For a more in-depth dive into all the different kinds of plastic, check out this Plastic Pollution Glossary by National Geographic. You might also enjoy this article about plastic-eating enzymes could eliminate billions of tons of landfill waste.

Read about this amazing new enzyme found in compost that has set a speed record for breaking down plastic!

Check out these films and documentaries to dive deep into the world of plastics and what we can do to reduce our plastic use. 👇🏾

Story of Plastic This film is an animated short that explains where plastics come from and why they are such a problem.

The Complicated Journey of Marine Plastic Pollution

This live action film (also know nas The Plastic Vagabond) is a story about microplastic pollution and told by a plastic seahorse toy character.

What happens to the plastic you throw away?
This film traces the journey of a plastic bottle from creation to recycling. 

True Cost This documentary film explores the impact of fast fashion on people and the planet.


A brief history of plastic


Institutional Reports

Below is a non-exhaustive list of organizations and think-tanks that have compiled useful reports on the state of plastic pollution and innovative solutions. 

BioMimicry Institute—How Nature-inspired Material Solutions Will Halt Microplastic Pollution

Ellen MacArthur Foundation—Designing-Out Plastic Pollution

Rethinking the Future of Plastics

UNEP—Plastics Program

Additional helpful websites and articles

Are microbes the future of recycling? It’s complicated.

Why Plastics Are Also a Climate Issue

Plastic-Degrading Potential across the Global Microbiome Correlates with Recent Pollution Trends | mBio 


Organizations working to reduce plastic pollution

Think Beyond Plastic—TBP is a non-profit organization that harnessing the forces of innovation and entrepreneurship to run accelerators and competitions to achieve the United Nations Development Goals. 

The Plastic Pollution Coalition—PPC is a global alliance of more than 1,200 organizations, businesses, and thought leaders in 75 countries working toward a more just, equitable world free of plastic pollution and its toxic impact on humans, animals, waterways, oceans, and the environment.

5 Gyres -- 5 Gyres is non-profit organization that guides people in designing solutions to plastic pollution.

Algalita: Marine Research and Education a—This non-profit organization strives to protect marine ecosystems through research and education and offers classroom resources. 

Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA offers informational resources for understanding and reducing the causes of plastic pollution including: sources, prevention, legislation, and research. 

Surf Rider—This activist network protects marine ecosystems and resources by promoting campaigns and organizing events around the US and internationally.

Special thanks to : Scott Gass, Dana and Noe Sardet and Sharif Mirshak

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