Dear John,

June is World Ocean Month, and this month Plastic Pollution Coalition (PPC) shared the facts about the impacts of plastic pollution on our ocean. We also hosted an expert panel for our webinar, Sea Change: Advancing a Strong UN Plastics Treaty, to explore how global leaders can protect the ocean from plastics.

Did you know that corals create habitat for at least 25% of marine life globally? Microplastics are not only affecting corals, but also disrupting the vital ocean processes that keep our planet in balance. We report the latest science on coral reefs, how microplastics are changing the ocean, and how you can take action.

This month, alongside my colleague Jackie Nuñez, I met with members of Congress and their staff during the Break Free From Plastic DC Hill Week to advocate for legislation that protects our ocean, human health, and the planet.

Plastic Pollution Coalition recently awarded two Plastic-Free Visionaries of 2025 for their outstanding work in the movement to end plastic pollution: Nina Raj, the Founder of the Altadena Seed Library; and Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., founder of Hip Hop Caucus and co-founder of Climate Revival. You can read more about them here.

Plastic food packaging is exposing us to microplastics, according to important new research out this week by PPC Scientific Advisor Jane Muncke and others. On a related note, despite a polystyrene foam ban that has been in place for over five months in California, Governor Gavin Newsom has not been enforcing it. Plastic foam is still widely available across California and in online shops, and that shouldn’t be the case—more than 90 organizations have signed a letter urging Governor Newsom to enforce the ban.

We’re committed to exposing the truth about plastic pollution and driving real solutions, this World Ocean Month and always.

Join us next month for Plastic Free July, and be part of the global movement to refuse single-use plastic all month long. We’ll provide resources to help you make simple swaps and take action against plastic pollution, so stay tuned!

Onward,

Rachel Bustamante
Campaign Coordinator
Plastic Pollution Coalition

P.S. Please consider supporting us – every bit counts and helps fund our critical work.

★ Announcing the 2025 Plastic-Free Visionaries Award Recipients 
Plastic Pollution Coalition is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Plastic-Free Visionaries Award: Nina Raj, the Founder of the Altadena Seed Library; and Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., founder of Hip Hop Caucus and co-founder of Climate Revival. Read more.

★ How Microplastics are Changing the Oceans
Microplastics are polluting every layer of the ocean, harming marine life, introducing toxic chemicals, and disrupting critical ecological processes that keep our planet in balance. From surface waters to the deep sea, plastic pollution is threatening the ocean’s ability to store carbon and regulate the climate. To restore ocean balance, we must stop plastic pollution at its source: starting with reducing plastic production. Read more.

★ Tips for Hosting the Ultimate Plastic-Free Picnic
Summer picnics can often lead to unintended plastic pollution, which is why we’ve compiled our tips for hosting the ultimate plastic-free picnic. Pro tip: leave your picnic site better than you found it. Read more.

★ Groups Call on California Gov. Gavin Newsom to Enforce State’s Polystyrene Foam Ban
More than 90 organizations—including Plastic Pollution Coalition, Beyond Plastics, Californians Against Waste, Surfrider, and California Nurses for Environmental Health and Justice—have sent a letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom calling for him to enforce the statewide ban. Read more.

★ Plastic Pollution is Harming Coral Reefs Worldwide—Here’s How to Help
Plastic pollution is harming coral reefs worldwide. We break down what you need to know and how you can help. Read more.

★ Plastic Pollution Coalition Files “False and Deceptive Marketing” Complaint Against Makers of Core Hydration Water
Plastic Pollution Coalition, a project of Earth Island Institute, filed a complaint in the District of Columbia Superior Court on May 23, 2025, against the makers of Core Hydration bottled water, for alleged “false and deceptive marketing” in violation of the District of Columbia’s Consumer Protection Procedures Act (CPPA). Core promotes Core Hydration products as sustainable and free of bisphenol-A (BPA) despite test results revealing that Core Hydration products do in fact contain health-harming plastic chemical BPA. Read more.

➤ Find more Latest News on our website.

★ PPC Joins Break Free From Plastic DC Hill Week
Plastic Pollution Coalition staff members Rachel Bustamante and Jackie Nuñez participated in Break Free From Plastic’s Hill Week in Washington, DC. A coalition of advocates held over 100 meetings with members of Congress and their staff to advocate for legislation addressing plastic pollution and protecting environmental regulations.

★ Lip Balm without Plastic Pollution: A Sustainable Shift to Fiber-Based Packaging
Currently, at least a billion plastic lip balm tubes are discarded globally every year. However, innovative, fiber-based, plastic-free cosmetics packaging alternatives are emerging, offering viable replacements at competitive costs. Sunniemade’s lip balm in fiber squeeze tubes is a great alternative to plastic. Read more in our brand spotlight.

★ CA Makers of Compostable Packaging Call for State, Federal Policy Changes
PPC Business Members Cruz Foam and Sway have recently been pushing for changes to California’s SB 54, or the “Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act.” John Felts, CEO of Cruz Foam, explained in an article that SB 54’s requirement that compostable products must meet standards from the USDA’s National Organic Program will effectively “...remove compostable packaging from being viable.” Earlier this month, AB1201 was delayed until June 30, 2027, extending the debate.

★ Plastic-Free Goods
While we can’t always avoid plastics and plastic chemicals, making changes in your own life to eliminate plastic can help reduce your exposure. First, we encourage you to Buy Nothing, but in case you do need to purchase something, we invite you to visit the new collection of PPC Business Member brands on the DoneGood marketplace and use the code PPC15 to get $15 off your purchase of $100 or more. If you enter the marketplace through this link, it will automatically apply the discount code to your cart. You can also purchase PPC-branded items at Life Without Plastic and Pirani.

★ PPC July Webinar: Solutions Series: How Waterless Products Make Plastic-Free Packaging Possible
More than 120 billion units of plastic cosmetics packaging are produced every year, and while brands may claim these are recyclable, most ultimately end up in landfills, incinerators, and ecosystems where they continue polluting. It’s clear that the personal care and beauty industries contribute to plastic pollution globally, but what solutions exist to provide necessary and everyday products without plastic? On July 30, Plastic Pollution Coalition will host a webinar to learn from businesses that are redesigning their products to remove water and toxic chemicals, thereby eliminating the need for plastic packaging. Joining the discussion will be Kate McLeod, Co-Founder & Formulator, Kate McLeod; Ericka Rodriguez, Founder, Axiology; and Sarah Spliethoff, Founder, Sunniemade. The webinar will be moderated by Nichola Gray, Co-Founder & CEO, Kate McLeod.

★ Plastic Kills… Again! Short Film Contest 
Plastic Pollution Coalition has teamed up with Earth Angel for a second round of our popular Plastic Kills short film contest. We’re challenging filmmakers to create original horror short films that highlight the terrors of plastic pollution with a grand prize of $3,000. Submissions will be open July 1–September 15, 2025. Learn more. 

★ 5 Gyres is partnering with Adventure Scientists for their annual Plastic-Free Parks campaign, a project to track waste trends in U.S. national parks and federal lands. Data collected by nationwide volunteers will contribute to a report that details the materials, items, and brands of waste found across federal lands, along with recommended, science-based solutions. Join the project.

➤ Visit our website for more Resources, Events, and Ways to Take Action.