Plastic Pollution Coalition is proud to launch the new Global Plastic Laws Database in partnership with Break Free From Plastic Europe, Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide, and Surfrider Foundation. Global Plastic Laws is an extensive database and resource library focused on plastic legislation that has been passed around the world. The Database will be useful on the local, national, and international levels, including during upcoming United Nations (UN) Plastics Treaty negotiations and following adoption of the Treaty in late 2025, for tracking and monitoring its implementation. The next UN Plastics Treaty negotiating session is set to take place Nov. 13–19 in Nairobi, Kenya.

In the U.S., Plastic Pollution Coalition supported the reintroduction this month of the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act, which expands and improves upon earlier versions of the bill. It taps into proven solutions that will better protect impacted communities, reform our broken recycling system, and shift the financial burden of waste management off of municipalities and taxpayers to where it belongs: on the producers of plastic pollution. Passing the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2023 would be a big step forward for the United States, the world’s biggest producer of plastic, to take serious steps to address its prolific production of plastic—and commit to eliminating the crisis.

In the meantime, we’re here to help you live plastic-free, during Fall in the Northern Hemisphere or Spring in the Southern Hemisphere—wherever you may be. Our team is looking forward to enjoying an Autumn filled with plastic-free sweets, freshly harvested whole foods, homemade and vintage costumes, and all the fun that comes with carving pumpkins and trick-or-treating. On Halloween, October 31, we will announce our top winners in the Plastic Kills! short film competition, hosted in partnership with USC’s Norman Lear Center’s Hollywood Health & Society. Stay tuned for the announcement, and vote for the fan favorite film by Sunday, October 29 at midnight PT!

Read on to find more latest news, events, and opportunities to get involved in solutions to plastic pollution.

Onward,

Dianna Cohen
Co-Founder & Managing Director
Plastic Pollution Coalition

P.S. Please support our work to educate, connect, and advocate for a world free of plastic pollution.

★ “Plastic Kills!” Horror Short Film Contest
In September, Hollywood, Health & Society and Plastic Pollution Coalition began accepting submissions for “Plastic Kills!”—a horror short film competition designed to highlight the terrors of plastic pollution and its toxic impacts on our bodies, our children, our pets, and our planet. We’ve narrowed the films down to 15 finalists, and while our panel of notable judges choose the grand prize winner, you can watch the films and help select a fan favorite now through Sunday, October 29 at midnight PT. The winners will be announced on October 31. Learn more, view and vote.

★ Reintroducing the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act (U.S.)
On October 25, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), 130 co-sponsors, and more than 200 supporting organizations reintroduced the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act in the 118th Congress. The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act, which was first introduced in 2020 and reintroduced in 2021, is largely regarded as the most comprehensive approach to addressing plastic pollution in the nation’s history. Read more.

★ The Global Plastic Laws Database: A Resource to Track Policies Around the World
The Global Plastic Laws Database is an extensive database and resource library to research, track, and visualize plastic legislation that has been passed around the world. The Database tracks legislation across the full life cycle of plastics and organizes these policies according to life cycle categories and key topics. Adopting policies to reduce plastic pollution on a global scale is widely recognized as a vital step to address this crisis and its toxic impacts on our communities, health, and environment. Read more.

★ September Webinar Recording: Policy Matters: Solutions for a Plastic Pollution Free U.S.
During our September 19 webinar, we discussed policy solutions for addressing plastic pollution in the United States. We heard about what the Biden Administration is doing from Jonathan Black, Senior Director for Chemical Safety and Plastic Pollution Prevention at the White House Council on Environmental Quality. We were also joined by Joan Mooney, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Management and Budget for the U.S. Department of the Interior; and Jane Patton, U.S. Fossil Economy Campaign Manager at the Center for International Environmental Law. The conversation was moderated by Christy Leavitt, Campaign Director for Oceana. Watch here. During the webinar, we had many engaged participants who asked excellent questions, and we ran out of time to address them all. As promised, we did so in a follow-up blog, U.S. Plastic Pollution Policy Solutions: Your Questions Answered.

★ Earth Island Institute Adds Unfair Competition Claim in Plastic Pollution Lawsuit
This month, Earth Island Institute (Earth Island) filed an amended complaint in its landmark lawsuit against several major consumer goods companies, including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestlé USA, Inc. (now BlueTriton Brands), alleging their packaging is contributing to the plastic pollution crisis and that the companies are using unfair and deceptive business practices to promote their products and recycling capabilities. Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy is representing Earth Island in this matter. Read more.

★ The Critical Need for Plastic-Free Packaging in the Age of Sustainability
Leena Joshi, Plastic Pollution Coalition Youth Ambassador, makes a case for businesses to embrace plastic-free packaging as consumer demand for more sustainable choices continues to grow. Leena writes that companies’ plastic pollution “not only tarnishes business reputations, but threatens human health, social justice, the environment, and wildlife.” Read more. 

★ Member Spotlight: I’m Plastic Free, Stroodles, Waterspirit
Plastic Pollution Coalition Members come from a wide range of sectors and are aligned in their mission to build a world free of plastic pollution and its toxic impacts on communities and ecosystems around the world. The Coalition Spotlight is our monthly blog to uplift and showcase their work, giving our readers an inside look at some of these influential change-makers. This month, we highlight three members who are building a plastic-free solutions platform, creating epic dining experiences through edible tableware, and reestablishing our sacred relationship with water. Read more.

★ Coming Soon: The 2023 Plastic-Free Holiday Gift Guide
If you plan to give physical gifts for the holidays, stay tuned for the 2023 Plastic-Free Holiday Gift Guide! The guide features a wide range of eco-friendly products and services from Plastic Pollution Coalition Business Members committed to stopping plastic pollution and lets you enjoy generous discounts exclusive to our community. Watch our social channels, website, and the next newsletter for more information.

★ Join the Coalition
Not yet a member of Plastic Pollution Coalition? You may join as an individual, organization, or business. Apply here.

★ Tell the U.S. Government: Take a Stronger Stance on the Global Plastics Treaty
Plastic production, transportation, use, and disposal threaten Earth’s communities, air, water, biodiversity, and soils. With UN Global Treaty negotiations underway through the end of 2024, the U.S. Government (USG) has the unique opportunity to play a key role in the change we need on a worldwide level: instead of leading the world in generating the plastic pollution crisis, it's time for the USG to lead by forging ambitious solutions. Sign on to tell the USG to take a stronger stance on the Global Plastics Treaty. Outside the U.S.? Sign the petition calling on world leaders to create a bold, binding treaty to end plastic pollution.

★ Urge Coca-Cola to Bring Back Refill
Coca-Cola is the largest consumer-facing global seller of plastics, producing almost one quarter of PET plastic bottles globally—despite it once leading on refillables. The Story of Stuff Project has found that between the 1950s and 1970s, Coca-Cola gutted its own refillable infrastructure in the U.S., opting for single-use containers that externalized the cost of its new packaging waste onto the public and ratepayers. Call on Coca-Cola and its bottlers to bring back refillable bottles and support state-mandated refill quotas. Sign the petition.

★ Ban Plastic From School Lunchrooms & Protect Children's Health
Studies show that plastic in the food system can lead to harmful chemicals leaching into the foods our children eat. Today, there are more than 10,000 additives approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to serve, preserve, package, or modify the taste, look, texture, or nutrients in foods. However, a recent review of nearly 4,000 food additives showed that 64% of them had had no research showing they were safe for people to eat or drink. Plastic Pollution Coalition Business Member AHIMSA is leading an effort to tell the U.S. Department of Agriculture to avoid using these materials in its school lunch program. Sign the petition.

➤ Find more Petitions on our website.

★ Scientists Map Research on Human Health Impacts of Plastic Chemicals
Scientists from the Minderoo Foundation have launched an online map of research on plastic chemicals’ human health impacts. The open-access, interactive Plastic Health Map incorporates more than 3,500 studies on plastic chemical exposure and human health effects dating back to the 1960s, when plastic mass-production began to surge. This map contains data that can be useful to policymakers, researchers, educators, students, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other individuals and communities. It is the first interactive map of its kind to be created. The data collection shows that many chemicals used to make plastic are understudied, and those that are better understood present hazards linked to poor health outcomes. Read more.

★ Reuse Wins at Events: A Life-Cycle Analysis of Reusable and Single-Use Cups
This report by Upstream was made to provide unbiased information and analysis to help venue managers, food concessionaires, and other industry leaders identify the most environmentally friendly options for beverages at music festivals, sports, and other forms of live entertainment. Learn why plastic-free reusable containers are the best option, and how reuse systems can be implemented to benefit people and the planet. Read more.

★ 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 to make a bigger impact, the Plastic Pollution Coalition resource library is a great place to start. Explore the Resource Library.

★ The Oil Machine: Film Screening and Panel Discussion
The Oil Machine is a new film exploring our economic, historical, and emotional entanglement with oil by looking at the conflicting imperatives around North Sea oil. This invisible machine at the core of our economy and society now faces an uncertain future as activists and investors demand change. Is this the end of oil? On October 30, watch the film and attend a panel featuring Emma Davie, award-winning filmmaker, and Julia Cohen, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Plastic Pollution Coalition after a vegetarian reception in-person at The Social Room in the Healey Family Student Center at Georgetown University. Sign up.

★ Plastics & Environmental Justice: What’s Next for the Global Treaty? Webinar
Hear from Yvette Arellano from Fenceline Watch, who will discuss environmental injustices and actions at the fenceline of plastics production facilities, and share reflections on what a successful plastics treaty would look like for these communities. Yvette will be joined by Sirine Rached of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), who will assess the treaty “Zero Draft,” and share perspectives on the recently released report, Toward Ending Plastic Pollution in 2040. The webinar will be held November 1, and will be moderated by Sharyle Patton, Director of the Biomonitoring Resource Center and member of the CHE Advisory Team. Sign up.

★ Public Health Research and Surveillance Priorities from the East Palestine, Ohio Train Derailment: Virtual Workshop
To advance understanding and facilitate the recovery and wellbeing of those impacted, a planning committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will organize and convene a two-day virtual public workshop Nov. 6–7, 2023, to explore potential health research and surveillance priorities arising from the train derailment and material hazards spill that occurred in East Palestine, Ohio on February 3, 2023. Register here.

★ Plastic Free Lunch Day
Plastic Free Lunch Day was started by students in Cafeteria Culture’s program at PS 15 in Brooklyn, New York. Celebrate Plastic Free Lunch Day this November 8 at schools across the United States and globally. Find the resources you need so your K-12 school can participate. Get involved.

★ Students for Zero Waste Conference
The Post-Landfill Action Network’s Students for Zero Waste Conference (SZW) brings together students, staff, industry innovators, activists, and community members from across the country each Fall. From the first gathering in 2014, SZW has served as a space for community-building, inspiration, and solution sharing to push the movement forward. The conference, held November 10–12, 2023, prioritizes holistic solutions to zero waste that center the needs of those most impacted by the Waste Crisis and systems of oppression. Register here.

★ Plastic Pollution and Climate Change: What You Can Do To Help
Join Beyond Plastics and Third Act on November 12 at the Hudson Public Library in Hudson, New York, for a free, in-person event on plastic pollution and climate change with an emphasis on what you can do to be part of the solution to these intertwined problems. Speakers include Judith Enck, president of Beyond Plastics and Michael Richardson, Third Act Upstate New York’s facilitator. Sign up.

★ Virtual Screening + Q&A of Small Town Explosion: What Really Happened in East Palestine?
Beyond Plastics and The YEARS Project, East Palestine Unity Council, and Only One will host a free virtual screening of the short, eye-opening new documentary film, Small Town Explosion: What Really Happened in East Palestine? The screening will be followed by a Zoom Q&A on Tuesday, November 14 at 7:00 PM ET with the filmmaker, Maya Lily, Beyond Plastics’ Appalachia Director, Jess Conard, and Hilary Flint of East Palestine Unity Council, moderated by Judith Enck, Beyond Plastics president and former U.S. EPA regional administrator. Register here.

➤ Find more Events on our website.