Let’s put our planet over plastic this Earth Day

It’s time to turn the tide on our country's throwaway culture and make a zero-waste future a reality.

Rich Carey | Shutterstock.com
Matt Casale

Former Director, Environment Campaigns, PIRG

Have you ever gotten frustrated at how hard it is to avoid plastic in our day-to-day lives?

Plastic feels like it’s everywhere. From the thin plastic produce bags at the grocery store, to the pile of plastic packaging that comes with every online order, to the foam cup keeping your coffee warm … we all end up using something made of plastic every day, whether we mean to or not.

We know there’s a better way forward than continuing to drown our planet in throwaway plastic — but it’s not just about the plastic we use. The companies that produce wasteful plastic need to do their part, too.

That’s why this Earth Day, we’ve set a goal of raising $35,000 to hold plastic producers accountable and move our communities and our country beyond plastic.

Preserving a healthy planet means curbing plastic waste

Earth Day is a great reminder to think about our personal actions, and what we can do to leave behind a healthier planet for our kids and grandkids to enjoy.

But we can’t save the Earth without getting corporations to do their part.

New research shows that between 2019 and 2021, the amount of single-use plastic produced actually rose by millions of tons per year. Since only a tiny fraction of plastic is ever recycled, that translates to a lot of plastic piling up in landfills and polluting our environment.

Your support can help stop the vicious plastic pollution cycle

We know there isn’t just one solution to the problem — but with your support, we’re making a lot of progress:

We’re calling on companies like Amazon, Costco and Whole Foods to cut back on wasteful plastic. Together, we’ve sent tens of thousands of messages to these retailers, helping to convince them that their customers won’t stand for continued waste.

And we’re championing legislation that will make a healthier and more sustainable future possible.

But we still have so much more work to do — and we need your help. Together, we can build a future beyond plastic. Donate today.

Topics
Authors

Matt Casale

Former Director, Environment Campaigns, PIRG

Find Out More