The United Nations Environment Program on Monday honored China's Blue Circle environmental initiative with the 2023 Champions of the Earth award, the UN's most prestigious environmental recognition, for its innovative marine plastic treatment technology. 

This year, five recipients, including a city mayor, a non-profit foundation, a social enterprise, a government initiative and a research council, were selected from 2,500 nominations for their innovative solutions and transformative action to tackle plastic pollution. 

Honored in the Entrepreneurial Vision category, the Blue Circle initiative uses blockchain technology and the Internet of Things to comprehensively monitor the entire life cycle of plastic pollution, encompassing collection, regeneration, re-manufacturing and re-sale.

To date, it has successfully gathered over 10,700 tonnes of marine debris, making it China's largest marine plastic waste program.

This results from collaboration involving more than 6,000 individuals and over 200 enterprises from China's eastern province of Zhejiang.

(With input from Xinhua)

(Cover: Marine plastic pollution. /CFP)