Dear John,

As the COVID-19 global pandemic continues to spread, we are all grappling with its impact on our local communities and the world, and we grieve with those who are suffering and those who have lost loved ones. 

Despite the immense challenges, we have seen communities supporting each other in many old and new ways over the past weeks. We have seen global carbon emissions fall and opportunities to advocate for new systems of care for the health of us all. 

Plastic Pollution Coalition will continue advocating for a world free of plastic pollution for the health of animals, humans, waterways, oceans, and the environment. 

We remain unswerving in our work to reduce single-use plastics--specifically for non-medical use that may become a vehicle of virus transmission and cause worsening global plastic pollution. Learn more below.

What you can do:

• Keep calm and properly wash your reusables on a regular basis. 
  
  
• Protect yourself using these recommendations from the World Health Organization. 
  
  
• Contact Us: Tell us your ideas on how to come together during this time. We need your voice and support. 
  
  
• Looking for resources? Check out our list from staff and Coalition members. 

We are all in this together, and we will get through this with each other’s help and care. 

With gratitude for your support and friendship,

Watch the Plastic Pollution Virtual Film Festival
Beyond Plastics has compiled some of the best plastic pollution related films for at-home viewing, including The Story of Plastic airing on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, on the Discovery Channel or streaming via Discovery Go after April 22. See all the films. 

Tell Your U.S. Representative to Support the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act
Every year, the United States alone burns or buries in landfills 32 million tons of plastic. 8 million tons of plastic pollution escapes into the world's oceans. The new Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2020 (Senate Bill 3263, HR 5845) will tackle the exploding crisis of plastic pollution and transform waste and recycling management in the United States. Send an email to your representative with one click. 

Sign the petition! No, Coca-Cola, Consumers Do NOT Want Plastic Bottles
Coca-Cola's Head of Sustainability has stated that Coca-Cola will not stop producing single-use plastic bottles because 'consumers still want them.' We are telling Coke that that is NOT true, in fact: Consumers are sick and tired of Coca-Cola polluting our planet with single-use plastic.

Here's a roundup of the latest news and updates from Coalition Members. We want to hear from you! Please send us your updates.
Not a member yet? Join now.

Reusable Food Packaging and Novel Coronavirus
Food Packaging Forum explains why finding solutions to preventing the spread of COVID-19 must not compromise efforts to mitigate climate change, stop plastic pollution, and reduce exposure to hazardous chemicals. 

Register for 'Presenting the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act' Webinar
Hosted by Waterkeeper Alliance and others, presenters will discuss the historic Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act on April 7. Register. 

UPSTREAM Presents the Indisposable Podcast: Reuse, Resilience, and COVID-19
Tune in to hear Matt Prindiville of UPSTREAM explore food safety and concerns around COVID-19 with Jane Muncke, PhD ecotoxicologist and Managing Director of the Food Packaging Forum. Plus check out the blog post: Plastic Pollution, Reuse, and Covid-19.

Register for a Post-Landfill Action Network (PLAN) Digital Training
Is your student club planning on meeting digitally? Sign up to have a PLAN staff member host a digital session. Let us keep the momentum going as we face new challenges together and continue building the movement. For more information, see the Trainings page.

5 Fun Activities to Teach Your Children About Plastic Pollution
Check out these hands-on learning activities from the UN Environment Programme. 

Take the ‘Rube Goldberg Bar of Soap’ Video Challenge
The challenge is to build a Rube Goldberg Machine in 10-20 steps that drops a bar of soap into someone's hands. Three winning teams will be selected for a Rube prize packet! Learn more.

Update on the Rethink Plastic Translation Project
Read the latest on Wind of the Spirit’s partnership with Plastic Pollution Coalition to translate the ReThink Plastic training materials into Spanish. Learn more.

Visit the Turning Green Classroom
Launching worldwide April 1 and in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, the Turning Green Classroom will feature 30 days of interactive lesson plans for students, teachers, families, and parents. Learn more.

Watch the Latest from Make a Change World 
Check out Make A Change World's newest show #SungaiWatch that dives into their work cleaning Bali's rivers. In this week's episode, they look back at their last 4 months of piloting trash barriers in Tibubeneng. Watch now.

Read the latest news from our blog.

• 100+ Fun and Educational Things To Do At Home
  

• Plastic Industry Exploits COVID-19 to Continue Polluting the Planet
  
  
• COVID-19 Virus Lives At Least 2x as Long on Plastic Compared to Cardboard
  

• GREENPEACE: Industry should not exploit COVID-19 to push more plastic pollution
  

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.

In Coronavirus, Industry Sees Chance to Undo Plastic Bag Bans
The New York Times

COVID-19 Puts BYO Coffee Cups on Hold, But Sanitized Reusable Systems Could Fill the Void
Waste Dive

Why Soap is Preferable to Bleach in the Fight Against Coronavirus
National Geographic

Don't Let This Pandemic Ruin the Fight Against Single-Use Plastics
TreeHugger

Why Glass has a Bright Future - According to a Packaging Expert
The Drinks Report

Connect with us at these online events. You can also connect with us on LinkedIn by visiting our Team page.

April 9: A Conversation with Ocean Activists Dianna Cohen and Shelby O’Neil Hosted by Ocean Elders
Ocean Elders will host a unique cross-generational conversation with Dianna Cohen, co-founder and CEO of the global Plastic Pollution Coalition and youth activist Shelby O’Neil who founded the Jr. Ocean Guardians at 15 years old.

Update Regarding 2020 eXXpedition
Thanks to everyone who donated to support The Last Plastic Straw and Jackie Nunez's journey on the exxpedition. The project has been delayed, but it will resume next year. We will update everyone when we have additional information.

CONTACT
Tell us your ideas on how to come together during this time. We need your voice and support. 

DONATE
Support our work towards a world free of plastic pollution.