Dear John,

Happy Earth Month! As April turns to May, we at Plastic Pollution Coalition want to take a moment to reflect on the importance of taking care of ourselves and our planet. Earth is our home, and it's up to us to protect it, as well as each other. 

This is a time of year when many people are inspired to consider their impact on the environment and the environment's impacts on us. Unfortunately, plastic producers and users take advantage of this season of sustainability awareness and bombard us with deceptive products, services, and messaging offering false, and often harmful “solutions.” This kind of deceptive marketing is known as “greenwashing.” Luckily, there are ways to recognize and avoid plastic pollution greenwashing. To further advance important truths about greenwashing, our April 19th webinar featured a panel of experts who provided practical tips on identifying, avoiding, and naming common greenwashing tactics used by plastic producers. Watch the recording.

This month, two important reports and a New York Times article unveiled the perils of vinyl chloride and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic—the hazardous pollutants involved in February’s train derailment in East Palestine Ohio—which present substantial threats to both human health and the environment. A report from Toxic-Free Future highlights how producing these chemicals emits hundreds of thousands of pounds of carcinogens into the atmosphere annually, with BIPOC, rural, and low-income communities bearing the brunt of the impact. A report by Beyond Plastics (along with Plastic Pollution Coalition & Environmental Health Sciences) delves into the risks PVC pipes pose to communities, and why they are not safe alternatives for the lead pipe replacement projects now beginning to get underway across the U.S.

Just before Earth Day, the White House announced a new Executive Order to Revitalize Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All, which includes “new steps to combat plastic pollution in communities.” The details of the plans will be key, as will the timeline for implementation. We are also urging the U.S. government to take a stronger stance on the Global Plastics Treaty ahead of an important upcoming negotiating meeting in May. Please help us by signing and sharing the petition, and sharing this great explainer video from our colleagues at The Story of Stuff Project.

As always, we thank you for your continued support. Our work is possible because of the dedicated and passionate members of our community and the growing global movement. We are grateful for your commitment to our shared vision of a more just, equitable, regenerative world free from plastic pollution and its toxic impacts.

Onward together,

Julia Cohen, MPH
Co-Founder & Managing Director
Plastic Pollution Coalition

P.S. Thanks to everyone who donated to our Earth Month fundraising campaign. When you donate by April 30, your gift will be doubled. Your critical support helps us to challenge corporate greenwashing, and celebrate and uplift regenerative, non-toxic, non-plastic solutions.

★ Beyond Plastics Report: The Perils of PVC Plastic Pipes
A new report from Beyond Plastics (along with Plastic Pollution Coalition & Environmental Health Sciences) warns of the human health risks of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic, recommending state and local officials avoid using the material for their communities’ water pipes, including during U.S. lead service line replacement. The Biden administration and Congress is providing $15 billion to municipalities that need to replace toxic lead pipes, yet the EPA has not offered guidance around what piping materials should be used to prevent homes from swapping one problematic material for another.

★ Environmental and Health Groups Urge Federal Trade Commission to Update Green Guides, Prohibit False Plastic Recycling Claims
Six U.S. environmental and health groups, including The Last Beach Cleanup, Just Zero, Plastic Pollution Coalition, Beyond Plastics, Center for Biological Diversity, and Greenpeace USA sent detailed commentary and recommendations to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for updating its Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (commonly known as the “Green Guides”), and specifically weighed in on the need to prohibit false plastic recycling claims. The comprehensive comments emphasize that recyclability and recycled content labels and claims on plastic products and packaging are misleading. The fact is that most plastic—including that which is collected for recycling—never gets recycled, and instead ends up in landfills, in the environment, or in someone else’s backyard. Read more.

★ White House, U.S. EPA Announce New Plans to Address Plastic Pollution
On April 21, 2023, the White House announced a new Executive Order to Revitalize Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All, which includes “new steps to combat plastic pollution in communities.” The new steps include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency draft National Strategy on Preventing Plastic Pollution and a new White House Interagency Policy Committee (IPC) on Plastic Pollution and a Circular Economy. Read more.

★ On Sacred Ground Amplifies Message of Indigenous Waterkeepers at Standing Rock
In 2016 began one of the largest and most visible protests of environmental injustice in U.S. history, on the Standing Rock Reservation. Filmmakers Josh and Rebecca Tickell traveled to the front lines to witness the protests and would later produce the film On Sacred Ground, to help amplify the messages of Indigenous peoples harmed by environmental injustice. The Dakota Access Pipeline was unfortunately built and has been operational, despite its poor track record of frequent spills that threaten lands and waterways, incompatibility with addressing the climate crisis, and ongoing and current legal challenges. Read more.

★ PVC Poison Plastic: An Investigation Following the Ohio Train Derailment of Widespread Vinyl Chloride Pollution Caused by PVC Production
In the wake of the tragic train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio; and the subsequent pollution of carcinogenic vinyl chloride and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) into the local environment, a new report from Toxic-Free Future sheds light on the dangers these chemicals pose to human health and the planet and uncovers the largest polluters of vinyl chloride in the U.S. and maps the communities regularly exposed to this dangerous chemical and its waste products. This investigation reveals that the production of PVC plastic releases hundreds of thousands of pounds of carcinogenic vinyl chloride into the air every year in the U.S. Vinyl chloride factories produce billions of pounds of vinyl chloride to make PVC plastics often in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. Read more.

★ How to Recognize Plastic Pollution Greenwashing
During Earth Month, people all over the planet tap into their collective environmental consciousness to take action for a safer, healthier world for all. Part of that positive action involves increased demand for truly sustainable and environmentally friendly products. But such efforts are unfortunately often met with a jump in harmful, intentionally deceptive tactics as corporations and plastic producers attempt to promote their products as more benign—or even beneficial—to people and the planet when in reality, they are not. This marketing strategy is known as “greenwashing,” and it’s becoming more common. Learn how you can outsmart it. Read more.

★ How To Celebrate Birthdays Plastic-Free
It’s surprisingly simple to plan a memorable birthday without creating more pollution from plastic plates and cups, party favors, and water bottles containing microplastics. Celebrating a birthday free of plastic is a great way to show respect for the environment and our bodies, while also creating meaningful memories with loved ones. From choosing reusable tableware to gifting plastic-free items and experiences, there are many fun and creative ways to celebrate sustainably. By taking steps to reduce our plastic consumption, we can all play a role in protecting the planet and shaping a culture of care for future generations. Read more.

★ April Webinar – Greenwashing: Debunking the Plastic Industry’s False Narrative
For our April webinar, we focused on the issue of “greenwashing” in the plastics industry—the epidemic of businesses falsely advertising products and initiatives as environmentally safe and friendly when they are not, masking real harm caused to the planet and people. We were joined by George Harding-Rolls, Campaign Manager for Changing Markets Foundation; Sumona Majumdar, Executive Director for Earth Island Institute; and Emma Priestland, Global Corporate Campaigns Coordinator for Break Free From Plastic in a conversation moderated by Shilpi Chhotray, Co-Founder & Executive Director of People Over Plastic. Watch the recording.

★ Register for the 2023 Alexandria, Virginia (ALX) Dog Walk
The ALX Dog Walk grew from the recognition that many dogs and their humans love spending time together in the great outdoors and care deeply about the environment. The second annual ALX dog walk will take place on April 29, 2023, in Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia. PPC Co-Founders Dianna Cohen & Julia Cohen will be honored at the event. Are you in the DC area? Register here.

★ Opening Reception for Garage Exchange Vienna—Los Angeles: Plastic, Plastic, Plastic
The MAK Center for Art and Architecture is pleased to present the 21st iteration of Garage Exchange Vienna—a live art event taking place on Thursday, June 8, 2023. This event, titled Los Angeles: Plastic, Plastic, Plastic will feature Vienna-based artist Kerstin von Gabain and Los Angeles-based artist Ellen Schafer at the Mackey Apartments Garage Top Gallery. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity where art and activism collide. Von Gabain and Schafer use their art to confront the proliferation of mass-produced materials, and the overabundance of plastic —in our homes, in our oceans, in our bodies. The event takes place Thursday, June 8, 2023, 6:30–8:30pm. Find out more.

★ Hollywood Climate Summit
Hollywood Climate Summit is an annual in-person and online international conference that creates a community space for thousands of cross-sector entertainment and media professionals to take action on climate. Join filmmakers, artists, writers, executives, social media creators, climate activists, scientists, policymakers, and other experts for interactive workshops and community building events that drive a cultural shift in the creative industry towards collective climate action. The summit takes place in Los Angeles, CA, June 21–24, and digital conference access is free. Register here.

➤ Find more Events on our website.

★ Tell the U.S. Government: Take a Stronger Stance on the Global Plastics Treaty
Plastic production, use, transportation, and disposal threaten Earth’s communities, air, water, biodiversity, and soils. With the UN Global Plastics Treaty negotiations now underway, the U.S. government (USG) has the unique opportunity to play a key role in the change we need on a worldwide level: instead of leading the world in generating the plastic pollution crisis, it's time for the USG to lead by forging ambitious solutions. Sign on to tell the USG to take a stronger stance on the Global Plastics Treaty. Sign the petition.

★ Ban Plastic From School Lunchrooms and Protect Children's Health
Studies show that plastic in the food system can lead to harmful chemicals leaching into the food our children eat. Today, there are more than 10,000 additives approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to serve, preserve, package, or modify the taste, look, texture, or nutrients in foods. However, a recent review of nearly 4,000 food additives showed that 64% of them had had no research showing they were safe for people to eat or drink. Sign the petition led by PPC Business Member AHIMSA to tell the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to not use these materials in its school lunch program. Sign the petition.

★ Tell EPA: Don’t Replace Lead Pipes with Plastic Pollution
The U.S. Federal government has approved $15 billion to replace toxic lead services lines bringing water into the homes of 22 million people in the U.S. The lead services pipes should be replaced with non-toxic materials, not plastics like PVC. Plastic pipe materials can similarly leach toxic chemicals and microplastics that accumulate in the environment and in our bodies. Sign the petition to ensure this funding goes to safe, non-plastic solutions that put community health and safety first.

➤ Find more Petitions on our website.

★ 2023 Environmental Media Awards Call For Submissions
Environmental Media Awards (EMA) honor film and television productions that increase public awareness of environmental issues and inspire personal action on these issues. To be eligible, narrative and documentary feature films must have sold distribution rights and have been released either theatrically or at an accredited film festival, direct-to-video, or video on demand (streaming or transactional) between August 31, 2022, and September 1, 2023. In addition, television productions in all categories must have first aired between August 31, 2022, and September 1, 2023, on a national network, cable, public television, first-run syndication, or streaming channel. The deadline to submit is August 14, 2023. Application information here.

★ Grant Opportunity! $20,000 from Climate Justice for All Grant Program
The Climate Justice for All Grant Program (CJA grants) is an initiative that supports organizations or grassroots groups run by and primarily serving frontline communities in developing community solutions to environmental injustices in the US and Puerto Rico. This year, CJA is seeking to fund 10 organizations led by and serving frontline communities interested in implementing project-based solutions that address environmental injustices. Each grantee will receive a one-time grant of up to $20,000. Proposed projects should start in July 2023 and end in March 2024. To apply for the grant award, please complete this application form on May 12, 2023 before 6:00 pm EST. Application information here.

★ Google Extends an Open Invitation to Help Reduce Plastic Waste
The world’s plastic pollution problem is a large and complex challenge—more than 91% of plastic isn’t recycled and is left sitting in landfills or littering our environment and communities. So, to help further reduce the plastic footprint across food services and shine a light on emerging solutions, Google is launching its Single-Use Plastics Challenge. If you’re a food and beverage company with single-use, plastic-free packaging solutions, Google invites you to apply to the Challenge. Check out the video, find more information, and apply here. Applications close May 30, 2023.

★ Apply for Your $1 Million Unrestricted Gift from The Yield Giving Open Call
The Yield Giving Open Call will award unrestricted gifts of $1 million each to 250 organizations and seeks community-led, community-focused organizations whose explicit purpose is to advance the voices and opportunities of individuals and families of meager or modest means, and groups who have met with discrimination and other systemic obstacles. Interested organizations must register to apply by May 5, 2023, with applications due by June 12, 2023. Organizations must have an annual operating budget of at least $1 million and no more than $5 million for at least two of the last four fiscal years to be eligible to apply. Application information is here.

★ Explore Sustainable Brands on Karma Wallet
Karma Wallet makes it easy for you to find companies taking meaningful action for the planet. Their free platform lets you view and compare over 14,000+ company sustainability ratings, analyze the impact of your shopping decisions with your personal Karma Score, and earn cashback for sustainable shopping. Create your free account and start browsing Plastic Pollution Coalition members at Karma Wallet.

★ Emerging Leaders Fund
The Claneil Foundation created The Emerging Leaders Fund to support the critical role that executive directors play in launching and growing early-stage organizations. The Foundation awards a four-year unrestricted general operating grant totaling $300,000 to each recipient’s organization along with access to a support network of peers. Recipients are selected based on their creative vision, leadership capacity, potential for impact, and commitment to innovation and learning in one or more of the following issue areas: education, hunger and nutrition/food system, health and human services, and environment. Please note that the Claneil Foundation does not accept self-nominations. Nominations are due by September 15, 2023.

★ Explore Plastic Pollution Coalition’s Resource Library
A wealth of resources are available in our online library to help educate and mobilize individuals to take action on plastic pollution. From research and reports to educational materials, the library has something for everyone. Whether you're an individual looking to reduce your own plastic footprint or an organization looking for ways to make a bigger impact, Plastic Pollution Coalition's resource library is a great place to start. Learn more.

★ Plastic Pollution Coalition Is Hiring!
We are currently searching for a Development Manager (Full-Time). We encourage you to review the job descriptions and share with your networks. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.

★ Join the Coalition
Not yet a member of Plastic Pollution Coalition? You can apply as an individual, organization, or business. Apply here.