Plastic pollution is a human rights issue hidden in plain sight
In the year of our Lord 2025, it's about time we pay attention to how plastic violates human rights all over the globe—including yours

We’re halfway through the year, which means we’ve entered Plastic-Free July!
Every year this month, millions around the world commit to reducing their consumption of single-use plastics.
💡 Quick facts: Over 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced globally each year, one-third of it for single use. Only 9% of all plastic is recycled, while 11 million tonnes end up in the oceans annually. Plastic now constitutes 80% of marine pollution, posing a massive threat to marine ecosystems and human health.
While it’s obvious that plastic pollutes the environment, many are still unaware of its many societal costs.
From forced labor in plastic production and toxic exposure in waste-burning communities to microplastic contamination in the air we breathe, plastic pollution is a human rights issue hiding in plain sight.
“Every stage of the plastic cycle generates plastic pollution that threatens the effective enjoyment of human rights. […] Prevention of harm to human and environmental health requires that chemicals of concern must be adequately controlled and kept out of plastics. This will also enable the transition to a chemically safe circular economy.” (UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner, 2024)
The human toll of plastics and why we should no longer be ignorant and disconnected from the harm it brings
Did you know that 99 % of all plastics are made from fossil fuels?
The extraction sites for plastics’ raw materials regularly violate Indigenous rights and displace communities, a horrible reality that is not being paid enough attention to.
Indigenous Peoples are disproportionately impacted at every stage of the plastic lifecycle, from extraction of the fossil fuel feedstock and plastic production, to the widespread dispersal of maco-, micro-, and nanoplastics in the natural environment. (Cambridge University Press, 2025)
Plastic pollution disproportionately affects marginalized communities and communities living in close proximity to plastic production and waste sites, constituting an environmental injustice. (UNEP, 2021)
Furthermore, waste incineration sites are often located near low-income and BIPOC communities. These communities are exposed to highly toxic pollutants, including dioxins and heavy metals, which have been linked to increased risks of cancer and other severe health issues.
These communities serve as “sacrifice zones”: geographic areas that carry the environmental and health burdens of plastic extraction, production, waste, and pollution.
Throughout the entire life cycle of plastic—from petrochemical plants to landfills and incinerators—low-income, BIPOC, and Indigenous populations disproportionately bear the cost.
It’s a stark reminder that our everyday choices—from our demand for convenience, to the way we consume, and ultimately how we discard waste—are interconnected with a destructive cycle that disproportionately harms the most vulnerable in society.
If you think your privilege keeps you safe, think again.
Microplastics, those tiny particles of plastic that are less than 5mm in size, can be found virtually everywhere—they contaminate our drinking water, accumulate in marine life, and enter human bodies through food and water consumption.
While their long-term health impacts remain uncertain, early research suggests that some of their potential risks include inflammation, immune disruption, and chemical toxicity.
What in the world is being done about the plastic crisis?

At the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice, nearly 100 countries signed the “Nice Wake-Up Call” declaration, which demands a legally binding global treaty to end plastic pollution.
This move follows the collapse of the UN plastics treaty negotiations in late 2024 due to disagreements between countries pushing to phase out plastic production and oil-producing nations favoring recycling-based solutions.
👉 Read our piece that breaks down what happened in the last plastic treaty
The declaration calls for a full lifecycle approach to plastic. This includes addressing production, chemical content, product design, implementation mechanisms, and adaptability for future amendments.
“Better waste management and recycling will not help solve the problem. This is a lie,” said French Environment Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher.
With negotiations set to resume in Geneva in August 2025, advocates are calling for concrete, enforceable measures that go beyond voluntary commitments and include a human rights-based approach to protect both people and planet.
Feel compelled to learn more? Check out these resources:
👩🔬 Dana Zhaxylykova, an Environmental Scientist, Microplastics Researcher, and Cofounder of MicroplasticFree App, who posts educational Reels on microplastics
🛍️ Sustainability strategist Natalia Palacio’s satirical Reel on influencer-driven consumption - watch until the end!
🕊️ Even seagulls aren’t exempt from eating food packaged in single-use plastics
🤝 The Plastic Pollution Coalition is a global alliance of individuals, organizations, businesses, and policymakers working toward a plastic-pollution-free world
🌍 The official Plastic Free July website shares valuable tips on how you can contribute to the movement
Eager to do more? These opportunities are calling:
⛵️ 195 in 365 is a Global Youth Initiative born from the Paris Agreement to gather the youth and activists from around the world in a Convoy to travel to 195 countries of the world in 365 days to bring awareness, education, and impact. Feel free to hit up Johann Hoschtialek, the founder himself, if you're curious to learn more!
🌊 Join Impact Hours, a networking event in the UK and Singapore launched by Seven Clean Seas for sustainability professionals, advocates, or curious students aiming to build a better future.
♻️ Sirsak, a climate tech company working to solve waste management in Indonesia, recently bagged $600K in pre-seed funding. They're hiring aggressively, too, so check out their openings if you're interested in scaling their impact!
At a time when Plastic-Free July is needed, let’s not forget to strive for a society that no longer needs it.
Besides doing our part by refusing single-use plastics, let’s shift the burden from individuals to systems and keep supporting and amplifying initiatives and leaders that strive to make a difference.
—SEArcularity
P.S. Are you a business, organization, or individual with circular ideas you’d like to share? Comment below or email hi@searcularity.com for a potential feature 👋🏼