Center for Earth Ethics Joins Global “Break Free From Plastic” Movement
The Center for Earth Ethics is proud to announce its membership in Break Free From Plastic (BFFP), a global movement dedicated to creating a future free from plastic pollution. With more than 1,900 member organizations in more than 160 countries, BFFP operates on the shared values of environmental protection and social justice. CEE is honored to collaborate with BFFP members to address plastic pollution across the entire plastics value chain—from extraction to disposal.
BFFP envisions a world where plastic pollution is eliminated through a holistic approach. Member organizations and individuals work to bring about systemic change by emphasizing prevention over damage control. BFFP seeks to effectuate this necessary shift by fighting petrochemical companies, advocating for corporate accountability, promoting systematic solutions and building zero-waste communities.
CEE is honored to collaborate with BFFP members to address plastic pollution across the entire plastics value chain—from extraction to disposal.
CEE has long been deeply concerned by the profound environmental, ethical and social justice implications of plastics. The detrimental impacts extend through various dimensions—pollution, environmental injustice, human health and climate change—and span across plastics’ entire lifecycle.
- Production Implications: The production of plastics, predominantly derived from petroleum and natural gas, links directly to environmental degradation. As we utilize fossil fuels to manufacture these materials, we deepen our dependence on non-renewable resources and perpetuate a system that desperately needs to be phased out.
- Chemical Hazards: The composition of plastics involves a myriad of chemicals, some of which pose severe risks when containment is compromised. The catastrophic spill in East Palestine, Ohio in February 2023, with its perilous impacts on human health and environmental wellbeing, serves as a stark reminder of the devastation caused by these hazardous substances.
- Supply Chain Complexities: Beyond the single-use plastic dilemma, the entire supply chain contributes to environmental pollution, adversely impacting communities and ecosystems alike. The environmental injustice dimensions here are profound, with vulnerable communities and countries disproportionately affected by chemical pollution from plastic production, or from the vast amount of plastic waste rich countries ship to poor countries.
- Nano- and Microplastic Intrusion: In recent years, advocates have begun raising the alarm with greater and greater urgency at the risks of microplastics and nanoplastics. These miniscule yet pervasive particles infiltrate diverse environments—glaciers, the air we breathe, and human and animal bodies. A recent study asserts a horrifying statistic that humans inhale the equivalent of one credit card of microplastics every week. The ubiquity of these particles underscores the urgent need to address a challenge that transcends borders and threatens the very fabric of our ecosystems.
The detrimental impacts extend through various dimensions—pollution, environmental injustice, human health and climate change—and span across plastics’ entire lifecycle.
CEE’s membership in BFFP coincides with pivotal UN negotiations on plastics: the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution will meet for the INC-4 negotiations in April 2024 in Ottawa, Canada. In March 2022, UNEA (United Nations Environment Assembly) passed a historic resolution laying the groundwork for a legally binding international instrument to address plastic pollution. As we approach INC-4, the fourth meeting of the assembly tasked with devising this international instrument, some member states are already working to narrow the potential impact of a global plastics treaty by focusing on downstream measures like disposal. In this context, it is crucial that advocates focus on limiting the problem at all stages of production, making BFFP’s emphasis on prevention all the more important.
CEE’s decision to join the BFFP signals our commitment to participate actively in global efforts to create meaningful and lasting solutions to this tremendous and far-reaching global crisis. Recognizing plastics’ multifaceted challenges compels us to adopt a holistic approach that addresses the ethical and social justice concerns at every stage of plastics’ lifecycle. We are excited to collaborate with other BFFP members to strive toward a world where plastics no longer threaten our environment, health and communities.
For more information, please visit the Break Free From Plastic website.
