VIENNA, 26 May 2025 – The documentary “Plastic People”, directed by Ben Addelman & Ziya Tong, chronicles humanity’s fraught relationship with plastic and one woman’s mission to expose shocking new revelations about the impact of microplastics on human health. Almost every bit of plastic ever made breaks down into “microplastics.” These microscopic particles drift in the air, float in all bodies of water and mix into the soil.
Counsellor Stefanie Von Westarp, Deputy Head of Mission from the Embassy of Canada, in her opening remarks, highlighted the work of the Canadian Government to strengthen policies, requirements and guidelines that promote sustainable procurement practices. The government has also committed to divert at least 75 per cent of plastic waste from federal operations by 2030, she said.
The screening was followed by a panel discussion, moderated by UNIS Public Information Officer Anne Thomas. The film sparked much interest in the audience, who engaged with the panellists through comments and questions.
The role of steering industry through government action was emphasized by Marteen Hofman, Associate Programme Management Officer at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). He said: “Countries are still in charge of the policies they make and can, with those, influence economic decisions at the corporate level.”
Celina Horak, Section Head of the Radiochemistry and Radiation Technology Section at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), spoke about the NUTEC Plastics initiative, which leverages nuclear technology to address global plastic pollution. She said: “The idea is to work together to develop solutions, train researchers, and facilitate alternative ideas for the industry.”
“Being an active citizen doesn’t only happen during election times,” Anna Leitner, Campaigner for Resources and Supply Chains at Global 2000 – Friends of the Earth Austria, told the audience, “Being an active citizen can mean engaging in activism, supporting civil society, using farmers co-ops rather than supermarket chains or even calling your elected representatives to ask questions.”
