested by humans through our food and drinking water.

Individual habits such as using reusable water bottles, bringing your own shopping bags and coffee cups, and refusing to use plastic straws and cutlery, are crucial in the fight against plastic pollution and at the same time lawmakers of the governments, corporations and investors must also take genuine interest and seriousness in making such profound and novel changes.

The Global Green Mission's programmes that support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations especially SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water), also emphasized the notion that every local action has an impact on the entire world as beating plastic pollution is an important step in preventing environmental degradation and biodiversity loss, strengthening food security, and reducing negative health impacts.

Additionally, in order to combat plastic pollution, to boost plastics value recovery and to reducing plastic wastes, the Indian Government must implement a comprehensive and circular economy strategy with the aim of achieving "zero plastic waste by 2030." In this connection, a low-key revolution is presently taking place in the various towns and villages of Manipur.

Slowly and slowly, handwoven clothes and bamboo baskets are replacing plastic bags in markets. Children are imparting the knowledge of the importance of recycling, reusing, and reducing in the schools. In an effort to revive the old belief that there should be no waste, numerous communities, academic institutions such as colleges, universities and also non-Govemmental organizations (NGOs) are planning and carrying out clean-up campaigns for single used plastics.

With eco-friendly-bricks and bio-degradable substitutes, youth clubs and women's organizations are transforming obstacles into opportunities. Despite their seeming modestness, these actions is going to have a significant impact on the global effort to eradicate plastic pollution. Manipur's green initiatives serve as a reminder that local acts can have a global impact and that changes starts at home.

Under the ambitious "Green Mission Manipur" banner, the State of Manipur has made significant progress in eradicating single-use plastics, reclaiming green areas, and enabling local populations to live sustainably. Manipur's adoption of a lifecycle strategy to plastics and encouragement of sustainable consumerism is a prime example of how grassroots movements may influence the sustainability of the planet.

The message is unmistakable on this World Environment Day: Every community should be cleansed, every bag should be reused, and every voice should be heard against plastic trash. We should not only honor the environment, but also our dedication to its preservation. For local hands and global hearts are the first steps on the path to a cleaner planet.