Reducing plastic pollution

How we work

Built on our efforts to identify the sources and impacts of plastic pollution, our strategy scales from local action to global initiatives:

• Aquarium researchers and our partners at MBARI investigate the ocean, especially the deep sea, to identify plastic sources and study their impacts.
• We work on influential papers that translate complex data into actionable policy frameworks.
• We model solutions at home by eliminating single-use plastics from our cafe and retail store.
• Our Teen Conservation Leaders mobilize community allies to advocate for solutions to plastic pollution.
• We champion state legislation to ban harmful items like microbeads and single-use bags and help shape better laws that reduce production, redesign packaging, improve reuse systems, and strengthen producer responsibility.
• Our experts join international scientific committees to push the U.S. to become a leader in addressing the plastic pollution crisis and create a national plastic strategy that can create jobs, support healthier communities, and help protect our ocean.
• Our leadership advocates on the world stage for a landmark UN Global Plastics Treaty, supporting binding measures across the full life cycle of plastic.