Bioneer, Plastics, once hailed as revolutionary materials for their versatility and durability, have now become a global nightmare poised to persist for hundreds of years. The story of plastic is catastrophic from start to finish, as its creation requires the dangerous extraction of fossil fuels and its disposal results in alarming levels of pollution. Still, the modern global economy continues to rely on plastic, often unhindered by regulations that could halt this process of never-ending waste. Petrochemical feedstocks currently represent 12% of global oil demand, and as climate concerns demand a reduction in oil consumption, fossil fuel companies are pushing to increase plastics production as fast as they can. The plastics industry would have us believe that the responsibility for solving this problem rests with us, the consumers. We’re told to recycle carefully and avoid plastic straws, while in reality, plastic has become so deeply embedded in our society and the products that keep it running that these so-called “solutions” are laughable at best and a dangerous distraction at worst. Leaders worldwide are actively working toward real solutions. In this newsletter, we recognize and take cues from their work and ideas. |
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From Plastic Mythology to Environmental Reality: Experts Discuss the CrisisPlastic pollution has evolved into one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, infiltrating every corner of our planet, from pristine oceans to remote wilderness. The proliferation of plastic products, coupled with the myth of effective recyclability, has lulled us into complacency, fostering a culture of convenience that has dire consequences for our environment. In this conversation hosted by The Ecology Center, four plastic pollution experts, Shilpi Chhotray, Yvette Arellano, KT Morelli, and Martin Bourque, talk about their work to expose the harsh realities of plastic pollution and production while debunking industry-driven myths. |
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Bioneers 2024: Save the Date!Mark your calendars for March 28-30 for Bioneers 2024 in Berkley, California. Planning is well underway for our 35th annual conference, and we’re excited to share our exciting lineup of confirmed speakers with you soon. Sign up for alerts here, and you’ll be the first to hear announcements and know when registration opens. |
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What You Need To Know About Microplastics and TextilesWe are increasingly surrounded by plastic in our daily lives. It’s the clothing we wear, it’s the containers we eat from, furniture we sit on, and toys our children play with. Plastic has an enormous presence in mass-manufactured textiles, meaning that everything from our clothes to our curtains to our sheets are often petroleum-based. But it doesn’t have to be this way… |
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Plastic Planet: Stopping Big Oil, Big Plastic, and Big MisdirectionAfter World War II, the U.S. government worked with industry to create a single-use, disposable consumer culture as a way to ensure ongoing market prosperity. Who benefited? Consumer product companies like Coca-Cola, and the fossil fuel industry, whose petrochemicals are at the source. The result? Plastic pollution is now found in virtually every living organism – including humans – and is one of the worst threats to ocean ecosystems. In this podcast episode Anna Cummins, Deputy Director and Co-Founder of the Five Gyres Institute, talks about the global resistance movement that is rising to abolish petrochemical plastics and to shift to a zero-waste, circular economy. |
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The World Is Drowning in Plastic. Here’s How It All Started“Every year, nearly 18 billion pounds of plastic enter just the oceans — one garbage truck full every minute. Just the amount of microplastics entering the environment is the equivalent of every human on Earth walking up to the sea and tossing in a grocery bag every week.” In A Poison Like No Other, Matt Simon reveals a whole new dimension to the plastic crisis, one even more disturbing than plastic bottles washing up on shores and grocery bags dumped in landfills. |
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Global Plastic Reduction Legislative ToolkitThis toolkit aims to cultivate knowledge and expertise among the community of leaders across the world, empowering them to enact change locally in their communities and countries. This portal provides a complete suite of resources, successful initiative examples, and strategy development options focused on the elimination of our global reliance on disposable packaging and on plastic’s harmful impacts. |
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Upcoming Bioneers Learning Courses & Community ConversationsThrough engaging courses and conversations led by some of the world's foremost movement leaders, Bioneers Learning and Community Conversations equip engaged citizens and professionals like you with the knowledge, tools, resources and networks to initiate or deepen your engagement, leading to real change in your life and community. Upcoming Bioneers Learning Courses: Slowing Down: Cultivating Healing Spaces of Belonging | Starting September 26 | An experiential session featuring mindful and creative practices designed to help us slow down, heal and collectively receive our greatest wisdoms. The Rights of Nature | Starting October 19 | A full background on the emerging “rights of nature” movement in the United States and internationally and how to develop, adopt, and enforce local rights of nature laws in your own communities. Honoring Your Emotional Ecosystem | Starting November 14 | A grounded and surprising exploration of the healing genius in your emotional realm.
Upcoming Community Conversations: |
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What We're Tracking- Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg is spending some of his wealth to try to block the construction of petrochemical plants that make fertilizer, plastics, and packaging. | Read More
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