As an anti-plastic activist, founder of The Last Plastic Straw and Advocacy Program Manager for Plastic Pollution Coalition, I have worked to eliminate needless single-use plastic for 10 years. The past six months have been extremely challenging as COVID-19 continues to spread, and it is increasingly clear from the businesses we are speaking with that there is a lot of confusion when it comes to food service, restaurants, COVID, and single-use plastic.
In that vein, please join us for our August webinar, Plastic Pandemic: Strategies & Solutions In Times of COVID-19, where Coalition member panelists will present ways to reduce plastic pollution during and after the pandemic.
Plus, check out our new blog post with a firsthand account of the challenges of reopening a restaurant during the pandemic, and learn why regulations are important to keep from suffocating the planet with plastic.
In Solidarity,
Jackie Nuñez Founder, The Last Plastic Straw & Advocacy Program Manager Plastic Pollution Coalition
Enter For a Chance to Win The Healthy Pregnancy Giveaway The Healthy Pregnancy Guide was created in partnership with MADE SAFE + Plastic Pollution Coalition to provide the best tips, products, and tools for a healthier pregnancy + planet. This giveaway is open to those in U.S., valued at over $1,900, and features brands highlighted in The Healthy Pregnancy Guide. Enter to win! Ask Your Store to Bring Back Reusables & Refillables During COVID Use this sample letter template from Coalition member Beyond Plastics to ask your grocery store to bring back the bulk bins, refillables, and reusable bags. Tell Amazon To Stop Polluting Our Planet With Single-Use Plastic Packaging Did you know? Amazon.com topped $89 billion in sales in the second quarter as COVID-19 continues to sweep across the globe. As Amazon's share of the ecommerce market steadily grows, the tidal wave of plastic packaging polluting our planet continues to mount. Sign the petition.
COALITION NEWS
Here's a roundup of the latest news and updates from Coalition members. We want to hear from you! Please send us your updates.
GLOBAL
Watch ‘Plastics, Health, and Your Family’ Webinar
Our July webinar featured Latham Thomas, Maternity Wellness Expert and Founder of Mama Glow, and Amy Ziff, Founder and Executive Director, MADE SAFE. Watch now.
Packaged in Pollution: Food Chains Serving Up PFAS “Forever” Chemicals
A new report by Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families and Mind the Store shows major fast-food chains are still serving up PFAS (aka “Forever Chemicals”) with some of their most popular takeout foods, despite increasing consumer demand and legislative action to phase out the use of toxic PFAS chemicals. Read more.
Oceanic Global Presents COVID-19 Sustainability Reopening Guidelines
Coalition member Oceanic Global collaborated with hospitality industry leaders, public health experts, policy-makers, and nonprofits to develop COVID-19 reopening sustainability guidelines for businesses in the hospitality industry. Learn more.
Watch the 2020 Environmental Media Association Virtual Awards
Plastic Pollution Coalition is an Event Collaborator and will share the one-hour Awards Program via Facebook 5 - 6 pm PDT on August 21. Congratulations to the EMA Award nominees: Feature Film: “Dark Waters,” Documentary Film: The Discovery Channel "The Story of Plastic," and Documentary Series: National Geographic “Activate: Ending Plastic Pollution.” Learn more. Plus, "The Story of Plastic" is available for license by schools and other institutions via Outcast Films. Learn more.
Sign Up: Laying the Pacific Building Blocks for a Global Agreement to Combat Plastic Pollution
As the scale of the plastic crisis is being increasingly documented, it is already clear that the large-ocean small-island states of the Pacific will pay a disproportionately heavy price for the ecological, economic, social, cultural, and health impacts of plastic pollution. Join CIEL, WWF, and EIA for this webinar on August 20. Register here.
Sign Up: Break Free From Plastic #BrandAudit2020
Get ready to take on Big Plastic with #BrandAudit2020. Break Free From Plastic’s brand audit is a citizen science initiative that involves counting and documenting the brands found on plastic waste collected at a cleanup to help identify the companies responsible for plastic pollution. Sign up.
World Oceans Day 2020 Annual Report
The worldwide movement for a sustainable society and a healthy blue planet continued to grow for World Oceans Day 2020 despite the global pandemic. Thanks to the involvement of diverse partners, sponsors, youth, and other leaders, this year they helped to activate, connect, and demonstrate global action for our shared ocean with a renewed commitment to equity and inclusion. See the report.
Join #WorldMaskWeek Aug 7-14
The Pandemic Action Network launched #WorldMaskWeek to encourage governments, businesses, and individuals around the world to wear masks in public to save lives and help slow the spread of COVID-19 – and prevent future pandemics. Learn more.
Watch the Video for #JustRecovery Principle 5
Break Free From Plastic members around the world are united for a #JustRecovery and demand corporate and government accountability. Watch the video featuring Briann Moye about the need to support and engage impacted communities to build a better future. Watch now.
THE BAHAMAS
Congratulations! The Bahamas Plastic Movement’s film ‘Plastic Warriors' is a finalist for the 2020 Jackson Wild Media Awards. Learn more.
CANADA
Cotton and Linen Facemasks from Life Without Plastic
Life Without Plastic carries plastic-free products like these reusable face masks that ship to Europe, the U.S., and many other countries. Learn more.
UNITED STATES
Congratulations 2020 Spring Young Explorers
Plastic Pollution Coalition Youth Ambassador Shelby O’Neil, founder of Jr. Ocean Guardians and No Straw November, was named one of National Geographic 2020 Spring Young Explorers. Learn more.
Plastic Pollution Coalition Members Receive CRRA 2020 Awards
Congratulations CALPIRG's Plastics Campaign Coordinator at UC Berkeley, Nicole Haynes, named “Next Generation Recycler,” Stiv Wilson of “The Story of Plastic” and Peak Plastic Foundation for “Rick Best Environmental Advocacy,” Habits of Waste for “Outstanding Waste Prevention,” and Ecology Center for “Outstanding Zero Waste or Recycling Program.” Learn more.
Tell Your Representatives to Support the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act
Those in the U.S. can email, Tweet, or call your representative here.
Read: Why the Planet Needs Us to Care About Each Other
Read the blog by Yvette Arellano of TEJAS & Lauren C. Moore of UPSTREAM about intersectionality in the plastics space. Read more.
ATTN: Students, Sign Up for ‘Beyond Plastic Pollution’
Registration is open for a fall course called Beyond Plastic Pollution with Judith Enck, one of the leading voices in the movement to stop plastic pollution. The course can be taken for credit or audited. Course starts Sept. 17. Register.
CENTRAL AMERICA
Costa Rica Set to Become World's First Plastic-Free, Fossil-Fuel-Free Country
Congratulations Costa Rica! Costa Rica pledges to eliminate all single-use plastics and fossil fuels by 2021. Learn more.
SOUTH AMERICA
Report: Plasticized Childhood
This report analyzes the correlation between advertising to children, the commercialization of toys in Brazil and its effects on the consumption and disposal of plastic, as well as on children’s health. It stresses the fact that 90% of toys worldwide are made of plastic materials, have low recyclability, are potentially toxic to children and shows how advertising to kids contributes to these externalities. Learn more.
INDIA
Watch: How Big Changes in Plastic Pollution Require Dedication and Continuous Effort
Watch the conversation with Lakshmi Pratury of INK Talks and Dianna Cohen of Plastic Pollution Coalition. Watch now.
EUROPE
Sign Up: Improving the Chemical Safety of Food Contact Articles
The 2020 Food Packaging Forum Workshop will take place online October 21-23, under the theme “Improving the Chemical Safety of Food Contact Articles: Linking Policy-Making with Scientific Research.” Presentations and discussions will be split into three days of 2-hour sessions beginning at 15:00 Central European Summer Time (CEST). Register.
LUX Supports Plastic Free Periods
New startup LUX is looking to change the period paradigm and make every period plastic-free with organic period pads and stylish period underwear. Learn more.
To see a full list of our more than 1,200 member organizations and businesses, please visit the Coalition page. Not a member yet? Join now.
LATEST BLOG POSTS
Read the latest news from our blog.
Sustainable Options for ‘Back to School’ in Times of COVID
Restaurants, Single-Use Plastic, and COVID
10 Tips for Returning to Work — Without Drowning in Single-Use Plastic
Oceanic Global Releases COVID-19 Reopening Sustainability Guidelines
IN THE NEWS
Check out our Press Room.
We’re building a database of Media Experts from our Coalition. If you would like to be listed please, send us an email.
These are the Companies Trying to Solve the World’s Plastic Waste Problem
CNBC
Clean-up Devices that Collect Waste from the Ocean Surface Won't Solve the Plastic Pollution Problem, a New Study Shows
Science Daily
Coronavirus Pandemic Causes Setback in Fight Against Single-Use Plastics
NY1.com
A New Plastic Wave Is Coming to Our Shores
Audobon.org
Hygiene Theater Is a Huge Waste of Time
The Atlantic
CONNECT WITH US
Connect with us at these online events. You can also connect with us on LinkedIn by visiting our Team page. August 27 Webinar Plastic Pandemic: Strategies & Solutions In Times of COVID-19 Panelists: Eve Fox, Beyond Plastics Cassia Patel, Oceanic Global Lindsey Hoell, Dispatch Goods Moderator: Jackie Nuñez, The Last Plastic Straw, Plastic Pollution Coalition CONTACT Send us an email! We need your voice and support. DONATE Thank you to all who donated for our Plastic Free July campaign! Your donation supports our vital work.
Your donation makes a difference.Donate
Plastic Pollution Coalition is a growing global alliance of individuals, organizations, businesses, and policymakers working toward a world free of plastic pollution and its toxic impacts on humans, animals, waterways, oceans, and the environment. Plastic Pollution Coalition is a project of Earth Island Institute, a 501(c)3, non-profit organization, organized and existing under the laws of California (Federal Tax ID #94-2889684). Plastic Pollution Coalition 4401A Connecticut Avenue NW #143 Washington, DC 20008 info@plasticpollutioncoalition.org (323) 936-3010 SUBSCRIBE | UNSUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2020 Plastic Pollution Coalition
