Overview
Plastic is everywhere. It’s choking our oceans, melting out of Arctic sea ice, sitting at the deepest point of the seafloor, and raining onto our national parks. It’s in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. It’s greatly contributing to the climate crisis and disproportionately polluting communities of color and low-income communities. Enough is enough. Oceana campaigns to stop plastic pollution at the source — by working to pass local, state, and national policies that reduce the production and use of unnecessary single-use plastic and move toward refill and reuse systems.
Two garbage trucks’ worth of plastic
enters the oceans every minute.
The world is facing a plastic pollution crisis that is increasingly threatening the future of our planet. An estimated 33 billion pounds of plastic enter the ocean every year — that’s roughly equivalent to dumping two garbage trucks full of plastic into the oceans every minute.
The problem is too big for consumers to solve. With plastic production rates increasing and industry continually relying on inadequate solutions like plastic recycling, we’re looking at an alarmingly plastic-filled future — unless companies and policy-makers use their power to change course.
We need companies to dramatically reduce their production and use of this persistent pollutant, provide us with plastic-free choices, and develop systems that refill and reuse packaging and materials. Policy-makers must pass legislation to ensure they do so.
Victories
October 10, 2024
Amazon Removes Plastic Air Pillows from Delivery Packaging Globally
Amazon announced it has removed all plastic air pillows from its delivery packaging used at its global fulfillment centers as of October 2024. This news follows an earlier announcement in June 2024 that the company planned to eliminate all plastic air pillows from North American deliveries by year-end. Historically, Amazon has used billions of these air pillows every year, which are not curbside recyclable or compostable, unlike paper alternatives. Plastic air pillows are made from the most common form of marine plastic litter in nearshore ocean areas — plastic film — which is also the deadliest type of plastic to large marine animals. Oceana has campaigned since 2020 for Amazon to drastically reduce its plastic use, including releasing reports estimating the company’s plastic packaging footprint, campaigning outside the company’s headquarters, and supporting shareholder resolutions.
September 22, 2024
California Bans Plastic Bags at Grocery Store Checkouts
California passed a new law banning all plastic bags at grocery store checkouts, following campaigning by Oceana and its allies. In 2014, the state adopted the first statewide plastic bag ban in the country, but the law did not eliminate thicker plastic film bags. This new law will address that. Plastic bags are one of the deadliest types of plastic to ocean wildlife. Plastic has also been found in our food, air, water, and even our bodies. With this new law, California is safeguarding its coastline, marine life, and communities from all single-use plastic grocery bags.
July 19, 2024
United States to Eliminate Single-Use Plastics across the Federal Government
Oceana and our allies successfully campaigned to get the United States government to go single-use plastic-free. The Biden administration committed that the federal government will phase out single-use plastics from its food service operations, events, and packaging by 2027 and in other operations by 2035. Plastics are having a devastating impact on the world’s oceans and are one of the greatest contributors to climate change. As the world’s largest purchaser of goods and services, the U.S. government’s purchasing decisions can have a global impact. A nationwide poll released by Oceana in 2023 showed that 82% of U.S. voters support reducing the federal government’s use of single-use plastic. Oceana will continue to campaign for the swift implementation of the phase-out and additional policies to reduce the production of single-use plastics.
June 30, 2024
Florida Bans Balloon Releases, Protects Marine Life
Following campaigning by Oceana and our allies, Florida banned the intentional release of balloons. The new law, which passed with bipartisan support, also classifies released balloons as litter. Balloons and their plastic ribbons can be easily ingested by endangered sea turtles, seabirds, and other ocean wildlife. Studies show balloons are one of the deadliest types of plastic for marine wildlife. Oceana is continuing to campaign for state lawmakers to build on this progress by reducing the production and use of unnecessary single-use plastic.
June 20, 2024
Amazon Eliminates Plastic Air Pillows in North America Following Campaigning by Oceana
Amazon will fully remove plastic air pillows from its delivery packaging in North America by the end of 2024 and replace them with 100% recycled paper filler. The move is expected to avoid nearly 15 billion plastic air pillows every year, according to the company. The reduction follows years of campaigning by Oceana and its allies for the company to address its massive plastic problem. Air pillows are made of plastic film, which is the deadliest type of plastic to large marine animals. Since 2020, Oceana has released reports estimating Amazon’s plastic packaging waste footprint, campaigned outside the company’s headquarters, met with company representatives, and advocated for related shareholder resolutions. Amazon’s move away from plastic air pillows in North America follows the company’s phasing out of plastic air pillows in Australia, and nearly all single-use plastic packaging in India and throughout Europe. Oceana is calling on the company to fulfill its multiyear commitment to transition its North America fulfillment centers away from plastic. Then, the company should expand these efforts and also push innovations like reusable packaging to move away from single-use packaging everywhere it sells and ships.
Take Action
HELP REDUCE PLASTIC POLLUTION IN WASHINGTON
Take action to call on the Washington State Legislature to pass the Washington Recycling Reform Act today!
Say NO to Foam
Tell your members of Congress to protect our oceans and health from harmful plastic foam pollution today.
STOP PLASTICS FROM CHOKING OUR OCEANS
Tell your elected officials to protect our oceans, climate, and communities from plastic pollution before it’s too late.
News & Reports
Press Releases
March 11, 2025
Reports
Around the Web
February 12, 2025
Source: Los Angeles Times
February 8, 2025
Source: The Guardian
February 7, 2025
Source: The Washington Post
January 21, 2025
Source: Fast Company
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