Dear John,

Plastic pollution has been historically and inadequately described as “waste,” “litter,” or as an “ocean pollution problem.” In reality, it’s far more than that. We cannot discuss the full, true costs of plastic pollution without discussing the environmental injustices inflicted by industries and policymakers onto Black and other underserved communities. While all people are harmed by plastic pollution, people who live on the fencelines of fossil fuel extraction sites, pipelines, refineries, and storage tanks, as well as plastic factories, shipping routes, landfills, incinerators, and waste facilities face the greatest threats to their physical and mental health. Folks living on the fencelines are literally fighting for their lives—and they should not have to. 

Our February webinar in honor of Black History Month was especially powerful as we brought together frontline activists from communities of color across America’s industrial plastic and petrochemical corridors, who discussed how they are taking action to protect themselves and their neighbors from pollution and injustice—and how you can, too. Our panelists have shown us that we cannot end plastic pollution until our world chooses to protect, serve, and bring justice to frontline communities—instead of turning them into “sacrifice zones.” Plastic pollution is injustice. 

But there is hope! Solutions exist, and we are working every day to change the system that creates plastic pollution and perpetuates injustice for communities. Read on to find more of the latest news, events, and opportunities to get involved in real solutions to plastic pollution.

Onward,

Erica Cirino
Communications Manager

P.S. Please support our work to educate, connect, and advocate for a more just, equitable world free of plastic pollution.

★ Sharing Plastic Pollution Facts and Solutions at the Cali Vibes Festival
At this year’s Cali Vibes Festival, PPC shared plastic pollution facts and solutions with festival goers, alongside our Coalition Member Organizations Algalita, 5 Gyres, Surfrider Foundation, Upstream, and more! Pictured above at the PPC tent: Bronwyn Major, PPC Coalition Member and Founder of Bolsa Chica Designs, with Kevin Shin, Candidate for Carlsbad City Council’s District 2.

★ My Zero Waste Adventure: The Plot
PPC Youth Ambassador Kareena Desai recently visited The Plot, a plant-based, zero-waste restaurant in California—and a new PPC Business Member! Read how The Plot operates with zero waste, and find out how your local restaurant or eatery can eliminate plastic pollution and wastefulness. Learn more.

★ PPC February Webinar: From the Frontline: Petrochemicals, Plastics, and Cancer Alley
During our February Webinar, From the Frontline: Petrochemicals, Plastics, and Cancer Alley, we heard from frontline activists from communities of color across America’s industrial plastic and petrochemical corridors, who discussed how they are taking action to protect themselves and their neighbors from pollution and injustice—and how you can, too. Our panelists for this important conversation included “The Father of Environmental Justice” Dr. Robert Bullard; RISE St. James Louisiana Executive Assistant Shamyra Lavigne; and Founder & CEO of Hip Hop Caucus, Reverend Lennox Yearwood. The conversation was moderated by Plastic Pollution Coalition Communications Manager Erica Cirino, author of Thicker Than Water: The Quest for Solutions to the Plastic Crisis. This webinar recording is available in both English and Spanish, thanks to Alejandra Warren from Plastic Free Future, who joined us to translate live into Spanish. Watch the recording.

➤ Find more Latest News on our website.

★NYAD OCEAN WALK, Santa Monica, California
EverWALK, Plastic Pollution Coalition, and the Great Los Angeles Walk invite you to join Diana Nyad and Bonnie Stoll for a 10K walk in Santa Monica to reduce single-use plastic. Join Diana and Bonnie on Sunday, March 24, at 8 am PST, for an inspiring rally and 10K Walk to raise awareness about our oceans. Learn more.

★ Students: Have you noticed Coca-Cola or Pepsi products in your dining hall? Learn & Take Action
Students: Have you noticed Coca-Cola or Pepsi products in your dining hall? The chances are high that one of these companies has a contract for exclusive rights to be served on your campus. This is known as a pouring rights contract. Post-Landfill Action Network (PLAN) has tools available to help you explore these contracts, recognize the global damages they have caused, and push for your campus to re-evaluate their relationship with Big Soda! Attend PLAN’s Pouring Rights Session on Wednesday, March 6 at 4 pm EST. Register here.

★ The Plastic Bag Store – Opening at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA)
The Plastic Bag Store is a public art installation and immersive film experience by Brooklyn-based artist Robin Frohardt that uses humor, craft, and a critical lens to question our culture of consumption and convenience — specifically, the enduring effects of single-use plastics. Opens May 9, 2024, at MASS MoCA. Learn more. 

★ Plastic People Documentary to Premiere at SXSW in Austin, Texas
A new documentary film, Plastic People: The Hidden Crisis of Microplastics, is set to premiere at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, March 9. The ground-breaking feature documentary investigates our addiction to plastic and the growing threat of microplastics on human health, and features PPC Scientific Advisors and Notable Members. In addition to the premiere screening on March 9, SXSW will host a panel discussion on Monday, March 11, featuring Director Ben Addelman, Executive Producer Rick Smith, and Goldman Prize winner Diane Wilson. The panel will be moderated by Plastic Pollution Coalition Co-Founder and CEO Dianna Cohen. Learn more. 

★ State of the Science on Plastic Chemicals: Identifying and Addressing Chemicals and Polymers of Concern
Launching a new report from the PlastChem Project, this event on Thursday, March 14, organized within the framework of the Geneva Beat Plastic Pollution Dialogues, will provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss the latest state of science on plastic chemicals and polymers of concern and identify ways to address them. Learn more.

★ PPC March Webinar: Filtered Water: Preventing Billions of Plastic Bottles from Flooding U.S. Communities
Join us on March 28, from 5–6pm ET, for our March webinar, where we will discuss how proactive distribution of filters is a sustainable and affordable solution for providing clean water to the millions of people in the U.S. waiting to undergo the replacement of toxic lead pipes. We will be joined by a panel of expert scientists and community advocates, including Dr. Sherri A. “Sam” Mason, Associate Research Professor and Director of Sustainability at Penn State Erie Behrend College; John Rumpler, Clean Water and Get the Lead Out Director at Environment America; and a representative from Young, Gifted & Green. The conversation will be moderated by Madison Dennis, Project Manager for the Plastic Pollution Coalition Filtered Not Bottled campaign. Register here.

➤ Find more Events on our website.

★ Member Spotlight: All Things Kind, BLARG, People over Plastic, Pirani Life 
This month, we highlight four members who are showcasing grassroots organizing, storytelling for environmental justice, stainless steel replacements for single-use cups, and a zero waste marketplace. Learn more. 

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

★ President Biden: Stop Formosa Plastics 
The fight to stop Formosa Plastics from building a mega-polluting petrochemical plant in St. James Parish, Louisiana, is moving to the White House. After a lot of hard work — through the leadership of RISE St. James, the power of the people, and robust legal opposition — construction has been delayed. Urge President Biden to stay true to his commitment to environmental justice and revoke Formosa Plastics' permits today. Sign the petition.

★ Tell Citi: Don’t Invest in Environmental Racism
Add your name to demand Citibank denounce, divest and defund Formosa Plastics’ toxic and racist ‘Sunshine Project’ in St. James, Louisiana. Sign the petition.

★ Tell EPA: Don’t Replace Lead Pipes with Plastic Pollution
On November 30, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the Draft Lead and Copper Rule Improvement (LCRI) to control lead and copper in drinking water. As strongly recommended by Plastic Pollution Coalition and other leading experts and community advocates, the newly drafted rule requires water systems with consistently high levels of lead to make available filters certified to remove lead from water, rather than single-use water bottles. This is a significant step forward. However, EPA must strengthen the draft language to proactively distribute filters at no cost to communities, and move up the timeline. Learn more and sign the petition.

★ Tell the U.S. Government: Take a Stronger Stance on the Global Plastics Treaty
Plastic production, transportation, use, and disposal threaten Earth’s communities, air, water, biodiversity, and soils. With UN Plastics Treaty negotiations underway through the end of 2024, 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 UN Plastics Treaty. Outside the U.S.? Sign the petition calling on world leaders to create a bold, binding treaty to end plastic pollution.

➤ Find more Petitions on our website.

★ Last Day to Nominate Your Reuse Solutions for The Reusies 2024!
The Reusies, created by Upstream, is an award and solutions platform championing the heroes making reuse a reality for people across the U.S. and Canada by uplifting their stories and providing them with meaningful support. February 29, 2024, is the final day to nominate your reuse solutions in the categories of activist, community, and most innovative. Learn more.

★ Open Position with the Center for Coalfield Justice: Project Coordinator (Global Plastics Treaty)
Apply for a remote position with the Center for Coalfield Justice as Project Coordinator for the Global Plastics Treaty (GPT) US Strategy Collective! The Project Coordinator will coordinate, track, and manage a 30+ member collective’s strategic plan to influence the U.S. government’s deliberations, position and diplomacy efforts around the GPT, which is currently being negotiated under the auspices of the UN Environment Programme. The GPT US Strategy collective has forged a detailed, consensus-driven plan and has secured funding for this position to support the launch of what is anticipated to be a 3+ year campaign. Apply here.

★ Apply for the Brower Youth Awards
The 2024 Brower Youth Awards application is now open. Since 2000, the Brower Youth Awards, a program of Earth Island’s New Leaders Initiative, has recognized 147 outstanding, emerging youth leaders making strides in the environmental movement. Each year, six winners are selected and awarded a $3,000 cash prize. Winners are flown to Berkeley, California, for a leadership week that includes coaching and skills-building workshops, and are honored in a ceremony in the San Francisco Bay Area. Youth environmental change leaders ages 13–22 (as of April 8, 2024), who live in North America (including Mexico, Canada, and some Caribbean Islands) and U.S. territories are encouraged to apply. The deadline for submission is Monday, April 8, 2024. Learn more.

★ Earth Island Institute Micro Grants for Environmental Projects
Earth Island Institute is offering micro grants through the John Goddard Prize. Grants are strategically awarded as a cash prize to grow ambitious youth-led environmental initiatives nationwide. The Goddard Prize will be awarded multiple times a year to enterprising young people who are pursuing environmental projects, and who are looking for funding to bring their ideas to the next level. Access the application here.

★ Massachusetts DEP Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grant
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grant provides small amounts of funding (up to $10,000) to for-profit and nonprofit organizations, regional authorities, eligible municipalities, and schools/colleges, for short-term waste reduction projects (≤1 year). To qualify, projects must focus on reducing waste generation and prolonging the lifespan of products via donation, rescue, reuse and/or repair in Massachusetts. Composting and recycling projects are not eligible for this grant. Learn more.

➤ Find more Resources in our Resource Library.