John,

Though they've only been around for slightly more than a century, plastics have had a huge impact on our world. Going a day without coming in contact with the stuff is nearly impossible -- even an hour is a challenge.

Plastics wrap much of the food we eat, they're in the clothes we wear and, according to multiple studies, there are probably microplastics inside our bodies right now.1

But how much do you really know about plastic and the threats posed by plastic pollution?

We have a new quiz and it's all about plastic. Find out how much you know about the material that we can't seem to escape.

Every 16 hours, the U.S. produces enough plastic waste to fill the Dallas Cowboys Stadium to the brim. And if nothing changes, global plastic production is predicted to double by 2050.2,3

This poses a huge problem. Plastic takes hundreds of years to decompose -- most of the plastic that's ever been produced is still around today, clogging the ocean or drifting through our food cycle.4

How are we going to overcome this plastic pollution problem? By using less plastic in the first place.

Moving beyond plastics isn't easy, but we're campaigning to get companies to use less plastic, and calling on politicians both local and national to phase out single-use plastics.

We know we're not recycling our way out of this problem, but with you by our side, we're confident that we'll achieve a future beyond plastic.

Take our quiz to test your knowledge and learn about plastic pollution.

Thank you,

Faye Park
President

P.S. Share this quiz with your friends on Facebook and Twitter/X!

1. "How to protect yourself from microplastics," PIRG, October 9, 2025.
2. "Beyond Plastic," PIRG, last accessed October 24, 2025.
3. Laura Parker, "The world's plastic pollution crisis, explained," National Geographic, May 28, 2025.
4. Laura Parker, "A Whopping 91 Percent of Plastic Isn't Recycled," National Geographic, December 20, 2018.

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