Hi,

It’s Earth Day! 

This year our theme is Planet vs. Plastics, and we are mobilizing people like you around the world to participate in uplifting this mission. We’re harnessing the energy of Earth Day to tackle a plastics industry giant — Dow Inc. — and we need your voice to hold them accountable. 

Worldwide studies explore the link between microplastics, the chemicals found in plastics, and a variety of health issues from cancer to strokes. Plastic has invaded our oceans, our air, our households and our bodies — and Dow is responsible for much of it.¹ Over half of Dow’s revenue comes from exponentially increasing plastic production, allowing them to profit while potentially putting our health at risk.² As the world’s production of plastic continues to rise by millions of tons each year,³ Dow will remain one of the planet’s biggest polluters.

This Earth Day, we urge you to join us in demanding Dow disclose all the research and findings on the health consequences of plastics, microplastics, and the chemicals found in plastics, in all forms. 

So what will releasing the research do? We can look to the examples of the fossil fuel and tobacco industries. For years, the tobacco industry knew its products were actively harming countless people, yet their misinformation campaigns assured the public that tobacco was safe.⁴ ExxonMobil has known since the 1970s that fossil fuels were contributing the climate change, but but they hid the truth from the public and actively put out misleading narratives.⁵

Right now, Dow has the opportunity to turn the tide and assume responsibility for their actions. They claim to be customer-centric,⁶ and releasing this information is the ultimate way to ensure customer safety. Making this information accessible would contribute to the pool of scientific knowledge and help us work towards a more sustainable — and healthy — future. 

If you agree, send Dow a letter asking them to release all of their research on plastics and human health.

For human and planetary health,

Kathleen Rogers
President

Support EARTHDAY.ORG Since 1970, we've been mobilizing over 1 billion people annually on Earth Day, and every day, to protect the planet.  Make a direct and positive impact on the environment today by donating to help fight climate change, plastic pollution, deforestation, and the scourge of fast fashion.

Footnotes:

1. Minderoo: https://www.minderoo.org/plastic-waste-makers-index/

2. MarketScreener: https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/DOW-INC-56727683/company/

3. Nordic Council of Ministers: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2023-539/executive-summary.html 

4. Nicotine and Tobacco Research: https://academic.oup.com/ntr/article-abstract/14/1/79/1048206?rss=1

5. Science: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abk0063

6. Dow Chemical Company: https://corporate.dow.com/en-us/about/company/ambition-and-values.html