India alone generates 3 million tonnes of plastic waste annually: SOS Children’s Villages India CEO flags as child rights issue

New Delhi, June 05, 2025: India generates an alarming 3 million tonnes of plastic waste annually which paves the way for choked ecosystems, contaminated water sources, and hazardous living conditions for many.  This crisis has a direct and disproportionate impact on vulnerable children constituting of children who are growing up in exposed living conditions, said Sumanta Kar, CEO, SOS Children’s Villages India.

Plastic waste often forms takes up a significant portion of the landscape in urban slums and marginalised rural communities where waste disposal is unregulated or absent. Practices like open burning of plastic emits harmful toxins, which in turn become a driving factor behind health conditions in children like respiratory challenges or even long-term and terminal illnesses. Similarly, polluted water sources clogged with plastic lead to diarrheal diseases, malnutrition, and even death. When children play around such water bodies or waste dumps, they are exposed to much more than toxic chemicals – the exposure is to a mindset that normalises living among filth.

Sumanta Kar, CEO, SOS Children’s Villages India says, “It is our mission at SOS Children’s Villages India to nurture every child in a loving, safe, and sustainable environment. But how can we speak of a safe environment when plastic waste silently infiltrates the daily lives of India’s most vulnerable children? At SOS Children’s Villages India, we see the urgency of addressing this crisis not just as an environmental issue, but as a child rights issue.”

As a step towards the eradication of plastic waste in India, SOS Children’s Villages India saw the innovation of eco-bricks which a community-driven initiative aimed at repurposing plastic waste and involve communities in environmental action. Eco-bricks are made by tightly stuffing clean, dry plastic waste into used plastic bottles, creating durable building blocks. These are then used to construct low-cost seating, boundary walls, and even furniture in our programme locations. In several communities, eco-brick benches have become a symbol of transformation where once there was waste, now there is utility and dignity.

“We are imparting knowledge and skills to children that are required to bring around environmental changes, by engaging them in clean-up drives and regular awareness sessions. SOS Villages across India have been sustainability being integrated into their daily lives through various initiatives like kitchen gardens, installations of solar and composting units, and many more. Youth-led eco-campaigns have also proved to be a massive source of inspiration for the younger generations to develop a sense of responsibility towards the planet. We complement such community and children-driven activities with broader organisational efforts. We champion recycling and waste segregation within our diversified programmes,” added Mr. Kar.

Addressing the hidden cost of plastic waste on children requires systemic solutions, accessible recycling infrastructure, and most importantly, inclusive education that empowers every child, regardless of background, to live in a clean and safe environment. In this regard, institutional efforts alone barely make the cut. It is the need of the hour to come together as a united community to fight the battle against plastic waste and single-use plastics. Saying no to plastic bottles, straws, and carry bags is crucial. The practice of reusing containers, going for eco-friendly products, and switching to locally and ethically sourced product is key to combat plastic waste. Only then can children’s childhoods be protected.