World Environment Day, celebrated on 5th June each year, is a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to protect our planet. The 2025 theme, “ending plastic pollution globally”, calls for urgent action against the pervasive environmental threat posed by plastic waste. Beyond addressing plastic pollution, World Environment Day also promotes broader environmental values such as ensuring sustainable resource use for future generations. At Umvoto, we advance these values through innovative water and environmental science, integrated resource management, and community-focused initiatives that support the development of sustainable ecosystems.
Why focus on plastic pollution?
Plastic pollution affects every corner of the Earth, from groundwater systems and rivers to coastal zones and marine biodiversity. Over time, plastics degrade into microplastics, tiny particles less than 5 millimetres in size. Some plastics are intentionally manufactured, such as microbeads used in cosmetic products. These particles have infiltrated ecosystems and even the human body and are now being studied in hydrology due to their detection in aquifers. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, this year’s theme on ending plastic pollution aims to accelerate systemic change in how the world produces, consumes, and disposes of plastic.
Plastic doesn’t just pollute, it persists. For geological and hydrogeological scientists, plastic pollution presents a growing set of challenges. In hydrogeology, it contributes to contaminated aquifers, degraded surface water quality, and long-term ecosystem vulnerability. From a geological perspective, plastic waste is increasingly becoming part of the sedimentary record, altering soil composition, disrupting natural stratigraphy, and complicating site assessments and remediation efforts.
Umvoto’s role in environmental stewardship
Based in Muizenberg, Cape Town, Umvoto is an industry leader in integrated water resource management, geohazard risk reduction, and hydrogeological research. Our work often intersects with the issues raised by World Environment Day, including waste impacts on water systems and community exposure to environmental risks.
As an advocate for nature-based solutions, we focus on sustainable groundwater management, field research, and resilient infrastructure, important elements in supporting ecosystem health amid growing plastic and environmental waste. Umvoto conducts ongoing groundwater quality monitoring to assess the health and safety of vital water resources. This includes the design and installation of groundwater monitoring systems at sensitive sites, such as landfills, where the risk of contamination is high. By tracking key indicators over time, our work helps to detect pollutants early, inform mitigation strategies, and support long-term water security for both communities and ecosystems.
As an advocate for nature-based solutions, we focus on sustainable groundwater management, field research, and resilient infrastructure, important elements in supporting ecosystem health amid growing plastic and environmental waste. Umvoto conducts ongoing groundwater quality monitoring to assess the health of vital water resources. This includes the design and installation of groundwater monitoring systems at sensitive sites, such as landfills, where the risk of contamination is high. Regular monitoring enables early detection of pollutants, guides effective mitigation strategies, and supports long-term water security for both communities and ecosystems.
TUF: Empowering communities for clean ecosystems
A central part of Umvoto’s impact is through The Umvoto Foundation (TUF). TUF supports environmental education, outreach, and co-learning initiatives designed to empower communities to manage pollution, especially in under-resourced areas.
One such initiative is the Indawo, Abantu, Injongo e Khayelitsha Project, which exemplifies how TUF’s advocacy aligns with the 2025 World Environment Day campaign. What began as community-led clean-ups has now evolved into a recycling initiative, led by local women and supported by TUF. In 2022, the group expanded their impact by collecting dumped glass for resale, turning waste into a revenue stream. With TUF acting as a facilitator, the City of Cape Town’s Solid Waste Management Department stepped in to provide recycling bags, run workshops on waste minimisation, and promote urban revitalisation initiatives. This collaboration reflects TUF’s model of building environmental responsibility through mutual learning and practical, community-led solutions that create cleaner, healthier ecosystems.
Looking ahead: Science, action, and responsibility
Plastic pollution is a critical issue, with far-reaching consequences for both the environment and human well-being. From wetlands impacted by illegal dumping to aquifers at risk of contamination, communities are on the front lines. World Environment Day reminds us that solutions must combine scientific understanding with inclusive, community-driven action. By empowering people with tools and knowledge, we can co-create cleaner, healthier environments for generations to come.
