The Two Sides of Plastic
Medical supplies
Food storage & transportation
Synthetic fabrics
The Scale of the Crisis Is Huge
1,000 rivers are responsible for 80% of the plastic entering the ocean. Most of these rivers are in developing countries that lack sufficient waste management infrastructure.31
Recent studies suggest the average person can ingest between 75,000 - 200,000 microplastic particles per year. Microplastics enter our bodies through the food we eat, the air we breathe, and the water we drink.36
Searching for solutions
Why not just ban plastic?
Because plastic is uniquely lightweight, durable, and cost-effective—crucial for medicine, food safety, electronics, and infrastructure.
Why not just switch to plastic alternatives?
Alternatives like glass, aluminum, or paper often have a higher carbon footprint across their lifecycle, require more energy to produce, and may not function as well in certain applications.
Why not just recycle all plastic?
Most plastic isn’t recyclable due to contamination, resin complexity, and poor economics. Even recyclable plastic often degrades and becomes waste after just one or two uses. We need innovation and regulation to make plastic more recyclable and circular. We also need to prioritize refill and reuse solutions in order to keep plastic out of the waste stream altogether.
So, what can we do?
Solving the plastic paradox requires a collective effort between governments. businesses, and individuals. Together, we must shift to a circular economy that prioritizes reduction, reuse, and responsible recycling.
Governments
Create new policies to better regulate plastic use and disposal and incentivize recycling programs.
Businesses
Innovate sustainable solutions, rethink product design, and fund recycling systems.
Individuals
Reduce or eliminate plastics that are particularly challenging to the environment and seek out practical alternatives.
Real change starts with strong public policy.
In the United States, the most impactful step we can take is advocating for federal Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation, which holds companies accountable for the plastic they use.
But plastic waste is a global problem.
A strong international treaty that establishes a consistent set of standards, fosters collaboration between countries, and ensures accountability is also critical to address the volume of plastic waste entering rivers and oceans from developing countries.
Sign the Petition Today and Make Your Voice Heard
From the products we purchase to the policies we support, every choice we make has the power to shape Let's choose a future free from plastic pollution.
