A festival titled ‘Beyond Plastic’ was held in Laamu Atoll to commemorate World Environment Day, aiming to raise awareness of the environmental harm caused by plastic and promote collective action to reduce its use.

The event featured interactive exhibitions and community activities that highlighted the dangers of plastic pollution. Through creative and contemporary displays, organisers showcased alternatives to plastic products and demonstrated practical methods for recycling various types of plastic.

Eco-friendly substitutes were also exhibited, giving both children and adults hands-on opportunities to explore sustainable solutions.

This year’s World Environment Day theme, “Beat Plastic Pollution,” served as a timely reminder of the need to reduce plastic waste to protect ecosystems on land and at sea.

The Maldives has introduced concrete policy measures to curb plastic pollution, including a MVR 2 levy on disposable plastic bags implemented in April 2023. According to official data, the initiative has helped reduce single-use plastic waste.