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Kanoria Foundation, under the Chairmanship of Dr H P Kanoria, in collaboration with Bengal Shristi and Srihari Global School, organised a series of awareness activities focused on this year’s global theme: “Beating Plastic Pollution” and undertook a tree plantation drive in observance of World Environment Day 2025. Observed globally on 5th June, World Environment Day calls for collective action to protect the planet.

Plastic pollution is an urgent global problem. Every year, 19-23 million tonnes of plastic waste leak into aquatic ecosystems, polluting lakes, rivers, and seas. Every day, the equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic are dumped into the world’s oceans, rivers, and lakes. This poses a threat to the marine environment. It puts marine species at higher risk of ingesting plastic, suffocating, or becoming entangled in plastic pollution. Research indicates that more than 1,500 species in marine and terrestrial environments are known to ingest plastics.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, microplastics have also been found in human livers, kidneys, and placentas. Additionally, the International Union for Conservation of Nature finds that carcinogenic chemicals found in plastic products can leach into tap water, which may cause developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune disorders.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) estimated that in 2019, plastic products were responsible for 3.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions throughout their life cycles, with 90% of these emissions coming from the production and conversion of fossil fuels into new plastic products. Hence, plastic is found in the water we drink, the food we eat, the air we breathe, the soil below us, and even inside our bodies.

OECD also reports that, unless human behavior changes, greenhouse gas emissions associated with the life cycle of plastic products are expected to double by 2060. The World Economic Forum projects that without intervention, the global plastics industry will account for 20% of total oil consumption and up to 15% of global carbon emissions by 2050.

Plastic pollution can alter habitats and natural processes, reducing ecosystems’ ability to adapt to climate change, directly affecting millions of people’s livelihoods, food production capabilities, and social well-being. The environmental, social, economic, and health risks of plastics need to be assessed alongside other environmental stressors, like climate change, ecosystem degradation, and resource use.

This year’s theme strived to create awareness on the escalating crisis caused by plastic pollution, thereby necessitating urgent measures for recycling and embracing sustainable alternatives. To mark the occasion, Srihari Global School organised a special initiative that saw enthusiastic participation from dignitaries, students, and teachers at the school.

The event was graced by Bidhan Upadhyay, Hon’ble Mayor of Asansol Municipal Corporation, Rahul Varma, President of the Kanoria Foundation, Kamlesh Mishra, Chief Executive Officer, Srihari Global School, Rajib Samaddar, Principal, Srihari Global School, and S. B. Singh, Senior Vice President of Bengal Shristi. Spearheaded by Rahul Varma, the initiative featured a plantation drive aimed at promoting environmental awareness.

Participants showcased a diverse range of plant species, sharing information about their uses and ecological importance in vector control. The event concluded with an insightful talk on “Beating Plastic Pollution,” which inspired the young attendees to embrace mindful and eco-friendly practices in their daily lives. The day’s activities included caption writing, desktop eco-friendly arrangements, and screen savers related to this year’s theme.

Continuing the day’s mission, the Kanoria Foundation and Bengal Shristi organised a public awareness campaign at Sentrum Mall. The drive drew attention from shoppers and passers-by, sparking conversations on practical, everyday actions to curb plastic menace. The drive encouraged the public to reflect on their environmental impact and adopt more sustainable habits. A quiz competition was also organised for the participants which drew an enthusiastic response.

The residents of Shristinagar also joined the World Environment Day activities by undertaking a tree plantation programme within the township to protect Mother Earth. This impactful programme bridging across both educational and public spaces, led by Kanoria Foundation in collaboration with Bengal Shristi and Srihari Global School, served as a powerful reminder that environmental change begins with awareness and grows through sustained community action to contribute to a healthier planet to sustain our future generations.