The Plastic Pollution Coalition (PPC) is a group that works to promote change and bring people together to address the problem of plastic pollution. It operates with the financial support of a larger organization called Earth Island Institute.
Positions
PPC says that recycling plastic is not very helpful. Instead, they support taxing plastic bags, suggest stopping the use of single-use plastics, and stress that companies should be responsible for what happens to their products after they are used. PPC has supported ending the use of single-use plastic straws, calling this a "starting point to help people begin thinking about the global problem of plastic pollution." PPC focuses on changing laws and making companies responsible for managing their products' end stages, rather than placing too much focus on individuals recycling.
History
PPC was founded by Manuel Maqueda, Daniella Russo, Lisa Boyle, Dianna Cohen, and Julia Cohen in October 2009. The organization focuses on internet activism. In 2010, PPC hosted a TEDx event titled "Great Pacific Garbage Patch: The Global Plastic Pollution Crisis," which discussed the Pacific trash vortex. From April 2011 to June 2014, PPC ran a news website named The Plastic Free Times.
In 2017, a video supporting the Plastic Pollution Coalition was created, featuring the top 11 finalists from the 10th season of American Idol. PPC says that American Idol producer 19 Entertainment helped create the video and later asked for it to be removed from the internet due to pressure from corporate sponsors.
Some of PPC's markets now include Sustain L.A. Refill Station, a business that provides products typically hard to obtain without buying new plastic bottles, such as shampoo, hair conditioner, liquid soap, laundry detergent, and household cleaners.
In 2015, PPC and the environmental law firm Greenfire sued 3,000 plastic manufacturers in California for allegedly breaking stormwater permitting rules under the Clean Water Act.
In April 2020, PPC and the Earth Island Institute filed a lawsuit against Clorox, Coca-Cola, Mars, Nestlé, PepsiCo, and Procter and Gamble in California courts. The lawsuit claims these companies polluted waterways, coasts, and oceans with millions of tons of plastic packaging and violated the California Consumers Legal Remedies Act, public nuisance laws, breach of warranty, defective product liability, negligence, and failure to warn about the dangers of their plastic packaging. The American Beverage Association responded by stating that some of its members are working to address plastic pollution. The lawsuit also states that the defendant companies together produce about 15% of all single-use plastic packaging.
Endorsements
PPC has used famous people to gain support. One video made by PPC that includes actor Jeff Bridges was seen by hundreds of thousands of people. Famous people who support PPC include Jeff Franklin, Jeff Bridges, Alexandra Paul, Amy Smart, and Ben Harper.
Criticism
PPC has worked to encourage companies to stop using plastic packaging. Albe Zakes, a representative for TerraCycle, said he supports PPC's goals but asked if using glass bottles instead of plastic is better for the environment. In 2021, a Netflix documentary called Seaspiracy said PPC was not addressing plastic pollution caused by the commercial fishing industry. The documentary suggested that PPC relied on money from the fishing industry because it is part of Earth Island Institute.
Similar organizations
Other groups helping to reduce plastic pollution include 5 Gyres, Break Free From Plastic, Changing Tides Foundation, Friends of Ocean Action, Greenpeace, Lonely Whale, Marine Litter Solutions, OceanCare, Ocean Conservancy, Oceana, Parley for the Oceans, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Surfrider Foundation, The Last Straw, the Plastic Soup Foundation, and Plastic soup surfer Merijn Tinga.