Each year, the world produces around 400 million tonnes of plastic waste, much of it are thrown away after just a few minutes of use.

Negotiators hope to reach the worlds first treaty on plastic pollution this year. Still, across Nigeria, single-use plastic remains hugely popular as a cheap and convenient choice, illustrating the challenges ahead in Lagos, Nigeria.

In the Obalende market at the heart of the Nigerias economic capital lagos, the ground is mostly litterd by empty water sachet which is known as pure water in Nigeria. ‘’They don't have the money to buy the bottled water, that's why they buy the pure water'' said by a 58 year old woman who sells bottles and bags of water, soap and sponges.

Two 500ml sachets of water sell for 50-100 naira, compared to 750ml bottle water that sells for 250-300 naira. 

Since the appeared in the 1990s, sachet water has become a major pollutant across much of Nigeria, but remain popular for drinking, cooking and even washing. 

Over 200 companies produce sachet water in Lagos, and several hundred more recycle plastic, but vastly outstrips capacity in a country with very few public wastebins and little or no environmental education.

Lagos banned single-use plastic in January, but with little impact so far. The United Nations(UN) estimates up to 60 million water sachets are discarded across Nigeria everyday.