The Blue Paradox

Over 14 million tons of plastic are dumped into our oceans each year, harming marine life, the global economy, and ecosystems. We need improved legislation to keep plastic debris out of our oceans to protect the industries and lives that rely on them.

"By aligning incentives, standards and reporting, federal EPR can create the enabling conditions in which innovation in packaging design, recycling technologies and business models translates into broader, lasting impact. Clear consistent policy can also reduce long-term compliance complexity and help level the playing field for businesses of all sizes.”

State Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws are driving momentum in plastic waste policy. But state-by-state approaches have created a growing patchwork of different standards. Federal EPR can create the enabling conditions in which innovation in packaging design, recycling technologies and business models translates into broader, lasting impact. Learn more about what’s needed to drive change at scale SC Johnson, A Family Company’s new blog in collaboration with World Wildlife Fund ➡️

The Path Forward for Federal EPR How aligning policy, infrastructure, and investment at the federal level creates an opportunity for a coordinated, nationwide effort to address the plastic waste crisis.

Recycling does more than just manage waste – it can help conserve energy by reducing the amount needed to produce items from new plastic. Stronger recycling policies not only protect our environment but also support a more energy-efficient plastic system.

“While plastic paving initiatives are happening in places like Missouri and Texas, the project in Hawaii is the first to use marine debris. It is designed to solve the islands’ unique exposure to discarded fishing gear, tourist waste and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which engulfs the island chain every few years. To date, 90 metric tons of plastic trash have been removed from the Pacific Ocean, and more than a metric ton of fishing nets alone have been paved into Hawaiian roads.”

Clean up alone doesn’t solve the plastic waste crisis. What happens after debris is collected matters too. Learn more about how recovered material can serve a local infrastructure need: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/hawaii-plastic-pollution-recycle-roads

Each year, the U.S. generates more than 42 million metric tons of plastic waste, almost twice the amount of China, and more than all the countries of the European Union combined. (Earth)

"A 2018 estimate put the patch at 1.8 trillion pieces spread across about 620,000 square miles. Most of the mass was in larger debris, not dust-like specks, which helps explain why offshore capture is even possible. Larger items drift between Hawaii and California, where no shoreline exists to trap them back out of circulation.”

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is home to billions of pieces of plastic waste, with scientists noting it could take 10 years to remove more than 80% of the pollution. Learn more about how researchers are trying to reduce plastic waste in the Pacific➡️

Scientists finally develop a plan to clean up the massive North Pacific Garbage Patch A new plan aims to clean more than 80% of the North Pacific Garbage Patch - the ocean's largest floating plastic garbage patch.

Plastic pollutions doesn’t just stay in the ocean. Shorelines often absorb the impact, putting coastal habitats, local economies, and cleanup resources under pressure.

We need stronger plastic waste management systems and upstream intervention before plastic pollution can further damage marine environments.

As NASA’s innovation continues to push the boundaries of space exploration, it’s also helping address challenges here on Earth.

Scientists are developing ways to detect plastic pollution from space, giving us a clearer picture of where it gathers and how to prevent more waste.
Learn more about NASA’s EMIT instrument and how it’s fighting the plastic waste crisis.

Tracking plastic pollution from space A NASA mission designed to study dust is now helping scientists track plastic pollution, from space. Climatologist Marina Jurica explains how JPL is tackling this problem 250 miles from us.

The plastic waste crisis not only impacts our oceans and marine life, but also our economies.

Plastic pollution impacts industries like tourism and fishing, costing billions yearly in waste management and human health impacts. (NCEL)