Water was a consistent theme flowing through our work this month. Our March webinar, Safe Drinking Water for All: Protecting Communities from Plastic During U.S. Lead Pipe Replacement, took place a day after World Water Day and was part of the 2023 UN Water Conference. The webinar’s expert panel of scientists, frontline activists, and community organizers shared their powerful and inspiring stories and highlighted the importance of replacing lead pipes with non-toxic and non-plastic alternatives.

Over 2 billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water, which is a pretty startling fact, but the truth is that even those of us with access to tap water aren't always in the clear. Outdated pipes and regulations mean that many of us are still at risk of exposure to harmful contaminants like lead, plastics, and PFAS. And for those of us living in predominantly Black, Brown, Indigenous, low-income, or rural areas, the risks are even higher due to numerous and longstanding environmental injustices. Water filters offer a solution to help protect you and your family from microplastics and other pollutants in drinking water.

Fran Drescher, Actor and President of the Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), recently announced the creation of The Green Council—a partnership between SAG-AFTRA and the Motion Picture Association (MPA) dedicated to promoting sustainability and environmental responsibility within the entertainment industry. The Green Council’s first mission is to eliminate single-use water bottles both on and off screen. In March we also celebrated nine films nominated for The Oscar Awards that pass Plastic Pollution Coalition’s Begley-Cohen Test, helping to Flip the Script on Plastics. We also described how the plastic-free principles portrayed in HBO’s popular post-apocalyptic series The Last of Us help support the culture shift we need to end plastic pollution.

Plastic pollution affects everyone and everything, and interferes with the UN-designated human right of safe drinking water. From informing individual changes to supporting systemic solutions, delivering facts and celebrating on-screen plastic-free imagery, Plastic Pollution Coalition is building a more just, equitable, regenerative world free of plastic pollution and its toxic impacts.

Thank you for your continued support. Our work is possible because of the dedicated and passionate members of our community and the global movement. We are grateful for your commitment to our shared vision.

Onward,

Dianna Cohen, MPH
Co-Founder & CEO
Plastic Pollution Coalition

★ Toxic-Free Water: Filters as a Solution to Protect Your Health from Plastic and Other Pollutants
Water comprises the majority of the planet and our bodies, and without it, there would be no life on Earth. Water is so important that the United Nations recognizes it as a Human Right. Unfortunately, water is not guaranteed to all: An estimated 2 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water worldwide, and 800 million do not have access to any reliable drinking water source. Drinking water filters are a safe solution to protect your family’s health from plastic and other pollutants. Read more.

★ March Webinar: Safe Drinking Water for All: Protecting Communities from Plastic During U.S. Lead Pipe Replacement
During our March 23 webinar, we were joined by Brandi Williams, Good Trouble Department Civil and Human Rights & Fields Campaign Director, Hip Hop Caucus; Sharon Lavigne, Founder of Rise St. James and 2021 Recipient of the Goldman Environmental Prize; Judith Enck, President of Beyond Plastics and former Regional Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Dr. Terrence Collins, Professor of Green Chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University; and Erica Cirino, Plastic Pollution Coalition Communications Manager and author of Thicker Than Water: The Quest for Solutions to the Plastic Crisis. The webinar was moderated by Madison Dennis, Filtered Not Bottled Campaign Coordinator, Plastic Pollution Coalition. Watch here.

★ U.S. EPA Announces First-Ever Federal Standards to Regulate Toxic PFAS “Forever Chemicals”
On March 14, 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration proposed the first-ever national standards for six dangerous “forever chemicals,” which have been detected throughout drinking water sources in the U.S. This latest Federal action complements existing actions already set forth by the Biden Administration to address toxic PFAS pollution in drinking water, including major investments to help communities on the frontlines of PFAS pollution and health assistance to firefighters exposed to PFAS. Read more.

★ Plastic & the Apocalypse: How The Last of Us Presents Waste & Reuse
The Last of Us, HBO’s latest hit prestige drama, based on a popular video game of the same name, is one of the latest examples of modern apocalyptic storytelling. Set 20 years after a mass fungal infection sparked a global pandemic, the show doesn’t discuss plastic directly, but characters who engage in plastic-free principles show us why ending plastic pollution is good for our survival (apocalypse or not). Read more.

★ Plastic-Free Oscars: 9 Award-Winning Films That Pass the Begley-Cohen Test
In Hollywood, the most important season is awards season, typically kicked off by the Golden Globes in January and culminating in March with the pinnacle of all film awards, The Oscars. While folks are busy catching up on the nominated films and guessing who might take home the ultimate award of Best Picture, at Plastic Pollution Coalition, we have another question on our minds: which award-worthy films are also plastic-free and plastic-aware? Read more.

★ Toxic Plastics, Fossil Fuels, and Chemicals are All Around Us
Toxic plastics, fossil fuels, and chemicals are often produced, transported, stored, and disposed of, just out of sight or in ways you might not notice. Past and recent train-related plastic and petrochemical accidents, including the recent freight train disaster in East Palestine, Ohio, have shed unfortunate but necessary light on the hazards of moving highly flammable and toxic materials by rail—and why a key solution is to end plastic pollution. Read more.

★ Celebrating International Women’s Day with the Women of Plastic Pollution Coalition
As we celebrate International Women’s Day each March, it’s important to recognize the amazing work that women all over the world are doing to create positive change in their communities and beyond. At Plastic Pollution Coalition, we are proud to have a team of incredible women who are dedicated to advocating for a world free of plastic pollution and protecting the planet. To honor the occasion, several of the women on our team each chose to honor a woman who has inspired them in their work. Read more.

★ Trains Carrying Toxic Plastics and Chemicals Derail in Ohio and Michigan
In two months, four trains carrying toxic plastics and chemicals derailed in the U.S.—two in Ohio (East Palestine and Springfield), one in Van Buren Township, Michigan, and one in Calhoun County, Alabama. While the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee convened a hearing on the catastrophic event in East Palestine, affected communities are calling for action and accountability—showing us much more must be done to address the dangers of carrying toxic plastics and chemicals by rail. Read more.

★ DOJ and EPA File Complaint Over Denka Facility’s Air Pollution Cancer Risks in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana
A new major federal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana brings to light how a neoprene plastic factory run by Denka Performance Elastomer presents an “imminent and substantial endangerment to public health and welfare due to the cancer risks from Denka’s chloroprene emissions,” according to the official complaint. Denka’s facility is the only such plant emitting toxic chloroprene in the United States. Read more.

★ Green Council: SAG-AFTRA and MPA Team Up to Eliminate Single-Use Plastic in the Entertainment Industry
The recent Screen Actors Guild Awards held on February 26, 2023, were not just about recognizing outstanding performances in the entertainment industry. During the ceremony, Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) president Fran Drescher made an announcement that signaled the beginning of a new green revolution in Hollywood. Read more.

★ Join Young People From Around the U.S. Taking Action for Earth Week
Youth Earth Week is a project of the Student PIRGs. For nearly 50 years, they’ve helped students to get organized, mobilized, and energized so they may continue to be on the cutting edge of positive change. Join with youth from around the country April 22–28, 2023, at events across the U.S. to call for bold action to protect our environment and public health. Learn more.

★ Join the Virtual Break Free From Plastic Youth Summit April 14–15, 2023
The Break Free From Plastic Youth Summit is an alliance building and capacity building virtual event for youth organizations and networks from all around the world to gain knowledge about the Global Plastics Treaty (GPT) and to learn about what it means for them as young people. This event will open doors for global youth organizations and alliances to join the global #BreakFreeFromPlastic membership, support GPT demands of civic society groups, and direct their energy towards national campaigns for the GPT. Register for the Summit.

★ April 19 Webinar: Greenwashing: Debunking the Plastic Industry’s False Narrative
Join Plastic Pollution Coalition on April 19, 2023, for a special webinar focusing on the issue of “greenwashing” in the plastics industry—the epidemic of businesses falsely advertising products and initiatives as environmentally safe and friendly when they are not, masking real harm caused to the planet and people. We will be joined by George Harding-Rolls, Campaign Manager for Changing Markets Foundation; Sumona Majumdar, Executive Director for Earth Island Institute; and Emma Priestland, Global Corporate Campaigns Coordinator for Break Free From Plastic in a conversation moderated by Shilpi Chhotray, Co-Founder & Executive Director of People Over Plastic. Sign up.

➤ Find more Events on our website.

★ Tell JPMorgan Chase: Defund Formosa Plastics
While Formosa Plastics’ “Sunshine Project” has been paused as a result of St. James’ residents’ activism, Formosa has appealed this decision and its operations elsewhere continue. Tell JPMorgan Chase to live up to its “commitments” to human rights, responsible investing, and racial equity by divesting its current shares in Formosa Plastics—a plastics producer with one of the worst environmental and human rights track records in the world. Sign the petition.

★ Tell Trader Joe's to Skip Single-Use Plastic Packaging
Currently it’s nearly impossible to shop at Trader Joe’s without bringing home a massive amount of single-use plastic packaging. By significantly reducing its use of single-use plastic packaging, Trader Joe's could make a considerable positive impact on the environment and set an example for other retailers to follow. Sign the petition.

★ Tell EPA: Don’t Replace Lead Pipes with Plastic Pollution
The U.S. Federal government has approved $15 billion to replace toxic lead services lines bringing water into the homes of 22 million people in the U.S. Sign the petition to ensure this funding goes to safe, non-plastic solutions that put community health and safety first.

★ Explore Sustainable Brands on Karma Wallet
Karma Wallet makes it easy for you to find companies taking meaningful action for the planet. Their free platform lets you view and compare over 14,000+ company sustainability ratings (including all Plastic Pollution Coalition Members!), analyze the impact of your shopping decisions with your personal Karma Score, and earn cashback for sustainable shopping. Create your free account and start browsing Plastic Pollution Coalition members at Karma Wallet.

★ Apply for Your $1 Million Unrestricted Gift from The Yield Giving Open Call
The Yield Giving Open Call will award unrestricted gifts of $1 million each to 250 organizations and seeks community-led, community-focused organizations whose explicit purpose is to advance the voices and opportunities of individuals and families of meager or modest means, and groups who have met with discrimination and other systemic obstacles. Interested organizations must register to apply by Friday, May 5, 2023, with applications due by Monday, June 12, 2023. Organizations must have an annual operating budget of at least $1 million and no more than $5 million for at least two of the last four fiscal years to be eligible to apply. Application information is here.

★ EPA Environmental Justice Grant Programs
The U.S. EPA has announced $100 million in total funding for Environmental Justice Grants, and we encourage our Members to take advantage of this opportunity. We know such grants can be cumbersome for some smaller groups given the substantial amount of paperwork involved, but there may be value in looking into this opportunity for your organization or group of organizations. Application packages must be submitted on or before April 10, 2023 at 11:59 pm EST. Application information is here.

★ Emerging Leaders Fund
The Claneil Foundation created The Emerging Leaders Fund to support the critical role that executive directors play in launching and growing early-stage organizations. The Foundation awards a four-year unrestricted general operating grant totaling $300,000 to each recipient’s organization along with access to a support network of peers. Recipients are selected based on their creative vision, leadership capacity, potential for impact, and commitment to innovation and learning in one or more of the following issue areas: education, hunger & nutrition/food system, health & human services, and environment. Please note the Claneil Foundation does not accept self-nominations. Nominations are due by September 15, 2023.

★ Explore Plastic Pollution Coalition’s Resource Library
A wealth of resources are available in our online library to help educate and mobilize individuals to take action on plastic pollution. From research and reports to educational materials, the library has something for everyone. Whether you're an individual looking to reduce your own plastic footprint or an organization looking for ways to make a bigger impact, Plastic Pollution Coalition's resource library is a great place to start. Learn more.