In March 2022, a conference room in Nairobi erupted with a standing ovation, tears and embraces: the United Nations Environmental Assembly (175 countries) had agreed to create a global treaty on plastics.

The moment touched me deeply, both as a representative of the Anglican Communion and as a plastic campaigner, fresh from a recycling research project at our church in Crossroads, Cape Town!

What a significant,  once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for nations who share a common home – this Earth – to agree on action to tackle plastic pollution!

The resolution was to “End Plastic Pollution” forging a legally binding treaty addressing the full life cycle of plastic, reducing production, consumption and pollution. There were two challenges ahead –  to “ turn off the taps” slowing the flow of plastic production and to deal with the pollution choking our planet.

Three years later

In the words of the late Pope Francis  – “The Earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.” (Laudato Si)

His words are tragic and progress on the global plastics treaty has been slow.

Agreeing on details has been laborious; it is clear that nations are divided mainly into two groups. Some, with “high ambition” want to keep to the original spirit of the agreement, including  a reduction in production. But some others, with South Africa amongst them, are pushing for the treaty to be watered down to a waste management treaty.

A legally binding agreement would help to strengthen existing South Africa legislation on plastic - but without a reduction of production  –  it will not be enough to deal with the enormity of the plastic pollution crisis

Our world is awash with plastic – and the piles are growing

According to Tearfund, a Christian development organisation, globally, we throw away about 300 million tonnes of plastic waste every year. That's enough to cover almost 50 000 soccer pitches a day!
 
Waste management, of course, is extremely important but half of all plastic is now designed to be used only once before being thrown away – we must challenge the single-use culture.

To safeguard the health of communities and ecosystems we must deal with both the plastic pollution already in the system as well as the plastic coming down the line. Without reducing production, the piles of filth will continue to grow.

 Faith leaders are taking action

“I brought you into a fertile land …. But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable”. Jeremiah 2: 7

The world’s rubbish problem is not just an environmental issue: it’s a human rights and spiritual one, too.
People of faith are standing up because plastic pollution is impacting the poor and future generations as well as God’s Creation.

What kind of world do we want to leave for our children?

The new Climate Commission of the South African Council of Churches has declared  2025 the year to combat waste. The harmful impacts of all this plastic pollution are becoming more widespread and severe, making it impossible for faith leaders to look away.

Plastic pollution harms our health

Plastic pollution poses huge risks to people’s health at every stage of its life cycle. Our health is impacted during extraction of fossil fuels, converting them into plastic, and finally the disposal of plastic.

Over 4000 hazardous chemicals have been found in plastics. These are harmful to human health and less than 6% of these chemicals are regulated under existing international agreements. These harmful chemicals can end up in our bodies and in the environment leading to long-term consequences.

With poor service delivery in many communities, plastic is often burnt, releasing toxic fumes and chemicals that can lead to serious respiratory problems with children and the elderly  the most at risk.

Microplastics – tiny particles  – are in the air, in the food we eat and the water we drink. When microplastics enter our body they can affect our brains, intestines and even placenta. They affect our nervous systems, impact childhood development, and can increase infertility and heart disease.

Plastic pollution clogs rivers and waterways, leading to flooding and increasing the risk of harmful disease outbreaks. It is a breeding ground for mosquitoes, flies and other vermin.

Plastic pollution threatens livelihoods

It is crucial to explore ways of increasing income and improving the working conditions for informal waste pickers. They provide a vital service and often work in unhealthy and underpaid circumstances

Plastic pollution poses a significant hazard of choking and entanglement to farm animals. Studies have found that in some low- and middle-income countries, up to a third of cattle have consumed significant amounts of plastic, mistaking it for  food.

Fish too, are affected: this is devastating for those who rely on fishing for their income. Plastic pollution also hampers crop growth by obstructing the flow of water and air in the soil. And in many places where the local economy relies on tourism, pollution is threatening businesses.

When plastic pollution blocks waterways it can also exacerbate flooding which can lead to disasters and loss of life, homes and businesses. The worst impacts of this are often felt in informal settlements.

The oil used in plastic production releases carbon into the atmosphere, adding to the climate crisis. The plastic industry is the fastest-growing source of industrial greenhouse gas emissions in the world. When plastic waste is burnt, it releases dangerous pollutants back into the atmosphere too which further contributes to the climate crisis.

What is the solution?

Every individual has been created by God and should have the opportunity to live a full life, free from all this rubbish.

The solution is almost within our reach  – if only the original vision of the plastic treaty can be fulfilled.

Our plea to our government and the South African negotiating team is to seize this once-in-a-lifetime moment and join other African nations who are calling for a reduction in plastic production.In addition, we need to ensure that the plastic still being produced is made to be used for a long time and doesn’t contain harmful chemicals.

Minister Dion George and your negotiating team, let us not reduce the plastics treaty to a waste management agreement.

• We must call for a strong treaty that stops the production of throwaway plastics and products containing harmful chemicals, a treaty which enables companies to design safer, reusable plastic products.
• We must make sure every country has the money, technology and systems to implement the treaty rules -  a treaty that can become stronger over time as we learn what works or what doesn't.
• We must reduce production of plastics!

Your actions offer the hope of a better future.

Choose life, so that you and your children may live Deut 30:19

*This opinion piece was written by the Reverend Rachel Mash with the support of the South African Civil Society Organisations Coalition (Green Anglicans, Greenpeace Africa, groundWork South Africa, SAWPA and WWF). A version of this piece was first published in Groundup.