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Earth Day 2026 – Combatting Microplastics
Earth Day is a core component of ACTAsia’s Caring for Life (CFL) education for children and this year we are highlighting the dangers of microplastics. Celebrating Earth Day as part of our CFL education gives teachers and children the opportunity to experience this award-winning education prior to implementing the six-year curriculum course.
Earth Day is celebrated annually on 22nd April by more than 1 billion people in nearly 200 countries and is a call to action to broaden, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide. ACTAsia added Earth Day to its CFL education in 2021, recognising its global impact in promoting positive environmental behaviour. Since then, ACTAsia’s Earth Day programmes have reached over 200,000 children across China.
Microplastics – small particles with massive consequences
This year marks ACTAsia’s SIXTH Earth Day event and every year the response from students and teachers is truly significant, as we educate the next generation about caring for their future, by looking after our planet. This year the ACTAsia team are highlighting the dangers of microplastics, the tiny plastic particles—smaller than five millimetres—that are created as larger plastics break down in the environment. Microplastics are now found almost everywhere on earth, from oceans and soil to the air we breathe. Microplastics are entering ecosystems, food chains and even our own bodies.
Plastic production and pollution are exacerbating three global crises – climate change, natural degradation, and pollution – that could lead to disaster if left unchecked. Shockingly it is expected that by 2040, around 710 million tonnes of plastic waste will be discarded into the natural environment globally each year. Indeed, the United Nations has repeatedly warned that microplastics are a widespread and growing global pollution problem that affects ecosystems, animals and potentially human health.
ACTAsia’s Earth Day event will explore the connections between environmental protection, animal welfare and human health through the lens of microplastic pollution. By raising awareness and encouraging more responsible and compassionate choices—such as reducing single-use plastics and supporting sustainable alternatives—the event aims to inspire positive change for the planet.
Teacher Training Engages thousands
Ahead of this year’s Earth Day events, ACTAsia ran a teacher training webinar with 6,580 teachers attending or livestreaming across multiple platforms. During the live session, we introduced ACTAsia and our CFL curriculum to teachers from across China. The webinar prepared teachers for the microplastics thematic activity – including registration, the teaching toolkit and feedback submission. The team also encouraged teachers to capture great stories, images and videos and send them to ACTAsia for the Best Story/Image/Video competition.
Microplastics Madness – a groundbreaking film explaining the real dangers
ACTAsia recently collaborated with Cafeteria Culture, an American environmental education organisation who made the film Microplastics Madness highlighting the dangers of microplastics. The film follows a group of eleven-year-old school children in Brooklyn who examine the root causes of plastic pollution. Created to inspire kids, teachers and policy makers alike, the film is truly inspirational in growing a youth-led Plastic Free Future movement in schools across the world. ACTAsia provided the translation into Chinese for Microplastics Madness thereby enabling Cafeteria Culture to spread their message further across Asia. As part of this year’s Earth Day events, teachers will be invited to watch the film with students and discuss the impact and threat of microplastics on animals, people and the environment.
Earth Day Activities to highlight the importance of caring for our ecosystem
In addition to watching and discussing Microplastic Madness, the ACTAsia team have put together an incredible teaching tool kit for the Earth Day events. This includes quizzes, case studies and inquiry-based learning activities which will help students recognise, analyse, evaluate and reflect on how they will address the issues of plastic pollution.
Hands-on activities will include an interactive street litter bingo activity, a game of ‘I Spy’ based on the environment and a ‘no sew t-shirt bag’ craft activity. For older years interested in the science of plastic pollution, the toolkit will provide the opportunity to discuss the importance of SeaVax boats – ocean drone ships designed to filter and shred and clean plastic from the north and south Pacific – in the battle against plastic waste.
The activities will encourage the next generation to look at their day-to-day habits and to look ahead to making informed decisions that will positively affect the planet.
The Impact of Earth Day Education
By engaging with the questions and activities children will learn about the impact of plastic as an everyday item and will be encouraged to take action to help reduce carbon emissions and take up the fight against climate change.
ACTAsia’s Earth Day events are pivotal to incorporating vital environmental issues into the national curriculum of children’s education. Education is at the core of ACTAsia’s work and Earth Day events are hugely important in supporting the next generation to promote positive changes within their communities. Educated children of today will be the positive change-makers of tomorrow, addressing challenges and issues that all ecosystems on earth face right now.
Together, we can help reduce plastic pollution and move toward a healthier and more compassionate future for all living beings.
Remembering Debby Lee Cohen
As Co-Director and Producer of the feature documentary Microplastic Madness for Cafeteria Culture, Debby helped bring global attention to the plastic pollution crisis through the eyes of New York City schoolchildren.
Her values resonate deeply with ACTAsia’s mission. Debby understood that environmental stewardship, humane education, and compassion for all living beings are interdependent. She showed us that systemic change is possible when creativity meets courage.
Debby Lee Cohen leaves behind cleaner cities, empowered children, and a model of leadership rooted in hope and humanity.
Join Us in Growing Caring for Life
ACTAsia’s ability to reach more children depends on people like you: volunteers, supporters and donors who believe in a kinder, more compassionate world.
Get involved with ACTAsia. Donate to help Caring for Life reach more classrooms and support humane education for children. Your involvement helps build a future where empathy, responsibility and care for all life can flourish.
