Ditch plastic packaging: Shop at your local refillery
A wave of new retail businesses are eliminating single-use plastic packaging entirely, showing us what a future with dramatically less plastic could look like.
Beyond plastic
America's plastic problem has gotten way out of hand.
Most of us diligently recycle, take reusable bags with us when we shop, and look for new ways to stop using so much single use plastic “stuff”. Our individual actions are necessary, but won’t be enough. The good news is that the momentum to move beyond plastic is growing. More states, communities and businesses are getting rid of plastic bags, foam containers and other plastic “stuff” we can live without.
The Latest on Beyond plastic
Too much of a good thing? The environmental downside of the “Stanley cup” craze.
A look back at what our unique network accomplished in 2023
Updates
It’s Pumpkin Spice Latte season. Now you can get one without all the plastic waste.
Microplastics in 100% of the CO waterways we tested
Featured Resources
Reducing plastic waste in the states
Trash in America
10 steps Whole Foods can immediately take to reduce single-use plastic
Refill, Return, Reimagine: Innovative Solutions to Reduce Wasteful Packaging
Did you know?
In 2015, Americans landfilled or incinerated over 50 million tons of compostable waste. That is enough to fill a line of fully-loaded 18-wheelers, stretching from New York City to Los Angeles ten times.
What We're Doing
Increasing compost can quickly and efficiently decrease methane emissions in landfills and restore soil health.
The Latest
Type
NEW REPORT: Innovative companies show how to eliminate single-use plastic packaging
Leading up to Earth Day, U.S. PIRG Education Fund, Environment America Research & Policy Center and Frontier Group are releasing a new report, Refill, Return, Reimagine: Innovative Solutions to Reduce Wasteful Packaging, that explains no-waste and low-waste business models, shares case studies and demonstrates ways to reimagine our relationship with plastic.
New report finds Amazon’s plastic packaging is not being widely recycled
A new report from U.S. PIRG Education Fund and Environment America Research & Policy Center found that Amazon packaging rarely gets recycled when customers use the company's recommended store drop-off system.
NEW REPORT: Analysis finds bag bans effective at reducing plastic waste, litter
Plastic Bag Bans Work, a new report released Thursday by U.S. PIRG Education Fund, Environment America Research & Policy Center and Frontier Group, estimates that, on average, plastic bag bans similar to those studied can eliminate almost 300 single-use plastic bags per person, per year.
A future beyond plastic: we can live more sustainably and create less waste
The plastic waste crisis is out of control, but with the help of supporters like you, we can make a difference in the months ahead.
Are compostable and biodegradable plastics better for the environment than regular plastics?
As consumers across the country are pushing for a reduction in the use of disposable plastics, some companies have replaced regular plastic products with products labeled "biodegradable" or "compostable." But are they better for the environment?
Team
Park
Faye
Park
President, PIRG Education Fund; Executive Vice President, The Public Interest Network
Katz
Danny
Katz
Executive Director, CoPIRG
Domenitz
Janet
Domenitz
Executive Director, MASSPIRG
Morgenstein
Mark
Morgenstein
Director of Media Relations, The Public Interest Network