Friend,

On Hawaii's shore, a whale suffered the consequences of our irresponsible use of plastic.

A sperm whale died from plastic shopping bags and other debris blocking its stomach.1

These creatures weigh literal tons, but their existence is threatened by the plastic that we thoughtlessly discard every day. We must make a change. We must move beyond plastic.

Will you donate to Environment Colorado and help stop plastic pollution?

The sperm whale's stomach contained hagfish traps, seven types of fishing nets, two types of plastic bags, a light protector and other discarded fishing gear. That's what the whale ingested, as opposed to the fish, squid, and other prey it needed to survive.2

And because sperm whales travel across the ocean, we can't know where the trash came from.

The whales aren't the only animals in Hawaii that are suffering from plastic pollution. Seabirds, monk seals, and green sea turtles are dying from ingesting and being caught in plastic.3

Donate now to help stop plastics.

We're disposing of so much plastic that it is just unavoidable for sea life. Every year, enough plastic enters the oceans to fill five grocery bags stacked on every foot of coastline around the world.4

Perhaps the saddest part is that things don't have to be this way.

We have paper and reusable straws, we can carry cloth bags, and we can use utensils that don't take centuries to break down in landfills.

But until our government and corporations commit to stop single-use plastics at the source, we won't make a real dent in this problem.

We're working to pass legislation to stop single-use plastics, and we're urging companies including Whole Foods, Amazon and Sysco to use less plastic packaging. We need to put every resource possible into this campaign, because the whales can't wait any longer.

Please give to Environment Colorado and help Colorado move beyond plastics.

Thank you,

Ellen Montgomery

1. Audrey McAvoy, "Hawaii whale dies with fishing nets, plastic bags in stomach," Associated Press, February 2, 2023.
2. Audrey McAvoy, "Hawaii whale dies with fishing nets, plastic bags in stomach," Associated Press, February 2, 2023.
3. Audrey McAvoy, "Hawaii whale dies with fishing nets, plastic bags in stomach," Associated Press, February 2, 2023.
4. "Banning Single-Use Plastics," Environment America Research & Policy Center, February 20, 2020.

Your donation will be used to support all of our campaigns to protect the environment, from saving the bees and protecting public lands, to standing up for clean water and fighting climate change. None of our work would be possible without supporters like you. Environment Colorado may transfer up to $50 per dues-paying member per year into the Environment Colorado Small Donor Committee.