Yes! It’s Plastic Free July, with good news for the National U.S. movement this month as the U.S. federal government has announced a review of its purchasing practices to reduce single-use plastics. This comes in response to a petition led by the Center for Biological Diversity 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 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, to a recent investigation launched by the California Department of Justice 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 alleging that plastic bags are non-recyclable and therefore illegal in California, and PPC and 74 NGOs sent a letter to Governor Newsom and Attorney General Bonta urging the enforcement of California’s existing law on plastic bags and films, SB270, 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, 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, Jackie Nuñez discusses the Break Free From Plastic week of action that took place in June, including what was happening on the ground in Washington, D.C., next steps, and more.

Finally, please join us in extending a warm welcome to our new staff members: 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. Your support makes our work possible, so thank you in advance.

★ 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.

★ 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.

★ 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, to phasing out single-use plastics in national parks. Learn more.

★ 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.

★ 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.

★ 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—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.

★ 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 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 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.

★ Tell Amazon: Stop polluting our planet with plastic packaging!
Oceana’s recent report 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 and sign our petition 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.

★ 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 for sponsoring this webinar. Sign up.

★ August Webinar: Will Mushrooms and Seaweed Help Replace Single-Use Plastic?
In the August webinar, we will be discussing innovative technologies to replace single-use plastics with renewable, compostable, and eco-friendly alternatives. We will be sharing more details soon.

★ Double Your Impact by July 31
We are happy to announce that The Giving List and sustainable textile company Coyuchi 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, so we can track these to receive the full match. Thank you for your support!