June 5 is World Environment Day (WED). The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), a key organ of the UN, celebrates this day globally to raise awareness among relevant stakeholders about environmental pollution, conservation, and well-being. The theme of this year's WED is "Ending Plastic Pollution." Through this theme, UNEP aims to create a global platform and network to reduce plastic use and pollution. The Republic of Korea is hosting WED this year and continues to play an exemplary role in tackling plastic pollution and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Its efforts focus on sustainable consumption and production, resource protection, biodiversity conservation, and maintaining a healthy ecosystem on Earth.
Plastic waste is one of the most significant contributors to global warming due to increasing pollution trends. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), approximately 400 million tonnes of plastic waste was generated worldwide in 2024, with the highest contribution coming from the Asia-Pacific region. Furthermore, the OECD predicts that plastic waste could reach one billion tonnes per year by 2060. Around 240 million young people between the ages of 14 and 24 live in the Asia-Pacific region. This youth demographic can play a vital role in combating plastic pollution through awareness campaigns and by changing their consumption behaviour.
Plastic pollution is one of the critical environmental challenges facing the global tourism industry. Approximately 80 per cent of tourist activities take place in coastal and marine areas, contributing significantly to ocean pollution. Each year, tourism-related activities generate around 8 million tonnes of plastic waste that ends up in the oceans. This plastic waste poses serious threats to marine life, including fish, birds, mammals, and turtles. It is predicted that by 2050, there could be more plastic than fish in the oceans. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), tourism is responsible for about 80 per cent of the plastic waste in marine environments, with levels rising significantly during peak travel seasons. The tourism industry involves airlines, accommodations, restaurants, transportation, and attractions-all of which heavily rely on plastic products, making them a major contributor to plastic pollution.
To realise the importance of plastic pollution-free tourism development, the UN launched the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, jointly led by two of its bodies: UNEP and UN Tourism. This global initiative aims to foster collaboration among relevant tourism stakeholders, including businesses, governments, and citizens, to raise awareness about plastic waste and encourage pollution-free tourism development in destinations. The partnership involves tourism institutions and businesses in supporting global efforts for plastic-free tourism and delivering commitments to a new global circular economy. Key actions under this initiative include reducing unnecessary plastic packaging, identifying reusable alternatives to plastic, promoting collaborative recycling efforts, and addressing the composition and use of plastic in tourist attractions.
Bangladesh is among the top 20 countries with the highest levels of mismanaged plastic waste. In 2020, Dhaka alone generated 645 tonnes of plastic waste, and per capita plastic consumption in the city has doubled over the past 15 years. Plastic waste contributes to air pollution and poses significant human health risks in Bangladesh. It is also a major pollutant of tourist destinations across the country. Tourist hotspots such as Cox's Bazar, Saint Martin's Island, and Kuakata are increasingly polluted due to the widespread use of plastic, polythene, and other packaging materials left behind by tourist activities. The natural environment, biodiversity, ecosystems, and livelihoods of communities in and around these destinations are being negatively affected by plastic pollution.
UNEP has emphasised the importance of data-driven initiatives to support policy solutions aimed at reducing plastic waste generated by tourism. It has highlighted a range of pollution-related indicators that can help manage and reduce plastic waste in tourist destinations. Training programmes for tourism stakeholders are essential so they can understand and implement practical initiatives to reduce plastic pollution. In Bangladesh, young students are a key demographic among tourists and frequently visit these destinations. Integrating plastic-free tourism initiatives into education curricula can help students gain knowledge about pollution-free travel.
Tourism companies and attraction operators can play a vital role by reducing unnecessary plastic use and adopting initiatives to reuse, recycle, and compost waste to minimise environmental harm. Tourism service providers-including airlines, accommodation facilities, restaurants, transport services, and attractions-must adopt plastic-free practices or minimise single-use plastics in their operations. Furthermore, there is a need to promote responsible tourism through collaboration with tour operators, travel agencies, and tourism service providers. Embracing a circular economy can reduce plastic use and promote the recycling of plastic products, supporting a green growth strategy. Increased awareness among tourists can also reduce plastic consumption and its negative environmental impacts. Ultimately, all relevant stakeholders must work together to develop a holistic approach to reducing plastic waste and pollution resulting from tourism activities.
The UNDP Accelerator Lab partnered with the Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) to implement waste management initiatives under the Transforming Saint Martin's project at Bangladesh's only coral island and a popular tourist destination. Launched in September 2022, the project adopts an area-based approach to address waste management challenges, particularly plastic waste. The local government struggles to manage waste effectively due to limitations in human resources, funding, and institutional capacity.
The initiative identified several challenges, including informal waste collection, the absence of dustbins, a lack of awareness among tourists and local communities, no designated dumping stations, and poor coordination among stakeholders. In response, the initiative implemented several measures: organising clean-up drives around the island, installing waste bins, modernising waste collection and processing systems, and launching advocacy and communication campaigns to encourage behavioural change among tourists and stakeholders.
The UNDP Accelerator Lab has also conducted community and tourist-facing campaigns using tools such as audio advisories in Bangla and English, mobile text messages, digital banners, and posters. A dedicated YouTube channel, My Saint Martin's, shares videos aimed at raising awareness about plastic and waste management among tourists. The immediate results visible in the islands are cleaner public places, reduced plastic waste, and behavioral intervention of tourists and communities through communication materials.
The writer is an associate professor and deputy director of the Innovation and Sustainability Lab (ISL) at National University, Bangladesh
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