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Towards a UN Plastics Treaty: Barriers and a Path Forward After INC 5.2
As the process for a UN Plastics Treaty continue, after a tumultuous INC 5.2, countries must now address the significant barriers to progress by minimizing conflicts of interest and enacting voting procedures on substantive matters.
4 policy solutions cities and states are using to tackle the microplastics problem
Some U.S. states and localities have established initiatives to address microplastic pollution that are starting to influence policymakers in Washington.
Weeks after launching new statewide recycling program, Oregon sued by wholesalers
The industry group National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors claim Oregon’s Recycling Modernization Act passed in 2021 and implemented in July 2025 is unconstitutional
EPA Rollback: A New Era of Deregulation
The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) reveals how the U.S. federal government’s efforts to move well outside of standard processes to grant powerful corporations exemptions from potentially life-saving emissions regulations, coupled with the large and fast-moving buildout of new petrochemical production facilities across the U.S. (and globally), is further threatening communities’ right to breathe…
Insights Paper: Effective National Planning to Coordinate Action on Plastic Pollution
The National Planning Working Group for Plastics Action recommends and identifies national plastics policy plans for greatest potential impact to reduce plastic pollution.
UN Plastics Treaty: What to Watch for at INC-5.2
Negotiations for a UN Plastics Treaty resume in Switzerland August of 2025. The draft text outlines key divergences in country positions. Decisions on these key articles will determine if the treaty can effectively address plastic pollution.
Bagged and Gagged: The Battle Over Plastic Ban Preemption
Earth Day summarizes plastic bag bans in the U.S. and the issue of pre-emption, or bans on bans, and how they affect plastic pollution.
5 Countries on 5 Continents Doing Plastic Policy Right
Earth Day highlights five nations on five continents that stand out for their innovative and proactive solutions to plastic pollution regulations.
United States of Plastics Report
Ocean Conservancy has released a first-of-its-kind report that grades states based on analysis of local laws designed to reduce plastic pollution. California received the highest score and Mississippi the worst.
Policy Success: Fees and Bans on Plastic Bags Reduce Beach Trash
Despite a piecemeal approach to regulations aimed at limiting plastic bag use existing in the United States, research shows that plastic bag regulations do help limit the number of plastic bags found polluting beaches.
