Jeff Goldblum Implores California Lawmakers to Pass Statewide Plastics Legislation
Actor, Musician, Oceana Supporter Delivers Letter to State Capitol Calling for Reductions in Single-Use Plastic
Press Release Date: January 23, 2020
Location: SACRAMENTO, Calif.
Contact:
Dustin Cranor, APR | email: dcranor@oceana.org | tel: 954.348.1314
Yesterday, actor, musician and Oceana supporter Jeff Goldblum met with lawmakers in the California capitol to deliver an important message: We need urgent legislative action to fight the plastic pollution crisis, and it’s critical that elected officials pass SB 54 and AB 1080, the California Circular Economy and Pollution Reduction Act, which would greatly reduce single-use plastic packaging and products. The bill would require producers to reduce waste from single-use packaging and disposable foodware — including plates, bowls, cups, stirrers and straws — by 75% by 2030 through source reduction, recycling and composting.
Joined by his long-time manager and Oceana’s board president Keith Addis, Goldblum delivered a letter signed by himself, Addis, Ted Danson, Sam Waterston, January Jones, Ed Begley Jr. and Alexandra Cousteau urging California officials to take this unprecedented step in fighting plastic pollution.
The letter emphasized the need to tackle the plastics problem at the source. “As consumers, we can do our part to reduce our use of single-use plastics, but ultimately the responsibility lies with the companies that produce our goods,” it read. “And government plays a critical role ensuring companies are held accountable through robust plastic reduction policies. If passed, Senate Bill 54 and Assembly Bill 1080 will mandate that producers of single-use products and packaging source-reduce to the maximum extent feasible and provide additional economic incentives and regulatory tools to address plastic pollution.”
Goldblum personally met with the California Environmental Protection Agency secretary, the governor’s office, and state legislative members of the senate and assembly to discuss the crisis and the importance of state action.
An estimated 17.6 billion pounds of plastic enters the ocean every year and never fully goes away, instead breaking up into smaller and smaller pieces that attract harmful pollutants and are consumed by marine life, including the seafood that ends up on our plates.
“As the fifth-largest economy in the world, California has an invaluable opportunity to make waves in the fight against plastic pollution,” said actor, musician and Oceana supporter Jeff Goldblum. “SB 54 and AB 1080’s proposal to source-reduce plastic packaging and single-use plastic products across the entire state would have a monumental effect on keeping plastic out of our oceans, and I urge California lawmakers to do what’s best for both the health of the planet and its people by passing this important legislation.”
“The plastics industry has known about the severity of the plastics pollution problem for decades, and instead of taking meaningful action to curb the issue, it has wasted valuable time pointing its finger at consumers. Companies continue to force plastic packaging and single-use plastic products into our hands without offering plastic-free choices, and it’s time for government to intervene,” said Keith Addis, Oceana’s board president. “Policies that reduce both the production and use of single-use plastic are critical to hold companies accountable for the mess they have created, and SB 54 and AB 1080 would move the United States in the right direction as we continue to push for federal action.”
“Plastic has been rapidly polluting our blue planet ever since companies began mass producing it just 70 years ago. We’re now at the point where it’s not only marine life that’s choking on it — humans are also breathing it, eating it and drinking it,” said Dr. Geoff Shester, California campaign director and senior scientist at Oceana. “With plastic production projected to quadruple over the coming decades this crisis will only escalate, harming our oceans and precious marine life. We have no more time to lose, which is why California needs to pass SB 54 and AB 1080 to turn the tide on single-use plastic production to set an example for the country, as it has done so many times before on environmental reform.”
For photos from Goldblum’s visit, please click here.
To learn more about Oceana’s campaign to stop plastic pollution, please visit usa.oceana.org/plastics.
Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in countries that control one third of the world’s wild fish catch. With more than 200 victories that stop overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution and killing of threatened species like turtles and sharks, Oceana’s campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means that one billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal, every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and help feed the world. Visit www.usa.oceana.org to learn more.
