A rising tide of plastic pollution is sullying land, sea and air, and increasingly finding its way into our bodies in the form of microplastics. To counter this threat, UNEP is working in 41 countries to address pollution across the life cycle of plastics and to create a more circular economy for the material. As part of this work, UNEP advised Zimbabwe as it mapped microplastics in its rivers for the first time. UNEP also supported Ecuador as it developed rules for biodegradable plastics – which is important as some materials labeled as “biodegradable” degrade to microplastics. 

In 2025, UNEP supported the development and implementation of extended producer responsibility programmes in seven countries. These initiatives, which are becoming increasingly popular, make producers responsible for plastic products throughout their life cycle and help unlock financing for managing plastic pollution. That is why they are seen as one of the most important tools for countering plastic pollution. In Nigeria, for example, UNEP is supporting the design of a national registry for packaging, which will support the enforcement of producer responsibility rules. 

UNEP also launched a programme, dubbed Plastic Reboot, to support 15 countries as they transition away from single-use plastic packaging – one of the leading sources of plastic pollution – in the food and beverage sector. The US$108 million initiative will support countries as they enhance their policies and transition towards a more circular economy for plastics. 

UNEP is assisting cities in Colombia, Jamaica and Panama to develop strategies for countering plastic pollution through the adoption of reuse programmes. Reuse has taken off in many places as countries move to transition away from single use plastics.