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First Global Plastics Treaty Intergovernmental Meeting Concludes With a Mix of High and Low Points
Break Free From Plastic members worldwide respond to the main high and low points after a week of negotiations Punta del Este, Uruguay – The first intergovernmental committee meeting (INC-1) for an internationally legally binding instrument on plastic pollution convened by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) concluded today with a mix of high and […]
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BFFP US Environmental Justice Delegation Statement on the Global Plastics Treaty INC-1 Negotiations
For immediate release – December 1, 2022 BFFP US Environmental Justice Delegation Statement on the Global Plastics Treaty INC-1 Negotiations “We urge the United States delegation to meet with those of us being poisoned, rather than taking another meeting with the industries that are poisoning us.” Punta del Este, Uruguay – In the United States […]
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Every Store, Every Shelf: A call for Reuse Systems to be available and accessible to all
An opening presentation by UNEP at the multi-stakeholder forum of INC-1 on November 26th 2022 laid out the context and importance of basing the discussions on available and evolving science. Based on UNEP’s report, a lifecycle approach to end plastic pollution starts with reducing the size of the problem, which means eliminating unnecessary and problematic […]
CONTINUE READINGFirst Global Plastics Treaty Intergovernmental Meeting Concludes With a Mix of High and Low Points
Break Free From Plastic members worldwide respond to the main high and low points after a week of negotiations Punta del Este, Uruguay – The first intergovernmental committee meeting (INC-1) for an internationally legally binding instrument on plastic pollution convened by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) concluded today with a mix of high and […]
CONTINUE READING BFFP US Environmental Justice Delegation Statement on the Global Plastics Treaty INC-1 Negotiations
For immediate release – December 1, 2022 BFFP US Environmental Justice Delegation Statement on the Global Plastics Treaty INC-1 Negotiations “We urge the United States delegation to meet with those of us being poisoned, rather than taking another meeting with the industries that are poisoning us.” Punta del Este, Uruguay – In the United States […]
CONTINUE READING Every Store, Every Shelf: A call for Reuse Systems to be available and accessible to all
An opening presentation by UNEP at the multi-stakeholder forum of INC-1 on November 26th 2022 laid out the context and importance of basing the discussions on available and evolving science. Based on UNEP’s report, a lifecycle approach to end plastic pollution starts with reducing the size of the problem, which means eliminating unnecessary and problematic […]
CONTINUE READING Press Releases
First Global Plastics Treaty Intergovernmental Meeting Concludes With a Mix of High and Low Points
Break Free From Plastic members worldwide respond to the main high and low points after a week of negotiations Punta del Este, Uruguay – The first intergovernmental committee meeting (INC-1) for an internationally legally binding instrument on plastic pollution convened by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) concluded today with a mix of high and […]
CONTINUE READING
BFFP US Environmental Justice Delegation Statement on the Global Plastics Treaty INC-1 Negotiations
For immediate release – December 1, 2022 BFFP US Environmental Justice Delegation Statement on the Global Plastics Treaty INC-1 Negotiations “We urge the United States delegation to meet with those of us being poisoned, rather than taking another meeting with the industries that are poisoning us.” Punta del Este, Uruguay – In the United States […]
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Civil society and rightsholders ask UNEP for a more meaningful multi-stakeholder engagement process and to keep polluters out of global plastics treaty negotiations
26 November 2022, Punta del Este, Uruguay – A United Nations Environment Programme-organized Multi-Stakeholder Forum on plastics concluded today, offering recommendations to the first Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meeting on the Global Plastics Treaty. However, civil society groups, Indigenous Peoples, and other stakeholders have pointed with concern to the problematic presence of those companies responsible for […]
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Member in the Spotlight: Mission Reuse
Mission Reuse in The Hague with some members of parliament and the Dutch secretary of state (Minister of Environment) during our campaign about reusable coffee cups together with ‘Plastic Soup Surfer’ Merijn Tinga who e-surfed from Brussels to Amsterdam on a board made of disposable cups. Hi Mission Reuse! So who are you and where […]
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Member story: China Zero Waste Alliance
As a customer, you’re probably aware that most of the products you use daily — from high-end smartphones to low-cost holiday decorations — are manufactured in China. Yes, everything is manufactured in China. However, you may be unaware that China is also a significant contributor to global plastic pollution. In fact, China is the world’s […]
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See how a school from Brazil is using brand audits to become a plastic-free campus
Photo credit: Franco Brasileiro School. Bottles, bags, straws, wrappers. A single word signifies items so common in our routine: plastic. Every #PlasticFreeJuly questions about the use of these materials are raised. What impact do they have on the environment? Where do they go after being discarded? How can they be reused in daily life? Franco […]
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breakfreefromplastic
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Join the global movement working to end plastic pollution through LONG TERM systemic changes and REAL solutions. 🌏🙌🏽✨
breakfreefromplastic
Dec 5
The Break Free From Plastic movement is built of thousands of members, allies, and volunteers whose hard work and dedication is vital to building a a plastic-free future.
This International Volunteers Day, we want to honor and acknowledge changemakers around the world who steadfastly make the BFFP vision—a future free from plastic pollution—a reality. 🙌
Swipe to see just some of the amazing work they have done initiatives! ➡️
1 - Socio-environmental organizations “Más Río Menos Basura” and “Multisectorial por los Humedales” returned plastic bottles to @CocaCola during the Global Day on Action last November 15. 📸 Gisela Ardit
2 - Environment and Social Development Organization (@esdobd) members called out top corporate plastic polluters during the Global Day of Action. 📸 Adnan Adid
3 - Special cake delivery for @Unilever’s trashiversary at their headquarters in London. 📸Rikki Blue
4 - The Nusantara River Expedition Team paid a visit to the Unilever headquarters in the country to hand over plastic sachet wastes of @Unilever products 📸Daru Setyorini
5 - Let’s Do It! Togo delivered a letter addressed to Fan Milk Company and returned their plastic waste.
6- Kenyan Youth Biodiversity Network celebrated @CocaCola’s trashiversary by returning plastic bottles to their office.
7 - BFFP members Population and Development Initiative
8 - Zero Waste Himalayas’s members, St Teresas students, mail plastic packaging back to companies during the Global Day of Action
9 - Nature’s Buddy conducted a cleanup in preparation for the Brand Audit 2022
10 - Member of Zero Waste Durban, South Africa calls for an effective and inclusive #PlasticTreaty during the Global Day of Action
There are many more efforts from different groups that we will continue to shed light on in the coming days.
Hooray for these amazing changemakers! 👏👏👏
#breakfreefromplastic #InternationalVolunteersDay ...
breakfreefromplastic
Dec 3
LOOK: Statement from #BreakFreeFromPlastic Member on the #GlobalPlaticsTreaty
"Let's be honest: 99 percent of what goes into plastic is fossil fuels; plastics are essentially fossil fuel in a different format, and we can NOT address plastic pollution without addressing plastic production," Christopher Chin, Executive Director of The Center for Oceanic Awareness, Research, and Education (@coare_org) said.
Stay tuned for more #INC1 updates! ...
breakfreefromplastic
Dec 3
LOOK: Statement from #BreakFreeFromPlastic Member on the #GlobalPlasticsTreaty
"...The knowledge of our communities will be crucial in the mitigation of the triple crisis: climate change, biodiversity loss, and plastic pollution," said Alejandra Warren from Plastic Free Future (USA)
Stay tuned for more #INC1 updates! ...
breakfreefromplastic
Dec 3
LOOK: Statement from #BreakFreeFromPlastic Member on the #GlobalPlasticsTreaty
"A Just transition is to recognize the historical importance of waste pickers, the nature of their work, that they are taken into consideration when it comes to impact this treaty may mean for their work and that they can be part of the process," said Silvio Ruiz, Asocación Nacional de Recicladores Colombia.
Stay tuned for more #INC1 updates! ...
breakfreefromplastic
Dec 3
BREAKING: #BreakFreeFromPlastic members worldwide respond to the high and low points after a week of negotiations at the First Global #PlasticsTreaty Intergovernmental Meeting (INC-1) convened by @unep in Punta del Este, Uruguay.
Read the full statement at the link in our bio. ...
breakfreefromplastic
Dec 2
After years of advocacy, the @brkfreeplastic movement and @RethinkPlastic alliance strongly welcome the @EU_ENVI’s vote in favor of a ban on extra-EU #plastic #waste exports!
On December 1, 2022, the Environment Committee of the European Parliament voted to set a ban on EU plastic waste exports to OECD and non-OECD countries as part of the revision of the EU Waste Shipment Regulation.
Here’s a quote from #BreakFreeFromPlastic #wastetrade project coordinator on what this vote means for Asia - read the entire @RethinkPlastic reaction link in our story!
#BreakFreeFromPlastic #RethinkPlastic #WasteTrade #WasteShipmentRegulation ...
breakfreefromplastic
Dec 2
@Nestle and @Unilever representatives expressed during #INC1 that we CANNOT just rely on voluntary initiatives and recycling to solve the #plasticpollution. We need an internationally legally binding instrument that addresses all aspects of the #PlasticsCrisis.
“Voluntary initiatives alone can not solve the problem and we need to move to mandatory policy,” Unilever Global Sustainable Manager Ed Shepherd said.
“We as a company believe we can not recycle our way out of this. We need to cap and reduce virgin plastic production,” Nestle Senior Public Affairs Manager of Packaging and Sustainability Jodie Rousell said.
Admitting it is the first of many steps, we need to continue holding these corporate polluters accountable for the plastic waste they produce that affects human and planet health! We need corporations to #breakfreefromplastic NOW! ...
breakfreefromplastic
Dec 1
LOOK: Statement from #BreakFreeFromPlastic Member on the #GlobalPlasticsTreaty
“...Plastic recycling is valuable when done right but is ultimately meaningless without drastic cuts in production." Sirine Rached, Global Plastics Policy Coordinator @gaiaus_can said as she attended the Global #PlasticsTreaty INC-1.
Stay tuned for more #INC1 updates! ...
breakfreefromplastic
Nov 28
LOOK: Statement from #BreakFreeFromPlastic Member on the #GlobalPlasticsTreaty
“...in order to build reuse infrastructure we need a set of rules and standards to avoid ending with incompatible systems which will make scaling up and replication costly" Joan Marc Simon, Executive Director of @zero_waste_europe said as he attended “Reuse Systems: Raising the Ambition to Fight Plastic Pollution”
Stay tuned for more #INC1 updates! ...
breakfreefromplastic
Nov 28
LOOK: Statement from #BreakFreeFromPlastic Member on the #GlobalPlasticsTreaty
“We have learned from implementing reuse on the ground in Jakarta, that it can be accessible, affordable, integrated into existing infrastructure,” @iddkp (Indonesia Plastic Bag Diet Movement) Executive Director Tiza Mafira said during “Reuse Systems: Raising the Ambition to Fight Plastic Pollution”
Stay posted for more #INC1 updates! ...
breakfreefromplastic
Nov 28
As the intergovernmental negotiating committee (#INC1) meets for the first time TODAY in Uruguay to start developing the #PlasticsTreaty, it’s important that we have a strong and effective policy that deals with the #PlasticsCrisis.
Need a refresher on what INC-1 is all about and what is expected of it? Swipe left to know more! ➡️
#PlasticsTreaty #INC1 #BreakFreeFromPlastic ...
breakfreefromplastic
Nov 24
On November 28th, governments will start the negotiations for a global plastics treaty which presents an opportunity to curb plastic pollution and end throwaway plastics. 🌏
"It is essential that the Global Plastics Treaty immediately limit and reduce total plastic production and use. Cutting the amount of plastics companies make and phasing out single-use plastic is in line with the goal of keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees—after all, 99% of plastics are made from fossil fuels." said @Greenpeaceph Zero Waste Campaigner Marian Ledesma
Read the full article at the link in our story.
#BreakFreeFromPlastic ...
breakfreefromplastic
Nov 23
IN THE US: Would you trade $1.7 billion in state tax credits to create only 600 permanent jobs? 🤨
Say hello to the new @Shell ethane cracker plant in Beaver County, #Pennsylvania, US, which will produce 1.6 million tons of polyethylene plastic per year along with excessive amounts of #toxic pollution.
Shell is the 16th richest corporation in the world which they achieved by externalizing the health, safety, air and water, quality of life, and plastic pollution costs of their operations onto communities and the climate – so why are they receiving state tax credits? The numbers don’t add up! 😡
If Shell truly plans to attempt to be a “good neighbor” in Beaver County, they must go beyond the minimum legal requirements and meet the demands of the community.
Sign @bcmac_’s petition to Shell demanding accountability and transparency at the link in our story!
#EyesOnShell #BreakFreeFromPlastic #StopPlasticProduction #PlasticPollutes #CorporateAccountability #GovernmentAccountability
📸 Ted Auch, 2022
📸 Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community @bcmac_ ...
breakfreefromplastic
Nov 18
Did you know that almost 70% of all clothing on the planet is made from plastic? Modern materials such as polyester and nylon have facilitated the rise of fast-fashion and with that the rise of polluting microfibres from plastic-based materials ☠️
This is fuelling plastic pollution 📈
During production, wearing, washing and disposal, plastic particles from clothes are released into our air, water and bodies, harming not just the Earth but our bodies too.
Clothing manufacturers can do better. Policymakers can do better. Laws and regulations can prevent further microplastics from being released by clothing - throughout a clothing items lifecycle.
Find out more in the link in our stories ☝🏼
#BreakFreeFromPlastic ...
breakfreefromplastic
Nov 17
Plastic doesn’t belong in our national parks and protected spaces! 🏞️ The #PlasticFreeParks TrashBlitz report from @5gyres reveals which items and brands are causing the most harm to @nationalparkservice.
Not surprisingly, the world’s top polluting corporations as identified in the #BrandAudit2022 report – @CocaCola, @Nestle, and @PepsiCo – also made the list of top brands polluting U.S. National Parks. It’s time to hold these corporate polluters responsible by demanding reductions in plastic production. #BreakFreeFromPlastic
Read the full report at the link in our story.
(Image credit: @5gyres) ...
breakfreefromplastic
Nov 17
In Indonesia: The Nusantara River Expedition Team paid a visit to the Unilever headquarters in the country to hand over plastic sachet wastes of @Unilever products collected from coastal waters and rivers in eastern Indonesia.
The group asks Unilever to clean up the Indonesian waters and be accountable for the single-use plastic wastes that they generate. They also urge the corporation to switch to reuse and refill systems for their products.
Unilever is one of the top 5 worst corporate plastic polluters in the world based on the recently launched global brand audit that was based on 5 years worth of data.
#BreakFreeFromPlastic #brandaudit2022
📸 Daru Setyorini / ECOTON ...
breakfreefromplastic
Nov 15
On this Global Day of Action, 32 consumers in the Philippines filed a formal complaint at the Department Of Trade And Industry vs @CocaCola, @PepsiCo, @Nestle, @Unilever, @proctergamble, @ColgatePalmoliveCo, and Universal Robina Corporation (URC) for dangerous plastic packaging and false 'recyclable plastic' labels.
Join us to demand REAL change and urge these polluters to #BreakFreeFromPlastic!
Link in bio for the full report and more information.
#BrandAudit2022 ...
breakfreefromplastic
Nov 15
Happy Trashiversary @CocaCola, @PepsiCo, @Nestle, @Unilever, and @Mondelez_International! You are the top global plastic polluters of the last FIVE YEARS! Time to #BreakFreeFromPlastic 🚨
#BrandAudit2022 ...
breakfreefromplastic
Nov 15
The results are out, @CocaCola, @PepsiCo, @Nestle, @Unilever, and @Mondelez_International are the worst polluters of the last FIVE years!
Help us hold them accountable in just TWO easy steps, POST & TAG!
POST and greet the top plastic polluters ‘HAPPY TRASHIVERSARY’ and TAG them in your posts!
Choose from an array of ready-to-post materials! Link in our bio for more details!
#BreakFreeFromPlastic #BrandAudit2022 ...
breakfreefromplastic
Nov 15
Happy Trashiversary @CocaCola, @PepsiCo, @Nestle, @Unilever, and @Mondelez_International! 💥
These corporations are the worst global plastic polluters of the last FIVE YEARS!
Yup, that’s right - they aren’t just this year’s top polluters.
We’re talking about…
FIVE YEARS worth of data
FIVE YEARS worth of failed promises
FIVE YEARS of false solutions
Join us to demand REAL change and urge these polluters to #BreakFreeFromPlastic.
Taking action is as easy as sharing this post, tagging them, and letting your voice be heard! 📣
Link in bio for the full report and more information.
#BrandAudit2022 #BreakFreeFromPlastic ...
breakfreefromplastic Follow
We are a global movement. #breakfreefromplastic
QUICK RECAP of @UN #PlasticsTreaty negotiations >>> “There’s a lack of inclusion from those that are directly negatively impacted by this industry. And they need to be at the table,” said Frankie Orona with @S_N_N_1. “A lot of times they have solutions.”
https://apnews.com/article/business-united-nations-pollution-climate-and-environment-government-politics-f999c940c7d198433991a3b14f8450ef
Negotiations began this week for a landmark #PlasticsTreaty to end #plasticpollution globally. More than 160 countries, the plastic industry, environmentalists, scientists, waste pickers, tribal leaders + others affected by pollution attended the UN #INC1 https://apnews.com/article/business-united-nations-pollution-climate-and-environment-government-politics-f999c940c7d198433991a3b14f8450ef
The Protecting Communities from Plastics Act introduced in the U.S. Congress by @SenBooker & @RepHuffman (with @SenJeffMerkley & @RepLowenthal) would protect fenceline communities from toxic petrochemical, plastic-producing & waste incineration facilities. https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-huffman-merkley-lowenthal-introduce-legislation-to-address-plastic-production-crisis
Just Announced: The Protecting Communities from Plastics Act—legislation designed to stop plastic pollution, reduce climate change and halt the harm plastic production is causing communities adjacent to petrochemical, plastic production and waste incineration facilities. https://twitter.com/RepHuffman/status/1598411679649345537
Plastic pollution isn’t just a problem for our oceans and climate – it's a massive environmental injustice driven by the fossil fuel sector. Fenceline communities are overburdened with plastics’ toxic emissions. We have got to start putting people over Big Oil’s plastic profits.
#BREAKING: @brkfreeplastic and GAIA member response to the closing of #PlasticsTreaty #INC1: a mix of highs and lows.
READ 👇
https://www.no-burn.org/first-global-plastics-treaty-intergovernmental-meeting-concludes-with-a-mix-of-high-and-low-points/