Stay up to date with our latest news and updates
LATEST NEWS
The fading shimmer of sachets
The death of Mr. C K Rajkumar made the news on October 7, 2020. An innovator and entrepreneur at heart, the article honoured Mr. CK Raj Kumar as the ‘sachet king’. His shampoo-in-a-sachet (Velvette) was the first on the FMCG scene in India in the 80s, making an entry well before even industry giant Unilever, […]
CONTINUE READING
Kenya civil society comes together to launch zero plastics coalition
On March 24th the Centre For Environment Justice and Development held a consultative meeting with grassroots organizations and other stakeholders in the waste management sector with support from Break Free From Plastic. The goal of the meeting was to deliberate on the need to form a unified civil society voice to champion plastic pollution reduction […]
CONTINUE READING
EARTH call on the Thai government to Ratify the Basel Ban Amendment, End Toxic Waste Imports
Environmental NGO Ecological Alert Recovery – Thailand (EARTH) submitted letters to the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and the Minister of Industry, calling on the Thai government to ratify the Basel Convention Ban Amendment, which will end the imports of toxic plastic wastes and e-waste into the country and for government agencies to strictly […]
CONTINUE READINGThe fading shimmer of sachets
The death of Mr. C K Rajkumar made the news on October 7, 2020. An innovator and entrepreneur at heart, the article honoured Mr. CK Raj Kumar as the ‘sachet king’. His shampoo-in-a-sachet (Velvette) was the first on the FMCG scene in India in the 80s, making an entry well before even industry giant Unilever, […]
CONTINUE READING Kenya civil society comes together to launch zero plastics coalition
On March 24th the Centre For Environment Justice and Development held a consultative meeting with grassroots organizations and other stakeholders in the waste management sector with support from Break Free From Plastic. The goal of the meeting was to deliberate on the need to form a unified civil society voice to champion plastic pollution reduction […]
CONTINUE READING EARTH call on the Thai government to Ratify the Basel Ban Amendment, End Toxic Waste Imports
Environmental NGO Ecological Alert Recovery – Thailand (EARTH) submitted letters to the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and the Minister of Industry, calling on the Thai government to ratify the Basel Convention Ban Amendment, which will end the imports of toxic plastic wastes and e-waste into the country and for government agencies to strictly […]
CONTINUE READING Press Releases
Banks in Belgium are blind to their role in the plastics crisis
Banks in Belgium play an important role in exacerbating the plastic crisis. FairFin publishes a report today showing that banks in Belgium actively invest 78 billion in the food industry, one of the main users of single use plastics. The report was commissioned by environmental law charity ClientEarth. FairFin and ClientEarth ask banks to take […]
CONTINUE READING
The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo named top plastic polluters for the fourth year in a row
COP26 sponsor Unilever rises in the ranks to be the world’s third worst plastic polluter according to 2021 Brand Audit October 25, 2021 — The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo are ranked as the world’s top plastic polluters for the 4th consecutive year according to Break Free From Plastic, whose latest global Brand Audit report […]
CONTINUE READING
Eco Groups Welcome Passage of National Single-Use Plastic Regulation
Quezon City, Philippines —The pollution watchdog EcoWaste Coalition lauds the House of Representative for passing a national regulation on single-use plastic, which signifies a first step towards eradicating plastic pollution in the country. “We welcome the timely passage of House Bill 9147 and we now challenge our Senators to act and pass a stronger national […]
CONTINUE READINGMember Stories
Member in the Spotlight: HCWH Europe
Please introduce yourself(-ves) and your organisation? I am Andreea Zotinca, Circular Healthcare Project Officer at Health Care Without Harm Europe. Our organisation exists to create a more sustainable healthcare sector. One of the promises within the Hippocratic Oath that doctors take is to “first do no harm” – so we want healthcare to do […]
CONTINUE READING
Member in Spotlight – Zero Waste Alliance Ukraine
Hello, my name is Sofia, I am a head of the Zero Waste Alliance Ukraine, which is based in, you will never guess - in Ukraine! At the moment, the Alliance consists of 3 founding organisations - Zero Waste Lviv (Lviv, Ukraine), Zero Waste Society (Kyiv, Ukraine) and Zero Waste Kharkiv (Kharkiv, Ukraine). I co-founded the Alliance back in 2018, and I love the story of how we got together and created this union.
CONTINUE READING
Member in the Spotlight for September: Recycling Netwerk Benelux
Please introduce yourself and your organisation My name is Lindsey Wuisan and I am a Strategic Manager for the plastic transition at RNB, based in Utrecht, the Netherlands. RNB is an eNGO with the objective to help reduce our society´s resource use and prevent (plastic) waste, by pushing for ambitious legislation and corporate responsibility. […]
CONTINUE READING
Show us how you do it by sharing a photo or video breaking free from plastic
breakfreefromplastic
1,379 72,822
Join the global movement working to end plastic pollution through LONG TERM systemic changes and REAL solutions. 🌏🙌🏽✨
breakfreefromplastic
Dec 4
Ugandan Youth Climate Activist, @patiencenabukalu speaks the truth about plastic pollution and climate change:
“A plastic free environment is directly equal to a Green environment.” - @patiencenabukalu
There is no excuse for corporations, leaders, and decision makers to ignore our calls for a better future. It’s time for them to prioritize the health of people and the planet over profit. Time to #breakfreefromplastic.
📸: @patiencenabukalu
#stopplasticpollution #climateactionnow #climatejustice #plasticpollution #plasticwaste #endplasticproduction ...
breakfreefromplastic
Dec 3
LOOK 👀: #breakfreefromplastic youth activist and founder of @river.warrior, @tharabening puts a spotlight on plastic washed up on Muara Wonokromo in Indonesia 🇮🇩.
Contrary to popular belief, sachets haven’t always been present. Sachets is a relatively recent concept that replaced the previously mostly zero-waste habits in Asia. Corporations promoted the use of sachets to increase their profits especially in Asian markets.
We need firm laws in that effectively hold producers accountable for the entire life-cycle of their products such as plastic packaging and sachets. As consumers we deserve plastic-free options!
📸: @tharabening
#breakfreefromplastic #PlasticPolutes
#PlasticPollution #SystemicChangeNeeded ...
breakfreefromplastic
Dec 3
#ScrapEPR2021🤚 India's EPR draft regulations do not place the burden of plastic waste fairly and squarely back on the shoulders of plastic manufacturers 🧐. Corporates themselves should account for the safe handling of plastic waste during their entire life cycle. Stand up corporates! Don’t let governments and communities foot the bill 💰 for this plastic crisis! #BreakFreeFromPlastic @
@unilever @nestle @mondelez_international ...
breakfreefromplastic
Dec 2
🎧 In Episode 4 of the #PeopleOverPlastic podcast, two #breakfreefromplastic changemakers share their experiences fighting to ban single-use plastic while promoting social and environmental justice.
Hear from Tricia Cortez of @rgisclaredo about the decade-long battle against plastic bags in Laredo, Texas, on the southern border of the United States, as well as how @goldmanprize recipient Gloria Majiga-Komoto galvanized a grassroots movement to uphold Malawi’s national ban on thin plastics.
Listen and subscribe at the link in @peoplexplastic’s bio. ...
breakfreefromplastic
Dec 2
“I want all children to know that we have the right to live in a safe, clean and healthy environment. So we have to be brave to speak up,” said 14-year old activitist Aeshnina Azzahra "Nina" Aqilani.
More and more young people are taking the lead in pushing for much needed change in policies, systems, and behavior to end plastic pollution and unjust waste management.
Learn more about Nina and the world that this generation is living in. Link in our story. 👆
📸 @prigi.arisandi ...
breakfreefromplastic
Nov 30
Did you know the outdoor industry has a #toxic secret? ☣️ REI is a popular retail and outdoor recreation services business known for its “eco-friendly” brand … but, unfortunately, much of the gear sold by @rei contains waterproofing chemicals called “PFAS” (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances).
These toxic substances are also known as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down in the environment, even after thousands of years!
#breakfreefromplastic changemakers with the #MindtheStore campaign are urging REI to phase out and ban PFAS in all private-label and brand-name products it sells.
Will you add your voice to the campign? ✍️
Link in bio at @toxicfreefuture & @saferchemicals. ...
breakfreefromplastic
Nov 30
Not all plastics are being recycled. Some just... take a vacation in some other part of the world like South and Southeast Asia. ✈️⛴⛱😎🍸🙃
On the 5th episode of The Podcast of Plastic, we'll talk about waste trade affecting Asia Pacific and what we can do about it.
Learn with us. Joining us are some experts:
✨Adam Liebman - Assistant Professor of Anthropology, DePauw University in Indiana
✨Mageswari Sangaralingam - Research Officer, Consumers' Association of Penang, Malaysia
✨Yuyun Ismawati Drwiega - Co-founder, Nexus3 Foundation in Bali, Indonesia
🎙 Hosted by @antoinettetaus
📌 Episode 5 | Plastic: capitalistic?
Listen now via Spotify and other podcast platforms 👇
🔎 "The Podcast of Plastic"
Link in our bio
#breakfreefromplastic #ThePodcastOfPlastic #podcastofplastic #wastetrade #wastecolonialism #plasticpollution #climatecrisis ...
breakfreefromplastic
Nov 26
#WeChooseReuse because single use plastic pollutes throughout its life cycle.
Did you know that single-use plastic doesn’t just pollute when it becomes waste, but every step along its life cycle?
Production of plastic begins with the extraction of fossil fuels, which emits significant greenhouse gases that contribute to our climate crisis. Carbon emissions also occur at transformation and end of life.
Reuse is THE solution to prevent excessive plastic pollution. The EU can make it a reality for all around Europe. Sign the commitment today to show your support 👉🏼 link in our stories 💫
#EWWR2021 #ZeroWasteCities #wechoosereuse #breakfreefromplastic
#reuserevolution #circulareconomy #reuse #refill #choosetoreuse #justrecovery #notdisposable ...
breakfreefromplastic
Nov 26
We get it, cutting off single-use plastics and striving to minimize our waste could be daunting. But 🖐 fear not because ✨𝐙𝐞𝐫𝐨 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 is easier done 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫! ✨
The GAIA-BFFP Asia Pacific communications officers have just concluded their five-month fellowship and are here to help us #breakfreefromplastic and further our call for #zerowaste lifestyle and policies.
Will you join us?
🛎 #breakfreefromplastic now 🤝
#plasticpollution #climatechange #solidarity #climateaction ...
breakfreefromplastic
Nov 25
As people across the United States observe the #Thanksgiving holiday, leaders with @enviroam and @uspirg are calling on Whole Foods to eliminate single-use plastic packaging in their stories.
Grocery stores that market themselves as “sustainable” should make plastic-free shopping easy, but Whole Foods unfortunately received a failing grade for the @_asyousow_ 2021 Corporate Plastic Pollution Scorecard.
Share this post and tag @wholefoods to let them know that customers want plastic-free groceries!
#BreakFreeFromPlastic #CorporateAccountability #NoExcuseForSingleUse #PlanetOverPlastic ...
breakfreefromplastic
Nov 24
Policy makers are just a few decisions away from making reuse systems a reality for all.
To all decision-makers in Europe: reuse and refill systems are in demand. We just need the right policy in place that encourages and supports innovative, circular economy businesses that reduce plastic production and pollution.
Show YOUR support for a reuse future. Sign the #WeChooseReuse commitment today!
💫 Link in our stories 💫
#EWWR2021 #ZeroWasteCities #wechoosereuse #breakfreefromplastic
#reuserevolution #circulareconomy #reuse #refill #choosetoreuse #justrecovery #notdisposable ...
breakfreefromplastic
Nov 24
As individuals, we can only do so much in reducing our usage especially if BIG PLASTIC continues to produce single-use plastics.
Governments have the power to regulate plastic production. Corporations have the resources to redesign their packaging. Decision makers have the choice to prioritize the health of people and the planet over profit.
We need corporations, governments, and decision makers to join us as we #breakfreefromplastic.
📸: @beyondplasticsbennington meme contest submission
#zerowaste #goforzerowaste #climatechange #climateaction #plasticpollution #environmentalactivist #responsibleconsumption ...
breakfreefromplastic
Nov 23
Did you see 👀 the United States finally expressed support for a global #PlasticsTreaty?
It was not clear until now whether the United States would support the emerging @unitednations treaty, which will tackle plastic pollution across the whole plastics value chain — from extraction 🛢 to disposal 🗑 !
As John Hocevar from @greenpeaceusa shares: “Plastic is a global problem, and requires action and coordination at a global scale. As a major producer and exporter of plastic, the U.S. has a responsibility to take a leadership role.”
🌍🌏🌎
#breakfreefromplastic #internationaltreaty #plastictreaty #plasticfreepresident
Photo Credit: Tim Aubry and Greenpeace. ...
breakfreefromplastic
Nov 23
What do petrochemicals have to do with plastic pollution? 🤔
👉 Learn about that and more on the 4th episode of The Podcast of Plastic.
📌November 23 | Tuesday | Episode 4 - "Plastic: Toxic?"
Featuring:
✨Swathi Seshadri, Center for Financial Accountability
✨Xavier Sun, Taiwan Zero Waste Alliance
✨Yan-Ting Lin, Environmental Rights Foundation Taiwan
🎙Hosted by @antoinettetaus
An initiative by the Break Free From Plastic Asia Pacific
Co-produced by the @podcastnetworkasia
Listen now on Spotify and other podcast platforms 🔎 "The Podcast of Plastic"
#breakfreefromplastic #ThePodcastOfPlastic #podcastofplastic #plasticpollution #petrochemicals ...
breakfreefromplastic
Nov 20
Large-scale losses of toxic plastic pellets at sea are rising 📈In May 2021, 1,680 tonnes of nurdles and 9,700 tonnes of other plastic plunged into Sri Lankan waters as a result of the cargo ship, the X-Press Pearl, sinking 🌊🚢
The cleanup is just beginning. This is one of the worst environmental disasters in Sri Lanka’s history. It has left a profound legacy of toxic pollution that will affect the country for decades.
Help raise awareness of the catastrophic impact caused by pellet spills from ships. Sign and share @EIA_news petition to show support for much needed regulation! Link in our stories
#breakfreefromplastic #nurdles #PlasticBurns #PlasticPollution #PlasticPellets ...
breakfreefromplastic
Nov 19
The Emmy-winning documentary “The Story of Plastic” is available to watch for FREE through the end of November 2021 ... so now is the perfect time to gather your family and friends for a movie night! 🎬🍿
The Story of Plastic is a powerful documentary that reveals the truth behind the plastic pollution crisis, including the industry’s false solutions and how #breakfreefromplastic changemakers and allies are fighting back as part of a global movement.
WATCH IT NOW FOR FREE 🎥: @storyofstuff @plasticpollutes @peakplastic
#StoryofPlastic #PlasticJustice #ClimateJustice #EnvironmentalJustice #SocialJustice #PlasticPollutes ...
breakfreefromplastic
Nov 19
A sachet on the seafloor! 🌊🐟 Who put it there? And who will take it out? Sachets, by virtue of their small size and their massive over- production, are easily lost to the environment. Companies want you to believe that beach clean-ups will solve the mess they make. It won’t.⛔ We demand that sachets be replaced with truly reusable packaging.⏳ #SachetsAway #BreakFreeFromPlastic @unilever @nestle
📷: Noel Guevara @greenpeace
Sachets are wasteful by design. It's time ⏳ we did away with them. #SachetsAway
(Sachets are single or multilayered single-use plastics that typically contain small serve or single serve products). ...
breakfreefromplastic
Nov 18
Did you know that zero waste is not JUST possible, ZERO WASTE IS ALREADY HAPPENING! Yup that's right! 🌟
Listen 🎧 to In Episode 3 of @peoplexplastic , to hear how Zuleyka Strasner of @zerogrocery and Ritesh Andre from the Mumbai Dabbawalas are scaling #zerowaste business models that are accessible for everyday people.
As their stories show, zero waste did not start on Instagram, it started thousands of years ago in grassroots communities of color.
Got examples of zero waste businesses in your communities? Comment them below!
Start streaming now. Link in stories! ☝🏽
#GoforZeroWaste #breakfreefromplastic #plasticfree ...
breakfreefromplastic
Nov 17
🚢 Plastic waste trade. Plastic production. Social, environmental and health injustices. The climate crisis. These are ALL correlated 🔄
Today, the long awaited proposal of the EU Waste Shipment Regulation was finalised. @virginijus_sinkevicius and the @europeancommission had the opportunity to lead on delivering the world's most ambitious rules on waste trade. But the current regulation will still allow for the EU to export its plastic waste all around the world and encourage illegal waste trade.
We need more, ambitious measures. All eyes are now on the EU Parliament to make the plastic waste trade ban a reality🛑
#WasteTrade #breakfreefromplastic #WasteShipment #COP26 #EuropeanCommission ...
breakfreefromplastic
Nov 16
Should we really stop using refillable containers during the COVID-19 pandemic? 🤔
🧐 Let's talk about refill and reuse systems in this 3rd episode of BFFP Asia Pacific's The Podcast of Plastic.
👉 Catch the new episode on Spotify and other podcast platforms every Tuesday
🎙 Featuring #breakfreefromplastic Asian changemakers Ramon San Pascual - Health Care Without Harm Asia @hcwhasia , Mahesh Nakarmi - @hecaf360 , and Cheryl Anne Low - @nudezerowaste
🎙Hosted by @antoinettetaus
Produced by BFFP Asia Pacific and @podcastnetworkasia
👆 Link in our story
#breakfreefromplastic #ThePodcastOfPlastic #podcastofplastic #reuse #refill #singleuseplastic #plasticpollution #climatecrisis #environmentaljustice ...
breakfreefromplasticFollow
We are a global movement. #breakfreefromplastic
Check out the story behind the stories! 🎧 @ShilpiChhotray, Founder of @peopleXplastic & former #breakfreefromplastic Global Communications Lead, is "asking people to listen and have a chat with your kids at dinner, or if you’re the kid, have a chat with your parents over lunch."
The Fight Against Plastic: ‘If You’re Not at the Table, You’re on the Menu’ @ShilpiChhotray @peopleXplastic #plastic #plasticpollution https://therevelator.org/people-plastic-chhotray/
Waste shipment authorities and COSCO shipping lines responded to a letter sent to them in the Greek port of Piraeus early this morning by @BaselAction as part of a coalition effort to prevent European #waste from being exported.
Read the full story ⬇️
https://buff.ly/3Dcdv6d
#ScrapEPR2021 India's EPR2021 draft does not place the burden of plastic waste on plastic manufacturers. Corporates are responsible for plastic waste through its life cycle. Not governments or communities! #BreakFreeFromPlastic @Unilever @Nestle @MDLZ
🎧 In Episode 4 of #PeopleOverPlastic, two #breakfreefromplastic changemakers share stories from the United States and Malawi about their efforts to ban single-use plastic while promoting social and environmental justice. Listen & Subscribe! https://linktr.ee/peoplexplastic
EP 4 “Bag Bans and Border Wall” IS LIVE NOW 🎧 Tricia Cortez from @rgisclaredo and @gloriamajiga, @goldmanprize winner for Africa share their relentless efforts in their communities' fight against Big Plastic. https://buff.ly/3bCJzEY #PeopleOverPlastic
Did you know the outdoor industry has a #toxic secret? ☣️ @REI is a popular retail and outdoor recreation services business known for its “eco-friendly” brand … but, unfortunately, much of the gear it sells contains waterproofing chemicals called #PFAS! https://saferchemicals.org/2021/11/03/rei-stop-leaving-a-toxic-trail-of-pollution/