In 2006, after a 24-year career in fashion, Patrick unveiled ORGANIC, his path-breaking line of cool, contemporary, conscious apparel. With ORGANIC, John Patrick set out to create a brand that would speak to the coming generation of consumer – women whose relationship to luxury encompasses not only the timeless attributes of forward-thinking style, detail-driven craftsmanship and first-rate fit, but also a new and demanding curiosity about the ethics of their clothes. ORGANIC struck a nerve immediately: The label landed on the racks of top stores across America, showed up in the pages of countless magazines, found A-list celebrity fans, and in 2008, ORGANIC was named a finalist for the prestigious CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award. Right from the start, John Patrick has used ORGANIC to advance the frontiers of conscious fashion. He was one of the first designers to develop a direct relationship with organic farm collectives in Peru.

He has helped to innovate the use of botanical dyes, digital print techniques, recycled fabrics and organic wool yarns, and resurrected traditional practices such as hand-weaving. He’s currently helping to develop a 100% sustainable shipping container, another innovation that will ramify across the industry.

Supporters like Maroon 5, Dawes, Jonathan Wilson, The Ditty Bops, and Shawn Colvin have each given a pair of concert tickets and a few other choice items for auctioning through the Charity Buzz website. Please check out these great opportunities and be sure to place a bid to meet and hear some of your favorite musicians while benefiting our Coalition’s work to reduce plastic pollution!

Also, keep an eye out for upcoming auctions for donated items from notable members like Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Loudon Wainwright III, and green activist Ed Begley, Jr.

Preserve Planet, a local NGO and regional partner of Plastic Pollution Coalition, was in charge of this production.  The Costa Rican artist Francesco Bracci was in charge of the design. The structure is based on a 9 meters high by 14 meters wide metallic interior. To fill it, 6 000 plastic bottles were braided to get a texture that simulates a colosal  plastic wave that is suffocating  the city with its toxic components.

La Ola Plastica is installed in one of the busiest streets in the city. This strategic location makes it highly visible and it will raise awareness about plastic pollution caused specifically by single use and disposable items, such as plastic bottles and plastic bags.

Daniella Russo and Enriqueta Ramirez, our project manager for Central America, with partners from Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama, will announce the plastic pollution awareness campaign for Central America.

The even better news: Students are getting the message that REFUSING plastic drink containers, plates and utensils is the way to go. Inside the student union, “The HUB,” were displays by the Campus Sustainability Office, various staff “green teams,” the Office of Physical Plant, and student and faculty representatives from engineering and chemistry, from an environmental photography class, and from an environmental literature class.  Undergraduates from the “Eco-Action,” just one of the undergraduate clubs devoted to the environment and to a sustainable future, (wo)manned several tents on the main lawn of the student center.  (Picture (Right) displays Plastic Pollution Coalition flyers and posters explaining the problems—and the solution: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and REFUSE. Starting today.)

Thanks to Jennifer Wagner-Lawlor, Associate Professor, Women’s Studies and English at Penn State for contributing this post on Penn State’s recent Earth Day activities.

The Plastic Pollution World Expedition was launched on April 23rd, lead by PPC’s Road Ambassadors, David and Theresa Wernery, of Dubai-based Plastic Not So Fantastic.

The expedition will highlight the  destructive effects of single use plastics around the globe in order to raise awareness, understanding, and a reaction against the growing global plastic pollution problem. In each country, the expedition will visit school and university campuses and share images and photo-essays of plastic pollution.

We need help in identifying schools and universities for the expedition to visit along its route. Participating schools and universities will have the opportunity to hear a presentation of David and Theresa’s findings along their trip, using the experience as a spring-board towards ending school wide dependence on disposable plastic. All participating schools will be added to the global map of plastic free campuses.

In Phase I, the expedition will visit  Iran, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Austria, Germany and  UK via Switzerland and France. Then back to Europe via France, Belgium and Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran and back in Dubai by end of September / early October 2012.

Track the progress of the expedition through our blog posts and images, as well as the GPS tracking on their web site.

Do you know of schools or universities along their route that they should visit? If you do, contact Ben Bezark, Program Manager for Plastic Free Campuses, and if you can, provide a point of contact at that school, so that we can get in touch.

Limited sponsorships are still available for select segments of the trip, please contact us for more information.

The PNSF Expedition will:

• Collect information and data, accompanied by articles, on the effects of plastic pollution globally, which will be made available for organizations as educational and informational data.
• Provide objective media content by presenting instances of plastic pollution through pictures, videos and blogs.
• Highlight and participate in the efforts of environmental agencies and other non-governmental organizations in the fight against plastic pollution.
• Document “best practices” in the utilization of alternatives to single use plastics, and meet with experts in the field of plastic pollution.
• Spread a better understanding of the UAE in the furthest corners of the world, and showcase the UAE’s own fight against plastic pollution.

In an Earth Day talk with students at Georgetown University, Bill emphasized the social justice issues surrounding climate change. People living in countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Thailand are dealing with the effects of climate change on a massive and disastrous scale. Tens of millions of people are out of their homes because of flooding caused by changed weather systems, increased temperatures, and rising sea-levels as a result of glacial melting. He equated this real-world scenario with one relevant to the direct mission of Plastic Pollution Coalition. The people of countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Thailand are being forced to deal with the ‘garbage’ of excess CO2 emissions ‘dumped’ into the air by fossil-fuel-guzzling countries like the US, China, and parts of Western Europe. Just as our ‘garbage’ in the air is severely detrimental to the lives and livelihoods of these people, the pollution produced by rampant use of disposable plastic across the world has dire environmental and social effects, especially for those living in poorer countries. However, plastic pollution is a problem with a simpler solution than the use of fossil fuels.

As Bill says, “Some fights, like global warming, are necessarily hard. And some fights are no-brainers: let’s stop using plastic stuff we don’t need.”

On 5 May, 350.org is leading individuals across the world to stage rallies, presentations, art projects, and more to ‘Connect the Dots’ between climate change, extreme weather, and their common cause: greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. These grassroots campaigns are coordinated to take place on the same day, to make a statement to the public and policymakers and to inform and encourage action to reduce carbon emissions and our reliance on fossil fuels. You can participate by starting an event in your local area or finding one already being organized.

The contest encourages day spas, destination resorts, and companies that produce spa-related products to enter a contest to limit their plastic waste. The contest involves five easy steps:

- Auditing current plastic usage.

- Creating plans to replace disposable plastic items

- Measuring the economic benefit of reusable products

- Tracking progress and reporting through social media

- Submitting final results to GSN judge panel by March 31, 2013

There are many ways that these destinations and companies can reduce their plastic footprint, such as switching to reusable glass bottles and cups and using paper garbage bags. Watch the Green Spa Network web site for more information about how you can encourage your favorite participating spa or products manufacturer to participate.

We are excited to see the results of the contest!

This post comes to us from educator Maggie Chumbley of Colegio Bolìvar, in Cali, Colombia;

As part of the plastic free campuses initiative here at Colegio Bolìvar, a few student leaders are taking action. Maria Jose Arias, joined by Laura Guiterrez, designed and implemented a three week visual media campaign to create awareness about plastic pollution among the high school and middle school students. Displaying images on the walls of the school, it began with the simple, thought provoking message of, “Yo No Soy” (“I Am Not”).  The campaign gained attention into its second phase and then used shocking images of the effects of plastic pollution and asked viewers questions like “Soy Irrespetuoso?” (“Am I Disrespectful?”),  “Soy Egoista?” (“Am I selfish?”),  “Soy Ignorante?” (“Am I Ignorant?).  Phase three encouraged our community to acknowledge their own power and goodness and so pictured teachers and students showing their commitment to plastic free habits like bringing their own refillable water bottles to school. The campaign was very successful and many students remarked that they feel much more conscious of their own habits concerning disposable plastic. Additionally, because of this student initiative, campus administrators, teachers, and students are in the final steps to making our school free of disposable plastic.

Word of our successful campaign also spread to our neighboring school, Colegio Colombo Britanico. I joined students Juan Camilo Palacio and Maria Jose Arias, and we presented on our work to the high school students at Colombo.  We shared our stories of the transformation we experienced in our own lives by learning about plastic pollution, and we hope to spark and facilitate similar plastic free initiatives throughout more schools and communities in Cali.  Our inspiration from this work came from two especially committed plastic pollution activists. Earlier this semester, groups of students interviewed and skyped with various environmental activists. This was when we met our two most influential mentors. We are especially inspired by the work of Plastic Pollution Coalition co-founder, Manuel Maqueda and the producer and director of the upcoming film Midway Journey, Chris Jordan.  It is by their encouragement and example that the energy of our campaign and environmental consciousness has expanded.

Author Maggie Chumbley is a global educator who specializes in facilitating international student leadership, global education, service learning and environmental initiatives. She currently lives and works in Cali, Colombia.

The UCSB-Plastic Pollution Coalition collaborated with several UCSB administrative entities, including Housing and Residential Services, to host the First Annual Day Without A Bag. Students were able to raise over $5,000 in order to make the event a reality. The unprecedented show of support and collaboration garnered the attention of the Santa Barbara City Council and the Community Environmental Council.

Council member Grant House spoke passionately about the recent vote to draft a Bag Ban Ordinance for the City of Santa Barbara. BEACON, the Beach Erosion Authority for Clean Oceans and Nourishment, of which House is a member, is responsible for drafting the ordinance. BEACON will also take the lead on conducting a regional Environmental Impact Report, which will open the doors for all member cities to pass bans more easily. At the event, House stated his support for the UCSB project and said, “We have to listen to these kids!”

In recent years, plastic pollution has become a hot topic for cities and nations throughout the globe. The debate of environmental health over convenience has found its way into courtrooms and city halls across the United States. Currently, over 20 cities in California have passed a ban on plastic bags. Skeptics have questioned whether a legally enforced ban on plastic bags is the appropriate role of government.

Council member Cathy Murrillo stated, “Someone challenged me, [and said] this isn’t something the government should be doing…well who then?” Many have suggested enacting a stronger voluntary program, to which Community Environmental Council representative, Kathi King, said voluntary programs have only achieved “limited success”.

In a state bordered by one of the most famous and breathtakingly beautiful coastlines in the world, taking steps towards preserving the health of our oceans seems the only natural and logical thing to do. Though the issue of plastic bag pollution may seem trivial to some, it is a very important piece to a larger problem. Students at UCSB are taking an active role in shaping their future and the future of their children, by raising awareness of this issue and sending the message that a healthy planet is worth much more than a momentary convenience.

As King stated, “a free bag is not a free bag.” The students at UCSB realize this. Perhaps, it is time for lawmakers to realize this as well.

See more coverage of the event:

http://www.noozhawk.com/article/040212_ucsb_coalition_handing_out_reusable_bags

http://www.dailynexus.com/2012-04-03/ucsb-promotes-greener-future-plastic-bag-ban/

http://www.independent.com/news/2012/apr/04/ucsb-bookstore-joins-fight-against-plastic-polluti/

http://www.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?nid=85053

Bisphenol A, or BPA, is a hormonally active chemical found in everything from cash register receipts to soup and beverage cans. After coming under fire in recent years for their use of BPA, every major drink container and baby bottle manufacturer has phased out the use of the compound and now label products as BPA-free. Earlier this year, after high levels of BPA were reported in soup can lining, Campbell’s pledged to phase out the use of the toxic chemical.

The alarm over the widespread use of BPA is entirely warranted. BPA has been linked with increased risk for cardiovascular disease, breast and prostate cancer, early puberty, obesity, diabetes, infertility, erectile dysfunction, and learning and attention-related disorders. Most importantly, a new review of more than 800 studies published last month in the journal Endocrine Reviews shows that even extremely small doses of BPA can be toxic. The study authors conclude that due to the effects of low doses of hormone-disrupting chemicals, “fundamental changes in chemical testing and safety determination are needed to protect human health.”

For the past several years, the Breast Cancer Fund, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and other leading environmental health groups have been urging the FDA to ban the use of BPA in food packaging. In 2008, the NRDC filed a citizen’s petition arguing that the FDA should ban all uses of BPA that result in it being found in food. Despite the legal requirement to respond to the petition, the FDA did nothing. In 2010, the NRDC sued the federal agency to force a response. The consent judgment that settled this case in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in December required the FDA to respond to the NRDC’s petition by March 31.

Some opponents of the petition, such as the American Chemistry Council and the North American Metal Packaging Alliance, claimed that banning BPA is unnecessary. Citing companies like Philips Avent that have chosen to self-regulate, they maintained that enough has already been done to curb the most dangerous uses of BPA. But not all companies self-regulate, nor can they be expected to. As consumer products are increasingly manufactured overseas, it is critical to set high standards for safety in domestic manufacturing. It is also important to be able to hold imports to the same regulatory standards.

In the past, other toxic materials have been routinely used in consumer products even after the devastating health impacts were discovered. Lead-based paint, found to cause kidney damage and developmental delays in children under 6, was once used on furniture and walls until the Consumer Product Safety Commission banned its use in 1977, and was used in toys until 2008. In 1989, after decades of widespread use, the Environmental Protection Agency banned the use of asbestos, a cancer-causing insulation, in products such as corrugated cardboard and certain types of pipe insulation (though it is worth noting that even today, many consumer products can still legally contain trace amounts of asbestos).

Thousands of people could have been spared the harmful side effects of exposure to these toxic materials if manufacturers had self-regulated and regulatory agencies had acted quicker. Similarly, if regulators had heeded the groundbreaking BPA research studies conducted by independent scientists since the 1990s, use of the chemical could have long ago been phased out. Because BPA so easily leaches out of plastic and aluminum consumer products and into human and animal bodies, and because it is toxic in even small doses, it should be banned from all food packaging. Consider this: Why bother buying certified organic when healthy food is packaged with toxic chemicals, no label or warning required? Perhaps we can avoid lead in our paint or asbestos in our insulation, but how can we be expected to avoid the ubiquitous use of BPA in the lining of canned food?

Despite the FDA’s refusal to act, a nationwide ban is critically needed. Eleven states have already banned the use of BPA in some infant feeding products. Supported by sound scientific research and bolstered by successful efforts to ban the use of BPA in other countries, a concerned alliance of national and international organizations, including the Breast Cancer Fund and the Plastic Pollution Coalition, rallied behind the NRDC’s petition and lawsuit. A growing list of celebrities, including Martha Stewart and Jeff Bridges, also pledged their support to the cause. The fact that the FDA ignored the growing chorus of concerned citizens, scientists, and public health and environmental advocates is alarming.

The FDA is tasked with monitoring and upholding a high standard of public health and food safety. By seemingly bowing to pressure from manufacturers and ignoring disturbing scientific evidence of harm, the FDA has effectively allowed for the continued use of toxic chemicals in food and drink packaging will only cause further preventable harm. How can we trust a regulatory agency entrusted with the safety of our food supply when, on the issue of BPA, they fail to regulate at all?

Jeanne Rizzo is a registered nurse and the President and CEO of the Breast Cancer Fund. Daniella Dimitrova Russo is a co-founder and Executive Director of the Plastic Pollution Coalition. Brittany Shoot is a journalist and the Managing Editor at the Plastic Pollution Coalition.