The Plastic Free July® campaign encourages millions around the globe to be a part of the solution to plastic pollution. Each year, countries, groups, and individuals highlight plastic pollution issues, and offer tips for how to use less plastic and be more sustainable. These are vital steps to take, but this year, we challenge you to go a step further. We want to get into the nitty gritty of the plastic pollution crisis.
This month, we hope to tackle some of the biggest and most important questions, bring new and lesser-known topics to the table for discussion, and inspire ACTION! Whether that’s a simple sustainable swap, a conversation with your neighbor about recycling, or a meeting with your elected official about plastic-reduction policies. Each step is essential, because if you’re not a part of the solution, you’re a part of the pollution.
Jump to sections:
The Facts
Curious about some of the statistics on our national & global plastic production, consumption, and disposal? Interested in the human and environmental health impacts of plastic pollution? Or perhaps, the polluting processes of the plastics life cycle? We have all of these and more in the infographic below (also available for download as a PDF, see below).
Further Reading
Overview of the Plastic Pollution Crisis
- Single-Use Plastics 101
- Plastic Soup: Plastic Facts & Figures
- The New Yorker – How Plastics Are Poisoning Us
Plastic Pollution by the Numbers
- Plastic Pollution in the Ocean – 2023 Facts and Statistics
- Fact Sheet: Single-Use Plastics
- Plastic Pollution Facts
- OECD: Plastic pollution is growing relentlessly as waste management and recycling fall short
Plastic and Fossil Fuels
- How Plastics Contribute to Climate Change
- Plastic & Climate: The Hidden Costs
- CIEL: Fossil Fuels & Plastic
- Inside Indiana’s ‘Advanced’ Plastics Recycling Plant: Dangerous Vapors, Oil Spills and Life-Threatening Fires
- NRDC: “Chemical Recycling” is Not Recycling – The Plastic Industry is Greenwashing Incineration (PDF)
Plastic Policies
- Virginia Disposable Plastic Bag Tax
- Maryland State EPS Foam Ban
- What is a Bottle Bill?
- What is Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)?
Special thanks to Litter Free Virginia for their support of this campaign, be sure to check out their very informative website for all things plastic pollution in Virginia!
