Dear John,

This year’s Earth Day theme was Planet vs. Plastics, which was especially relevant with the fourth negotiating session of the UN Plastics Treaty (INC-4) taking place April 23–29 in Ottawa, Canada. Plastic Pollution Coalition staff, partners, members, and the global Break Free From Plastic movement, including frontline activists and scientists, attended the treaty talks as civil society observers. 

Ahead of INC-4, we hosted a webinar in collaboration with EARTHDAY.ORG to help decision makers understand the urgent need to end plastic pollution at the source, and Plastic Pollution Coalition Co-Founder and Managing Director Julia Cohen participated in a multistakeholder dialogue at the House of Sweden in Washington, DC. 

During the negotiations, Plastic Pollution Coalition Notable Member Jeff Bridges helped get the word out that plastic poisons people, and called on world leaders to support a treaty that limits plastic production and supports communities—especially people living near petrochemical and plastic production facilities. The video premiered at an Earth Day screening of the powerful documentary Plastic People in Ottawa, Canada, on the eve of the start of INC-4.

There were high points at INC-4, including more Indigenous and frontline voices being heard and a growing number of countries calling for curbing plastic production. Yet challenges also abounded, as plastic and fossil fuel lobbyists showed up in greater force, and “like-minded” plastic- and fossil fuel-friendly nations spoke out against cuts to what they call “necessary” fossil fuel extraction and plastic production. 

Stay tuned in the coming days for more details on what Plastic Pollution Coalition staff did on the ground at INC-4, as well as deeper analysis and key takeaways from this round of negotiations. And please help us continue to push for a strong treaty over the next several months as the world plans for the fifth (and final) negotiation session in Busan, Republic of Korea, in November. You may sign the petition to the U.S. government and the petition to world leaders to create a bold, binding treaty to end plastic pollution.

We are also continuing our work to Flip the Script on Plastics in film and television. Plastic Pollution Coalition partnered with director Judd Apatow, Hollywood Health & Society, Earth Angel Sets, and the Johnson Ohana Foundation to launch “Independence from Plastic: A ‘micro’ plastic-free film contest,” which challenges filmmakers of all levels to provide a glimpse of the plastic-free future they want to see, while keeping sustainable filmmaking in mind behind the scenes. Submissions are open until Tuesday, June 7; learn more here.

Onward together,

Jen Fela
Vice President, Programs & Communications
Plastic Pollution Coalition

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

★ Jeff Bridges Urges World Leaders to Create a Strong UN Plastics Treaty
Actor Jeff Bridges, in collaboration with Plastic Pollution Coalition and the Break Free From Plastic movement, launched a new video calling on world leaders to create a strong UN Plastics Treaty. The video premiered at an Earth Day screening of the documentary “Plastic People” in Ottawa, Canada, on the eve of the start of INC-4. Learn more.

★ People vs. Plastic: How the UN Plastics Treaty Must Protect Our Health
On April 17, Plastic Pollution Coalition hosted a webinar in collaboration with EARTHDAY.ORG to help decision makers understand the urgent need to end plastic pollution at the source. Our panelists included Aidan Charron, Director of End Plastic Initiatives at EARTHDAY.ORG; Dr. Jamala Djinn, Policy Advisor at Break Free From Plastic; and Ruth Stringer, Science and Policy Coordinator at Healthcare Without Harm. The conversation was moderated by Renee Sharp, Director of Plastics and Petrochemical Advocacy for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Watch the recording.

★ Environmental Justice Win: U.S. EPA Takes Action on Toxic Chemicals in Cancer Alley
Frontline communities are counting an environmental justice win as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) takes action on toxic chemicals in Cancer Alley, a region of Southern Louisiana where residents face significantly elevated risks of cancer and other serious health problems living amid more than 200 industrial facilities along the Mississippi River from Baton Rouge to New Orleans. While this new rule is a win, frontline experts stress this is just the start of addressing environmental injustice in Cancer Alley. Learn more.

★ Plastic People and Single-Use Planet Films Depict the Harms of Plastics
In honor of a plastic-focused Earth Day and the Fourth Negotiating Session of the UN Plastics Treaty in April, Plastic Pollution Coalition highlighted how the films Plastic People and Single-Use Planet depict the harms of plastics—and the solutions we need. Without urgent action, production of plastics is expected to triple by 2060, further disrupting the vulnerable state of people and our planet. Learn more. 

★ Over 100 Local, State, National, and International NGOs Demand No “Lies in Labeling” in California
Over 100 local, state, national, and international NGOs demand no “lies in labeling” and have called on California agencies to enforce laws that protect consumers and end plastic waste dumping abroad. On March 29, 2024, 106 California, U.S., and international environmental Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) sent a letter to CalRecycle, California Secretary for Environmental Protection Yana Garcia, and California Attorney General Rob Bonta, urging factual reporting, and implementation and enforcement of California’s plastics laws. Learn more.

➤ Find more Latest News on our website.

★ Member Spotlight: Axiology, Ocean Missions, Stardust, Zero Waste Chef
Plastic Pollution Coalition members come from a wide range of sectors and are aligned in their mission to build a world free of plastic pollution and its toxic impacts on communities and ecosystems around the world. This month, we highlight four members who are eliminating plastic from cosmetic products, inspiring ocean conservation in the Arctic, replacing plastic bags with jute fiber, and demonstrating zero waste in the kitchen. Learn more.

★ Congratulations to Sharon C. Lavigne, Named Among TIME100 Most Influential People List
Congratulations to Sharon C. Lavigne, who has been named to the TIME100 Most Influential People List! Every year, TIME recognizes 100 of the most influential people in the world to receive this prestigious honor. Sharon Lavigne’s dedication to addressing environmental injustices in her hometown of Welcome, in St. James Parish, and throughout the Louisiana River Parishes has had a global impact; inspiring people all over the world to listen, and take action to bring justice to the frontlines of industrial pollution. Learn more.

★ Congratulations to PLAN, Winner of the 2024 Reusies Community of the Year Award
Congratulations to the Post Landfill Action Network (PLAN), winner of the 2024 Reusies Community of the Year Award! The Reusies is a groundbreaking awards program that champions the heroes making reuse a reality by uplifting their stories and providing them with meaningful support. The Reusies received applications from over 100 innovative startups, environmental activists, and community leaders that are helping to grow the reuse movement across the U.S. and Canada. Learn more.

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

★ Endocrine Disruptors and Hormone Levels During Pregnancy
Can endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) influence a mother’s hormone levels during pregnancy? On Monday, May 7, at 1pm ET, Brad Ryva and Dr. Diana Pacyga will discuss their recent study investigating this possibility in pregnant women enrolled in the Illinois Kids Development Study (I-KIDS). This is one of the first studies to investigate mixtures of EDCs and hormone levels during pregnancy. Learn more. 

★ Plastics and Your Health
The negative impacts of plastic on human health are increasingly visible and increasingly costly. This March, the New England Journal of Medicine released the results of a study detecting micro- and nanoplastics in the carotid artery plaque of 58% of patients, and found that it measurably increased the risk of heart attack, stroke, and all-cause mortality in those patients. What does this mean for us? On Thursday, May 2, from 7-8pm ET, join Beyond Plastics for a conversation with Plastic Pollution Coalition Scientific Advisor Philip J. Landrigan, M.D. on Plastics and Your Health. Learn more.

★ The Plastic Bag Store Opens at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA)
The Plastic Bag Store is a public art installation and immersive film experience by Brooklyn, NY-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. Open May 9 to September 2, 2024, at MASS MoCA. Learn more.

★ “The Cigarette Surfboard” Film World Premiere in Edmonton, Canada
“The Cigarette Surfboard” will have its official World Premiere at Canada’s longest running documentary film fest, NorthwestFest International Documentary Festival, at the Metro Cinema in Edmonton, Canada, on Saturday, May 11, at 7pm ET. After a young designer realizes that a surfboard—which he crafted from thousands of littered cigarette butts picked up off California beaches—could captivate the eyes of millions across the globe, he decides to use it as the impetus to do something more. The Cigarette Surfboards become a platform to spark ocean stewardship and the symbol of a campaign to hold Big Tobacco accountable for their toxic waste. Learn more.

➤ Find more Events on our website.

★ Independence from Plastic: A ‘Micro’ Plastic-Free Film Contest
Plastic Pollution Coalition has partnered with director Judd Apatow, Hollywood Health & Society, Earth Angel Sets, and the Johnson Ohana Foundation to bring you “Independence from Plastic: A ‘micro’ plastic-free film contest,” which challenges filmmakers of all levels to provide a glimpse of the plastic-free future they want to see, while keeping sustainable filmmaking in mind behind the scenes. Films will be reviewed by a panel of notable judges including Ed Begley Jr., Earth Angel CEO Emelie O’Brien, Paula Kahumbu CEO of WildlifeDirect, Woody Harrelson, Benjamin Von Wong, and more, helping to select the winning filmmaker, who will take home a prize of $2,000. Submissions are open until Tuesday, June 7. Learn more and enter here.

★ Open Position: Campaign Coordinator at Plastic Pollution Coalition
Plastic Pollution Coalition is hiring a Campaign Coordinator to support strong policy and communication efforts to coordinate, organize, and liaise with experts and stakeholders on various PPC-led campaigns and initiatives. The initial focus for this role will be the Filtered Not Bottled campaign and federal plastic policy such as the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act. Learn more.

★ Watch: Single-Use Planet Earth Day Panel Recording
During Earth Week, PPC Advocacy and Engagement Manager and Founder of The Last Plastic Straw Jackie Nuñez joined Sean O’Leary of the Ohio River Valley Institute and Gail LeBoeuf of Inclusive Louisiana for a screening and discussion of the film Single-Use Planet. The event focused on the politics, science, and environmental impact of single-use plastics. Watch the recording.

★ My Life With Sea Turtles New Book by Christina Figgener
In 2015, a team of researchers carefully removed a plastic straw from a sea turtle’s nostril off the coast of Costa Rica. The disturbing incident, which was captured on video, went viral, leading to straw bans around the world. In this book, the marine biologist behind the camera, PPC Notable Member Christine Figgener, recounts her own life spent studying and protecting sea turtles. This captivating book reveals the secret life of sea turtles, one of the oldest living creatures on Earth, alongside one scientist’s fight to save their future. Learn more.

★ Watch + Screen: X Trillion — A Film On the All-Women ‘eXXpedition’ to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
X Trillion launches on May 1 in London, UK. The feature debut by Eleanor Church follows the gruelling journey of eXXpedition’s all-women crew led by Emily Penn, as they sail 3,000 miles across the North Pacific Ocean, through the densest accumulation of ocean plastic on the planet, in order to make the unseen, seen. The premiere kicks off a number of screenings around the UK, and you can book a screening for your community. Learn more.

➤ Visit our Resource Library and find ways to Take Action on our website.