Beyond Plastics

Sadly, dirt is NOT the only thing that comes out in the wash... #Microplastics from synthetic textiles are a HUGE source of marine pollution. The new Fighting Fibers Act of 2024 introduced by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) offers a simple stop-gap solution to this dangerous source of plastic pollution. Please ask your Senators to co-sponsor it now at: https://lnkd.in/d6JYFfqg

Did you know most "compostable" plastic isn't going to compost in your backyard? In fact, it typically needs a very specific type of facility to break apart faster than traditional plastic — and those facilities rare in the United States. Our president, Judith Enck, explains the current state of bioplastics and how you can differentiate the bad from the good in today's San Francisco Chronicle.

Did you know that a certified plastic cup or container labeled as compostable can't be put in a backyard compost? It usually can only break apart in controlled conditions at commercial composting facilities, which are rare in the U.S.

In my latest for Mongabay, I covered the new Beyond Plastics report that questions whether "biodegradable" and "compostable" plastics ever, ever get composted or biodegrade. I spoke to Dr. Susanne Brander to get her expert take, and she had some very good insights to add!

Our friend John Beard Jr. did a powerful video with Earthjustice showing the harsh reality faced by Port Arthur, Texas, residents because of plastic. John showed us around Port Arthur earlier this year, and it is truly shocking, when you see it with your own eyes, how any of this is legal and happening in our country. School sports fields surrounded by smokestacks, a chemical smell in the air that never goes away, flares as far as the eye can see, homes surrounded by facilities pumping toxic chemicals into the air. And it's no coincidence these companies chose to set up shop in a predominantly Black, low-income community. Plastic is poison, and areas like Port Arthur are being especially impacted by it.

“It’s almost the Wild West when it comes to marketing phrases that consumers are exposed to,” said Judith Enck, who served as a senior US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official under President Barack Obama and now heads the Beyond Plastics advocacy organization. “There’s real confusion over what is really biodegradable, what is really compostable, what is Earth-friendly.” Get the real low down on bioplastics from this article in The Washington Post. https://wapo.st/3y8vm1y

Our Appalachia Director, Jess Conard will be speaking about #microplastics at 2024 NCEL National Forum in Louisville, KY on Fri, 8/2. Are you going? She'd love to see you there!🎉 Register: https://lnkd.in/eTY-sric #NCEL2024

Big news: Shell is quietly backing away from its pledge to increase so-called "advanced recycling" - The Guardian's Dharna Noor has the story on this decision that Shell has not announced...."the retraction is a tacit acknowledgment of the longstanding issues with the technology, said Enck. “I have never said this before, but Shell has made a wise decision here,” she said. “Chemical recycling is a polluting and an unreliable way to address the growing problem of plastics.” https://lnkd.in/dcDvFxD4

Many manufacturers claim their bioplastics products are better for the environment, safer for your health, and easier on the climate. But with no federal standards defining or regulating bioplastics, companies have free rein to label whatever they want as “biodegradable” and “compostable.” As you can imagine, this lack of regulation has led to deceptive advertising meant to falsely convince the public that certain products are environmentally friendly. So, are any bioplastics products good alternatives to regular plastic? And, if so, how can you tell? Check out this short video that we teamed up on with our friends at The Story of Stuff Project. Then download our free report, Demystifying Biodegradable and Compostable Plastics for an overview of the various bioplastics materials currently on the market, the voluntary standards that govern their design, and scientific research findings to date on their safety to help individuals make evaluations of their options. Visit our website: https://lnkd.in/dx_zQ9Xv to download the report and a short guide featuring a checklist that consumers and businesses in their decision-making as they assess alternatives to regular old single-use plastic products.

Just because a product is marketed as “biobased,” “compostable,” "biodegradable", or “bioplastic” does NOT necessarily make it better, safer for human health, or more environmentally- or climate-friendly than regular plastic. Get the facts so you can make informed decisions about alternatives to plastic products. Download our new report! https://lnkd.in/gsMnKc7F #bioplastics #plasticpollution #greenwashing #compostablepackaging #compostableplastic #bioplastic #deceptiveadvertising