Dear John,

Happy Holidays from all of us at Plastic Pollution Coalition (PPC)! As we reflect on 2025, we are grateful for every one of you. Although 2025 has been a very challenging year, we know we are working to stop a global crisis that will affect humanity for generations—and we want to extend our whole-hearted thank you for standing with us.

We’re especially proud of our recent Plastic Pollution Solutions Expo and the TEDxGreatPacificGarbagePatch, which also focused on solutions to plastic pollution.

More recent highlights: Our blog, Dangerous Ground, covers the latest on microplastic pollution in our soils. An op-ed, There is Still Hope for an Ambitious Plastics Treaty, featured in Common Dreams, co-authored by PPC’s Rachel Bustamante in collaboration with Break Free From Plastic and Pacific Environment. And a big win for PPC and partners in our efforts to push the U.S. EPA to track microplastics in drinking water.

Thank you for refusing to turn away from the ongoing plastics crisis. Thank you for joining us to tell the truth about plastic pollution and implement real solutions. 

Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season and a peaceful New Year from all of us at PPC!

With Gratitude,

Dianna Cohen
Co-Founder & CEO
Plastic Pollution Coalition

P.S. Please support us in your end-of-year giving—every donation matters and helps fund our vital work during these uncertain times.

★ TEDx​Great​Pacific​Garbage​Patch: The “Garbage Patch” is Now Inside Us—But Solutions Exist
Global thought leaders recently gathered at TEDxGreat​Pacific​Garbage​Patch to ask: How Do We Solve Plastic Pollution by 2040? This inspiring, impactful event brought together scientists, business leaders and innovators, frontline community members and advocates, Indigenous knowledge keepers, policymakers, artists and entertainment industry professionals, and other experts contributing to the movement to end plastic pollution. Learn more and watch the TEDx talks here.

★ As Wildfires Mount, So Do Efforts to Use Less Plastic
As we approach the anniversary of the devastating January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, the Thompson Reuters Foundation discusses our joint report with Habitable on how plastics’ prolific use in the built environment fuels wildfires—and how plastic-free building materials can help us create a safer and more resilient world. Learn more.

★ Win on Microplastics: Seven States Call for Federal Tracking of Drinking Water
In a bold move to protect human health from microplastics, seven governors are urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to launch nationwide monitoring of plastic particles in drinking water, following nearly a year of advocacy from Food & Water Watch and PPC. Learn more.

★ Dangerous Ground: Microplastic Pollution in Soil
While many experts suggest limiting intake of processed foods to reduce exposure to microplastics from plastic packaging, studies have found that even common fruits and vegetables grown in the Earth, including apples, broccoli, carrots, lettuce, and radishes, are absorbing microplastics straight from soils. Read more.

★ There’s Still Hope for an Ambitious Plastics Treaty
With the recent resignation of the chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), 166 members of Civil Society have sent a letter to member states calling for the new chair, when elected, to fix the process. The next chair must ensure the voices of those harmed first and the worst by plastics—from fossil fuel extraction and plastic production to incineration, landfills, and pollution—are heard. Read more.

➤ Find more Latest News on our website.

★ Spotlight: Blue Mind by Wallace J Nichols
The revised 10th anniversary edition of the book Blue Mind by PPC Advisor Dr. Wallace J. Nichols is now available, combining neuroscience with personal stories from top athletes, leading scientists, military veterans, and gifted artists, to show how our connection with water increases calm, diminishes anxiety, and boosts success. You may buy the book here.

★ Learn What Happens to Returned Gifts — from a Zero Waste Chef
PPC Notable Anne Marie Bonneau, aka the Zero Waste Chef, shares where your returned gifts go, why retailers call December “Returnuary,” and how you still have time to buy less. You can read about it in her Substack here. 

★ Algalita’s Wayfinder Society Student Mini-Grant 
Algalita is offering $500 in funding to turn your vision for a plastic-free future into action—whether it’s a reuse program, a cleanup campaign, or something completely new. Submit your application by January 15, 2025, to be considered for this year’s award cycle. Apply here.

★ Tell Big Brands: Stop Trashing the Planet!
Call on Adidas, Amazon, Apple, H&M, Shein, & Unilever to immediately reduce their use and production of plastic packaging and cheap disposable products that are trashing our planet. Sign the petition.

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