- To raise awareness of the pervasiveness of plastic pollution and drive public action to address it, WWF releases a new video featuring Daniel Dae Kim making gimbap, a popular Korean dish, out of plastic, in a nod to how much microplastics humans could be consuming every day.
- The video’s release, timed just weeks ahead of the final round of negotiations for a legally-binding global plastic pollution treaty, is part of a long-running global WWF campaign aimed at ensuring governments deliver on their promise to end global plastic pollution.
- This final round, known as INC-5, will be held from 25 November to 1 December in Busan, South Korea, which is also where Kim was born.
WWF releases a new video that uses wry humour to demonstrate the pervasiveness of plastic pollution, especially in the food we eat, ahead of the crucial final round of negotiations for a legally-binding global plastic pollution treaty, otherwise known as INC-5.
In the video titled “Daniel’s Kitchen”, Korean-American actor Daniel Dae Kim initially seems to be taking viewers through his recipe on how to make gimbap, a popular Korean dish. But as the scenes unfold, we see that the gimbap’s key ingredients, which include seaweed, rice, carrots and eggs, have been replaced with everyday plastic waste that can now be found everywhere, such as a bin liner (for the seaweed), toothpaste caps (for the rice), single-use plastic cups (for the carrots), and parts of a plastic lid (for the eggs).
It’s a grim reminder of the ubiquity of plastic, as well as how disposable these plastic items have become in daily life, and how when broken down into microplastics, after they leak into our natural environment, can seep into the food we eat.
The video is part of WWF’s six year-long campaign to address the worsening plastic pollution crisis through a binding global treaty. With just weeks before we head into the final negotiations, it’s paramount that the public put pressure on their governments to secure an ambitious and effective treaty.
“I participated in this campaign to raise awareness about the serious impacts of plastic pollution on both humans and nature. I hope this important message contributes to reaching a historic milestone in this negotiation,” said Daniel Dae Kim, a Korean-American actor, known for his roles on popular TV series such as “Lost” and “Hawaii 5-0”.
WWF calls on the public to participate in WWF’s flagship Global Vote call-to-action, which will capture and channel the public demand for a robust and ambitious treaty, and will be handed to decision-makers at INC-5.
When countries agreed in 2022 to negotiate the first-ever legally-binding global treaty to end plastic pollution, they also put in place a deadline that they would do so by the end of 2024. INC-5 marks the fifth and final round of negotiations, with the previous four rounds resulting in stalemates, stemming from opposition from oil-producing countries, that produced little consensus on what should be included in the treaty and how it should be implemented.
WWF calls on countries to secure at INC-5 a treaty that includes four binding global measures across the entire plastic lifecycle:
- Global bans and phase outs of the most harmful and problematic plastic products and chemicals;
- Global product design requirements to ensure all plastic we continue to produce is safe to reuse and recycle as part of a global non-toxic circular economy;
- Aligning financial flows and resources to support nations in a just transition;
- Future-proofing the treaty through mechanisms that guarantee strengthening over time.
“Countries that promised to end plastic pollution must, at INC-5, call for, and when necessary, vote in favour of all four measures. This is the only way that we can achieve a future where plastic no longer pollutes nature, destroying ecosystems and wildlife populations, while also poisoning us through the polluted air we breathe, and the tainted food and water we consume. We urge countries to not give in to those who seek to continue with business-as-usual, and to instead come together and agree on common measures that end plastic pollution and protect future generations,” said Eirik Lindebjerg, Global Plastics Policy Lead, WWF International.
“With a majority of people worldwide, and their governments, already standing firmly behind a strong ambitious treaty, our leaders must not allow a small handful of countries to disrupt proceedings and conclude with a weak, voluntary treaty. Should negotiations stall, we call on countries that have pursued a strong ambitious treaty to continue their important work, and pursue the global treaty they promised through other forums. A treaty with binding measures supported by the majority of countries will be more effective than a voluntary-based treaty supported by all countries.”
Busan, where Kim was born, will host INC-5 from 25 November to 1 December. South Korea generates significant plastic pollution, rising up to 390 million metric tonnes in 2021, its highest rate at the time. South Korea’s high plastic consumption and Kim’s desire to contribute positively to a potentially historic event held in his hometown were what drew the actor to make the WWF video while filming in South Korea.
“As the host of INC-5, the South Korean government is well-positioned to demonstrate critical and effective leadership that can ensure all countries make the right decision. We designed this collaborative campaign with Daniel Dae Kim to emphasize that the negotiators’ decisions will have a significant impact on the health and survival of all people living on Earth,” said Minhye Park, Executive Director, WWF-Korea.
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