Plastics Campaign

Together We Can Roll Back
Plastic Pollution

Campaigns are one way you can make a difference in the world, by joining with others in unified, effective actions that leverage the power in numbers. Our first Campaign, The Plastics Campaign, aims to significantly reduce the massive amount of plastic waste we are now pumping into the biosphere – some 260 million tons each year! Read our blog article about plastics.

We all need to know what the most effective actions are for us to take, but instead of telling you what to do, we want to tap the wisdom and experience that exists in our own community. During the month of September we invite you to join the discussion on plastics and share your knowledge in the Planet Online Community. Find out what others are thinking and contribute your ideas and experience. If you prefer you can also send us your thoughts at staff@planetproject.io. We will compile that knowledge right here on the Plastics Campaign Page, and we’ve made a start at that below. We will continually add to this page as we gather more information. The Plastics Campaign won’t be ending any time soon – it will be an ongoing effort of the Planet Project, until we’re all sure the plastics problem is turning around.

The Plastics Campaign needs two things to be a force for change. First, the commitment and follow-through from each of us to actually take those effective actions in our real lives. And second, the campaign must grow and spread across the world so that large numbers of people will take these same actions. You, me, and all of us can spread the information and inspiration so we can roll back plastic pollution! We hope you’ll join us.

The Plastics Campaign Menu of Actions

Here are some things you can do right now – pick a few and get started! This list will grow as we hear more from our community.

  • Become more aware of your household’s buying and disposing of plastics.
  • Check with your local recycling center for clarity around what THEY have the capacity to re-cycle and how to keep recycling streams clean.
  • Bring your own reusable bags to the grocery store.
  • Bring your own reusable drink cup when you buy a coffee or tea drink.
  • Rinse out and reuse plastic bags, including baggies and ziplocks.
  • Buy beverages in glass or aluminum containers instead of plastic. Pepsi, Coca Cola, and Nestle are top plastic polluters, so stop buying their plastic products.
  • Buy milk in paperboard or glass containers, not plastic.
  • Stop using plastic straws, utensils, plates, and cups.
  • Use biodegradable bags when possible. Products like biodegradable dog poop bags and trash bags are widely available.
  • Reuse plastic containers as much as possible. No need to buy special plastic containers like Tupperware for leftovers.
  • Buy products made of recycled and downcycled plastics even if they cost more.

The Plastics Campaign Resources List

This list will also grow as we hear from our community.

ARTICLES

Microplastics are seemingly everywhere — including Colorado’s snowpack
Michael Booth, The Colorado Sun

Designer Materials to Keep Plastic Out of Landfills
Alison Hatt, Berkeley Lab

Canada Announces Ban on Single-Use Plastics Will Begin This Year
Kimberly White, The Planetary Press

Canada’s Ban on Single-Use Plastics
Danielle Fishman, earthday.org

Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made
Roland Geyer, Jenna R. Jambeck and Kara Lavender Law, AAAS

Plastic Recycling Doesn’t Work and Will Never Work
Judith Enck and Jan Dell, The Atlantic

Eliminating Plastic Pollution: How a Voluntary Contribution From Industry Will Drive the Circular Plastics Economy
Andrew Forrest, Luca Giocovazzi, Sarah Dunlop, Julia Reisser, David Tickler, Alan Jamieson and Jessica J. Meeuwig, Frontiers

Fact Sheet: Single Use Plastics
earthday.org

What is Downcycling?
Edward, O.Berk

How Bad are Plastics, Really
Rebecca Altman, The Atlantic

The World Has One Big Chance to Fix Plastics
Rebecca Altman and Tridibesh Dey, The Atlantic

A radical plan to end plastic waste
Andrew Forrest, TED Interview

Ocean of Trash: Your Guide to Plastic Pollution
Anirban Das Mahapatra, Ozy

Mr. Trash Wheel Gobbles Garbage All the Live-Long Day
CNET

ORGANIZATIONS

Alliance to End Plastic Waste

Beyond Plastics

Zero Waste Institute

Plastic Pollution Coalition

The Ocean Cleanup

#Tide Ocean Material

Earth911

Plastic Oceans

Inland Ocean Coalition

No Plastic Waste

The Footprint Foundation

Sea the Future

Share Planet Project!