At a news conference today, officials released data showing nine New York communities, including New York City, could benefit by over $400 million annually from the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (PRRIA).

The New York Senate passed PRRIA (A1749 Glick/S1464 Harckham) in 2024 and 2025. Having cleared Assembly committees in 2025, the bill, with 75 sponsors, is now on the Assembly floor.

Published December 2, 2025, by The New Press, "The Problem with Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It's Too Late" by Judith Enck, Adam Mahoney, and Beyond Plastics is an Amazon Editors' Pick. This powerful investigation reveals plastic's devastating impact on human health and the environment, from poisoned oceans and polluted air to microplastic contamination and environmental racism.

The book critically examines plastic's paradox, challenging the belief that recycling alone can solve the crisis. Instead, it debunks industry claims and emphasizes the urgent need for action, offering practical solutions like a "household waste audit" to empower readers. Learn more at: beyondplastics.org/publications/problem-with-plastic-book (ISBN: 9781620979457).

Microplastics and nanoplastics, along with their constituent chemicals, are increasingly found in the human body, including the brain, placenta, and other organs. Few realize plastics contain over 16,000 chemicals, with more than a quarter known to be toxic.

Join Beyond Plastics, Ami Zota (Columbia University), and Ryan Babadi (Toxic-Free Future) for a free webinar on toxic chemicals in plastics. Learn about chemicals in common products like toys, packaging, and cosmetics, their health and environmental impacts, and how to protect yourself and your community.

Register here: https://www.beyondplastics.org/events/toxic-chemicals-in-plastics

Written & Directed by Jimena Ayala, this film plunges into a world where plastic permeates everything. A "plastic pandemic" has begun, causing humans to become "plastified."

Amidst this crisis, hope emerges: Eco Clinic claims to have a cure. Would you dare to try it?

Written and directed by Kristin Chemis.

Jimmy senses something is off about his school friend. He doesn't realize the true extent of the problem until he spends a night at his friend's house.

Written & Directed by Nick Dragon, this story features two eco-priests attempting to free a woman possessed by a microplastic demon. The entity, saturating her body, fights back with a barrage of single-use plastics.

This intense struggle raises a critical question: can humanity ever truly escape the pervasive nightmare of plastic pollution?

Written and directed by Anaya Dominique Martin, this story introduces Erica, a young woman on a routine grocery trip.

However, a seemingly mundane act of using plastic bags for her groceries takes a sinister turn, leading to an unexpected, dark outcome.

SINGLE-USE PLANET (2025 Trailer)

Plastic is vital to modern life, yet single-use forms increasingly pollute our oceans despite recycling efforts. This film investigates the source, tracing millions of tons of raw plastic production upstream to Pennsylvania, amidst the ruins of America's bygone steel industry.

Produced by Steve Cowan.

Beyond Plastics hosted a discussion with investigative journalist Sharon Lerner and former 3M scientist Kris Hansen. Hansen discovered PFOS/PFAS "forever chemicals" in public blood. Lerner's expose, published in ProPublica and The New Yorker, detailed Hansen's research and revealed 3M had suppressed evidence of the chemicals' widespread presence decades earlier.

The discussion addressed critical questions: What is PFOS? How did it contaminate nearly everyone, including newborns? What are its health and environmental impacts, its link to plastics, and what protective measures can be taken?

Beyond Plastics has released 27 priority policy recommendations for the next U.S. president to address plastic pollution. These recommendations aim to significantly reduce plastic production, mitigating its negative impacts on environmental justice communities, human health, climate change, and wildlife.

Learn more about these vital recommendations at a special Zoom event on Tuesday, October 1, at 7:00 PM ET. Join an expert panel, including Judith Enck, Jess Conard, Jo Banner, Kevin Budris, and Dr. Sherri Mason, for a lively discussion and Q&A.

The Presidential Policy Priorities document is available here.

Manufacturers often make unsubstantiated claims about bioplastics' environmental benefits, such as faster breakdown or reduced climate impact. Without federal standards, companies freely label products "biodegradable" or "compostable," leading to widespread misleading marketing.

To help consumers and businesses navigate these claims, Beyond Plastics released "Demystifying Biodegradable and Compostable Plastics" on July 11, 2024. This report evaluates bioplastics materials, voluntary standards, safety research, and waste management, providing a checklist for informed decision-making.

Microplastics have been found in human brains and heart arteries, linked to adverse health outcomes. How do these tiny plastics enter our bodies, and what are their effects once lodged?

Join Beyond Plastics, Physicians for Social Responsibility - NYS, and Environmental Advocates of New York for a free webinar addressing these critical questions. Dr. Sanjay Rajagopalan and Marcus Garcia, PharmD, RPh, co-authors of recent groundbreaking studies on microplastics in the heart and brain, will present their findings.

Join Beyond Plastics for an inspiring look at innovative alternatives to single-use plastic packaging, focusing on reuse and refill business models. This event features leaders from companies pioneering sustainable solutions.

Speakers include Sarah Paiji Yoo, CEO and Co-Founder of Blueland, offering non-toxic cleaning products in reusable packaging. Lindsey McCoy, CEO and Co-Founder of Plaine Products, will discuss salon-quality personal care in returnable aluminum bottles. Rob Kutner, CRO of USEFULL, will highlight their reuse program for college takeout meals using stainless steel containers.

Ellen MacArthur and Christiana Figueres met with BBC's Sumi Somaskanda at NYC Climate Week to discuss the Global Plastics Treaty. They highlighted this critical opportunity to address plastic pollution through a globally coordinated, legally-binding agreement.

Existing solutions and efforts by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation demonstrate the power of collective action. Final UN Global Plastics Treaty negotiations in Busan, Korea, this November offer a chance to establish ambitious, global rules for the entire plastics life cycle, transforming the system and preventing waste. The Foundation promotes a circular economy to eliminate waste and regenerate nature.

Learn more about their work at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation website and YouTube channel, or follow them on social media.

Recycling alone cannot solve our plastics crisis. The fundamental issue is the excessive production of plastics.

Oceana urges companies to prioritize plastic-free alternatives. Join us in advocating for a significant reduction in plastic output: https://bit.ly/2WVh4O7