Dear John,

Happy (almost) Halloween! Do you know what I find truly terrifying? The influx of microplastics around us in our everyday environment, and the buildup of plastic inside our bodies. You probably saw the headlines earlier this year about how a plastic spoon’s worth of microplastics can accumulate inside our brains. This and so many other scary facts are why we work every day on solutions—to stop plastic pollution where it starts.

Be sure to sign up for the Nov. 8 livestream of TEDxGreatPacificGarbagePatch, to explore the question How Do We Solve Plastic Pollution by 2040? The talks will feature thought leaders who are at the forefront of the issue. Don’t miss it! 

If you can make it to Santa Monica, CA, on Nov. 7, please attend our first Plastic Pollution Solutions Expo! We’ll be taking a look at solutions that could help turn the tide on plastic pollution in an open-format, walk-through event, with Plastic Pollution Coalition (PPC) Business Members including Ahimsa, Cruz Foam, Ettitude, Notpla, and many more.

A major legal win just came out of California this month, which closed longstanding loopholes in the state’s plastic bag ban. Advocates, including PPC and The Last Beach Cleanup, have pushed for accountability on this for over a decade. Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a settlement between California and four large plastic bag manufacturers that requires the companies to stop selling single-use plastic bags in the state and pay $1.7 million in penalties for falsely claiming their products were recyclable. 

Speaking of California, we recently weighed in on the nonstick cookware debate in an op-ed in the Santa Cruz Sentinel. The short version: we don’t need to add even more toxins into our food.

Stay tuned for the winners of our Flip the Script on Plastics initiative, the horror short film competition Plastic Kills… Again!, to be announced on Halloween. And if you missed our major report launch last month, How Plastics Fuel Wildfires & How to Rebuild Better, check it out here.

We know there are many important issues to care about in the world right now, and we’re deeply grateful for your continued engagement with us as we work toward a world free of plastic pollution. We will continue to tell the truth about plastic pollution and amplify real solutions—for the sake of all of us alive now and future generations.

Onward,

Amelia Hanson
Project Manager
Plastic Pollution Coalition

P.S. Please support us—every donation matters and helps fund our critical work during these uncertain times.

★ Big Win: California Upholds Plastic Bag Ban
On October 17, 2025, Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a settlement between California and four large plastic bag manufacturers, requiring that the companies stop selling single-use plastic bags in the state and pay $1.7 million in penalties for falsely claiming their products were recyclable. This is a major victory for communities, ecosystems, and public health. Plastic producers are being held accountable for misleading recyclability claims on plastic bags, setting an important precedent for enforcing truth in labeling and moving toward genuine plastic reduction. Read more.

★ We Don’t Need to Poison People to Have Non-Stick Cookware
California is leading the way on this issue to protect our health. But when chefs oppose laws that protect people to instead protect their kitchenware profits, families are put at risk. Chefs carefully choose the best, freshest ingredients to nourish hearts and bodies alike. So why sacrifice integrity for toxic cookware? Read our guest commentary in the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

★ Pets & Plastic: Unleashing the Truth
Around 65.1 million Americans report having a dog, and 46.5 million Americans have at least one cat, according to a 2025 Forbes report on pets. Add pet accessories, foods, and toys to that equation, and you get around roughly 300 million pounds of plastic packaging each year wasted. So how do we undo the plastic problem? Read more.

★ Tips for Killer Plastic-Free Halloween Costumes
Who says you have to sacrifice creativity or style to find plastic-free Halloween outfits? With repurposing and some simple swaps, you can put together costumes that aren’t full of plastic. Here's how to make your spooky season less wasteful while still looking absolutely killer. Read more. And if assembling your Halloween costume has made you hungry, we also recommend you check out our plastic-free fall recipe suggestions.

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★ TEDxGreatPacificGarbagePatch livestream, Nov. 8, 9am–5pm PT
On November 8, from 9am–5pm PT, TEDxGreatPacificGarbagePatch will be livestreamed from Santa Monica, CA, featuring sessions with global thought leaders addressing the question: How Do We Solve Plastic Pollution by 2040? Topics include microplastics and human health, environmental justice, climate change, and much more. Take part in this exciting event from wherever you are in the world! Even if you can’t watch live, be sure to sign up to receive information about the archived talks after the event. Sign up.

★ 2025 Plastic Pollution Solutions Expo | Nov. 7, Santa Monica, CA
Come join us on November 7,1–4pm PT, for our first-ever Plastic Pollution Solutions Expo. This open-format, walk-through event is designed to bring together a diverse audience to stimulate knowledge sharing and provide exposure for upstream solutions. From regenerative materials for textiles and packaging to stainless steel reuse systems, you’ll engage with leaders and innovators like PPC Business Members Cruz Foam, Ettitude, GOB, and LOLIWARE. Register here.

★ Tell Celestial Seasonings to Make its Tea Plastic-Free
Steeping one bag of tea can release billions of micro- and nanoplastics into your tea—turning a hot and cozy beverage into a serious health risk. Join PPC and Center for Environmental Health in calling on Celestial Seasonings, one of the largest tea companies in the world, to use plastic-free tea bags. Sign the petition.

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