PPC Launches Plastic “Tox” Audio Interview Series
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JULY 2022

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Dear John,

Yes! It’s Plastic Free July [3], with good news for the National U.S.
movement this month as the U.S. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT has announced [2] a
REVIEW OF ITS PURCHASING practices to REDUCE SINGLE-USE PLASTICS. This
comes in response to a petition [4] led by the Center for Biological
Diversity [5] and supported by 180 organizations, including Plastic
Pollution Coalition (PPC), which named the U.S. government as the “SINGLE
LARGEST CONSUMER IN THE WORLD” and called on the U.S. General Services
Administration to take action.

On the California State government level, CA Governor Gavin Newsom signed
SB 54 into law, a bill aimed at making all packaging in California
recyclable or compostable by 2032—though MANY ADVOCATES ARE SKEPTICAL [6]
of its ability to effect real change. This is the latest in a series of
California statewide actions to curb and reduce plastic pollution—from
new legislation in California announced last fall on plastics [7], to a
recent investigation launched by the California Department of Justice [8]
into ExxonMobil’s role in misleading the public on the polluting nature
of plastic for decades. In June, Coalition member The Last Beach Cleanup
filed LAWSUITS [9] ALLEGING THAT PLASTIC BAGS ARE NON-RECYCLABLE AND
THEREFORE ILLEGAL in California, and PPC and 74 NGOs sent a letter [10] to
Governor Newsom and Attorney General Bonta urging the enforcement of
California’s existing law on plastic bags and films, SB270 [11], which
was voted into law by California voters in 2016.

For July, WE’RE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCH OF PLASTIC “TOX,” a
NEW AUDIO INTERVIEW SERIES produced by PPC. Join us as we go in depth with
experts and activists about plastics and health, policy, and more. For our
inaugural episode [12], I sat down with DR. SHANNA SWAN to explore the
IMPACTS OF PHTHALATES ON HUMAN FERTILITY and reproduction. It’s a candid
discussion with one of the world’s foremost experts on plastics and
related chemicals of concern. For our second episode [13], JACKIE NUÑEZ
DISCUSSES THE BREAK FREE FROM PLASTIC WEEK OF ACTION that took place in
June, including what was happening on the ground in D.C., next steps, and
more.

Finally, please join us in extending a warm WELCOME TO OUR NEW STAFF
MEMBERS [14]: Madison Dennis, Campaign Coordinator; Kristin Getz,
Operations & Finance Coordinator; and Aidan Maguire, Coalition Program
Manager. We’re so pleased to have you on the team!

Onward together,

Dianna Cohen
Co-Founder & CEO
Plastic Pollution Coalition

P.S. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS ALREADY DONATED to our Plastic Free July
campaign. If you haven't, YOU CAN STILL DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT WITH A MATCH
FROM GENEROUS DONORS UNTIL JULY 31. [15] YOUR SUPPORT MAKES OUR WORK
POSSIBLE, so thank you in advance.

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS

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★ PLASTIC "TOX" EPISODE 1: PLASTICS & HEALTH – ARE PHTHALATES MAKING US
INFERTILE? WITH DR. SHANNA SWAN
For our inaugural episode of Plastic “Tox,” Dr. Shanna Swan sat down
with Plastic Pollution Coalition CEO and Co-Founder Dianna Cohen to discuss
the effects of phthalates on neonatal children through products their
mothers use or ingest—from food packaged or heated in plastic to cosmetic
products where phthalates are added to increase absorption of fragrances.
Listen here [12].

★ PLASTIC “TOX” EPISODE 2: BREAK FREE FROM PLASTIC – ADVOCATING FOR
STRONG U.S. POLICIES. WITH JACKIE NUÑEZ
For our second episode of Plastic “Tox,” Jackie Nuñez, our PPC
Advocacy and Engagement Manager & Founder of the Last Plastic Straw, sat
down with Erica Cirino, our PPC Communications Manager and author, to
discuss the Break Free From Plastic week of action that occurred from June
13–16 in Washington, D.C. Listen as Jackie discusses what was happening
on the ground, next steps, and more. Listen here [13].

★ WIN: U.S. GOVERNMENT TO REDUCE PURCHASING OF SINGLE-USE PLASTICS
The U.S. Government has announced it will evaluate its practices for
reducing the purchasing of unnecessary single-use plastics. This
announcement is the latest on plastics for the Biden administration, which
has taken action over the past year to reduce and eliminate single-use
plastics—from calling for federal agencies to minimize plastic waste, to
supporting a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty [16], to phasing out
single-use plastics in national parks [17]. Learn more [2].

★ California’s New Plastic Reduction Rules Aren’t “Tough” – and
Don’t Go Far Enough
On June 30, 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 54
(SB 54), a piece of state legislation supposedly designed to significantly
reduce plastic pollution. However, many advocates feel SB 54 lacks the
substance necessary to effectively curb plastic pollution. Although SB 54
has been portrayed as having wide and bipartisan support, its lack of teeth
and the speed at which it seemed to suddenly take shape suggests it’s
been rather one-sidedly designed by the very industries it is supposed to
regulate. Learn more. [6]

★ My Plastic-Free Pregnancy – Guest Blog by Kathryn Nelson,
Plastic-Free Mermaid
Join activist and soon-to-be-mom Kathryn Nelson, also known as the
“Plastic-Free Mermaid” as she chronicles her journey through pregnancy,
COVID lockdowns, and a new environment trying to ensure her baby grows up
plastic-free in a world where everything is new, plastic, and disposable.
Read more [18].

★ Make Your Coffee or Tea Plastic Free
Every morning when you wake up, what do you pour into your cup? A major
focus of this Plastic Free July [19]—a global month-long movement to
encourage people to engage in solutions to plastic pollution—is the
ubiquitous single-use plastic coffee (or tea) cup. So this month we are
highlighting why it’s important to cut plastic out of your “morning
brew” routine—and we will show you how to do it. Read more [20].

TAKE ACTION

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★ SUPPORT THE BREAK FREE FROM PLASTIC POLLUTION ACT
The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act builds on successful statewide
laws across the U.S. and outlines practical plastic reduction strategies to
realize a healthier, more sustainable, and more equitable future. Sign on
[22] to support meaningful legislation to address the plastic pollution
crisis.

★ Take part in a TRASH BLITZ at a U.S. National Park this summer!
Join 5 Gyres [23] and activists across the U.S. to collect data on plastic
pollution in U.S. national parks! Register your cleanup at any national
park from July through September to contribute to a report that will reveal
the materials, items, and brands of waste found across our national parks.
These results will be used to support and guide legislation that keeps
harmful single-use plastic out of our protected spaces. RSVP here [24].

★ Tell Amazon: Stop polluting our planet with plastic packaging!
Oceana’s recent report [25] reveals that Amazon generated an estimated
599 million pounds of plastic packaging waste in 2020, with up to 23.5
million pounds of this plastic waste entering the world’s waterways and
seas. Find out more [25] and sign our petition [26] to tell Amazon to stop
polluting our planet with plastic packaging.

★ Urge shipping giant Maersk to STOP shipping plastic waste overseas
Join us in urging international shipping giant Maersk to stop shipping
plastic waste from richer countries to less affluent countries. By getting
these polluting plastics "out of sight, out of mind" in the countries
they're actually sold and discarded in, the practice of dumping waste on
other countries enables the plastics industry to continue to pump out
increasing amounts of single-use plastics. Sign on [27].

UPCOMING EVENT

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★ July Webinar: The Challenges & Opportunities of Making Your Business
Plastic Free
Starting and managing a business is hard work, and it can be especially
challenging if you want to provide products and services that are not
encased in toxic plastic. From skin & hair care products to food and
cosmetics—plastic is so ubiquitous it can seem like the only option.
Fortunately, it isn’t! Join us JULY 27, 2022 for a special webinar
discussion with business owners who have succeeded in going plastic free.
Hear them explain how they did it and how you can too. Special thanks to
Pangea Organics [29] for sponsoring this webinar. Sign up [28].

★ AUGUST WEBINAR: Will Mushrooms and Seaweed Help Replace Single-Use
Plastic?
Join us WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2022, as we sit down with two companies
providing innovative technologies to replace single-use plastics with
renewable, compostable, and eco-friendly alternatives. Featuring panelists
SEA BRIGANTI, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of LOLIWARE [30], and
MEGHAN OLSON, Director, Mushroom® Packaging for Ecovative [31], and
moderated by Julia Cohen, Managing Director of Plastic Pollution Coalition.
Save the date and watch your email for the link to sign up.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

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★ Double Your Impact by July 31
We are happy to announce that The Giving List [33] and sustainable textile
company Coyuchi [34] will be matching donations up to a total of $2,500 in
recognition of our work to combat the plastic pollution crisis impacting
our communities and globe. All donations up to a total of $2,500 will be
matched through July 31, 2022. To be eligible for the match, PLEASE USE
THIS DONATION LINK [32], so we can track these to receive the full match.
Thank you for your support!

YOUR DONATION MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

DONATE [32]

#PLASTICPOLLUTES

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PLASTIC POLLUTION COALITION is a growing global alliance of individuals,
organizations, businesses, and policymakers working toward a more just,
equitable world free of plastic pollution and its toxic impacts on humans,
animals, waterways, oceans, and the environment. Plastic Pollution
Coalition is a project of Earth Island Institute, a 501(c)3, non-profit
organization, organized and existing under the laws of California (Federal
Tax ID #94-2889684).

PLASTIC POLLUTION COALITION
4401A Connecticut Avenue NW #143
Washington, DC 20008
[email protected]
(323) 936-3010

SUBSCRIBE [39] | UNSUBSCRIBE [40]

Copyright © 2022 Plastic Pollution Coalition



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