Scientists’ Declaration on the Need for Governance of Plastics Throughout their Lifecycles
In response to the most recent United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) global assessment on plastic pollution, we, the undersigned scientific experts, underscore that current practices of production, design, use and disposal of plastics have severe negative consequences for ecosystem health, biodiversity, human health including fertility and cancers, climate, sustainable livelihoods, cultural diversity and therefore human rights worldwide.
Approaches currently proposed for addressing plastics challenges which focus primarily on waste management and actions lower down the zero-waste hierarchy and are limited to pollution by marine litter do not adequately reflect the findings of UNEP’s Scientific Advisory Committee for Marine Litter and Microplastics, which concluded that a full life cycle approach is needed which principally focuses on prevention, reduction and redesigning problematic plastics out of the global economy.
The pollution caused by plastics throughout their life cycles is transboundary and transgenerational. Thus, the impacts of plastics are akin to climate change, biodiversity loss, ozone layer depletion and the effects of persistent organic pollutants, all of which already have associated multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) in place today. We call on governments to support the establishment of a new global treaty based on independently peer-reviewed scientific consensus and local and Traditional Knowledge, Innovations and Practices (TKIP) of Indigenous peoples and local communities to meet the global scale of the plastics crisis at hand.
Virgin plastic production has risen from two million tonnes per year in 1950 to 367 million tonnes in 2020. This is projected to exceed one billion tonnes per year by 2050, and this production is a driver of climate change. Plastic leakage into the biosphere, as litter and as waste in managed systems, has also grown sharply in recent years and is projected to nearly triple from 2016 – 2040. Approximately seven billion of the estimated 9.2 billion tonnes of the plastics produced between 1950 and 2017 is now waste, three-quarters of which is either deposited in landfills or accumulating in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
Irreversible, compounding and planetary-scale exposure of our environment, ecosystems and organisms, including humans, to plastics and associated toxic monomers, oligomers, additives, catalysts, polymerisation aids and non-intentionally added substances is occurring. While knowledge gaps remain, there is clear and unequivocal evidence that the pollution caused by plastics throughout their lifecycles is negatively impacting all levels of biological organisation, from the genetic and epigenetic, cellular and subcellular, through to organismal, population and ecosystem levels, contributing to biodiversity loss and adding to climate change. There is also evidence that the safe operating space for the ‘chemical pollution and novel entities’ planetary boundary (including plastic pollution) is already exceeded.
Furthermore, the economic costs of plastic pollution in the marine environment alone are significant. In 2018, it is estimated plastic pollution cost $6-19 billion globally from impacts on tourism, fisheries and aquaculture. This is expected to grow in line with projected production, trade and use trends. This number grossly underestimates the true costs since it does not account for lost future income through habitat degradation and ecological impacts contributing to biodiversity loss, nor does it include the substantial direct and indirect costs related to human health, cultural and societal wellbeing and further economic, social and environmental impacts that are difficult to quantify.
As experts who have read and contributed to the multidisciplinary literature on plastic pollution, based on empirical and applied research, we conclude that the rapid rise in plastic production has entirely omitted consideration of the precautionary principle, lacked recognition for the multiple negative externalities and lacked consideration for end-of-life at the design stage of plastic products.
We recognise the efforts taken by governments and organisations around the world to combat the plastics crisis but emphasise that no one country can tackle this deeply systemic challenge alone and that existing commitments will only facilitate a seven per cent reduction of plastic waste emissions to the environment. A largely unregulated plastics industry and the national and international policy frameworks that support and subsidise polluting industries present a grave threat to human and ecosystem health, human rights and climate stability. We also recognise that plastic recycling alone is not a solution to a problem of this magnitude since only a small portion and very few types of monomaterial plastics are currently recyclable, manufacturing with recycled materials requires the use of virgin plastics, the issue of toxic residues in recycled plastics is not being addressed, recycling carries its own environmental burden and recycling campaigns have often been used to increase rather than decrease plastic product consumption.
We identify restricting plastic production, designing product and delivery systems which support reuse and repair infrastructure, as well as alternative and in some cases traditional materials and new business models that avoid plastics as the most promising route towards plastic pollution prevention. We emphasise that existing relevant multilateral environmental agreements are fragmented and insufficient. As with the climate and biodiversity emergencies, connecting the actions of governments, businesses and citizens into effective global cooperation grounded in scientific consensus is critically important.
There is overwhelming evidence for immediate and decisive action at the global level to cap and phase down plastic production, standardise and reduce the diversity of plastics, plastic products and delivery systems, harmonise monitoring and reporting as well as ensuring compliance and enforcement to prevent and mitigate further harm.
Therefore, we hereby declare that a new legally binding global treaty is the appropriate response towards decisively tackling one of the most pressing human health, human rights, climate and man-made environmental crises of our time.
Such a treaty should strive to prevent and reduce the harm caused by current practices of plastic production, design, use and disposal, including pollution in the environment by promoting a non-toxic circular economy and addressing the full lifecycle of plastics. The ‘full lifecycle’ should include fossil fuel extraction for feedstock; monomer, polymer and additive production; product design and manufacture; transportation; consumption; waste collection; management; disposal and retrieval of legacy plastics.
We recommend the agreement include the following essential elements to ensure its effectiveness and utility:
- Establish a credible, salient and agile scientific body to provide scientific, socio-economic and policy evidence and guidance in a democratic and open access manner to ensure the human right to science and freedom of information. Such a body should also ensure local and traditional knowledge, innovations and practices are shared with informed consent.
- Specify objectives and establish measurable and time bound targets, universal definitions and indicators and harmonised data collection and analysis protocols inter alia.
- Establish a standardised global framework for monitoring and reporting on plastic production, plastic product manufacture, trade, consumption, waste management and retrieval, alongside monitoring of plastic pollution including microplastics and plasticsrelated toxic pollutants in all environments (land, sea, freshwater, groundwater and air) and in biota with support from sustainable global funding mechanisms.
- By 2030, substantially reduce virgin plastic production and plastic waste generation primarily through prevention and reduction and secondarily through reuse and non-toxic recycling in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG-12).
- Address product design and use through rigorous safety and sustainability criteria for chemicals and products, including the prohibition or regulation of the use of additives, monomers, catalysts, polymerisation aids, intentionally added nano-and microplastics while enhancing repairability, durability for reuse, bio and eco-safety and allows for recycling only when it is safe and effective.
- Require regular reporting on national, regional and international progress on implementation of the agreement.
- Specify financial and technical arrangements, including technology transfer to support implementation of the agreement, while considering and responding to developing country needs.
- Promote research and development into innovative reuse, refill, traditional and plastic-free solutions while ensuring a sufficient evidence-base to avoid regrettable substitutions and make choices grounded in scientific evidence.
- Promote cooperation and coordination with relevant regional and international instruments and existing technical and scientific bodies to ensure synergies and avoid duplication.
Join the Call
If you are an expert individual or an institution who have read and contributed to the multidisciplinary literature on plastic pollution and you would like to join us in this call to action, please complete this form:
How will this declaration be used?
The scientists’ declaration is an initiative of the Environmental Investigation Agency, the Centre for International Environmental Law, and 15 multidisciplinary scientific experts from around the world.
It is intended to represent the consensus of the scientific community on this topic, both in terms of the severe risks presented by business-as-usual and the required global policy solutions. It will be used in advocacy efforts in the lead-up to and during the 5th UN Environment Assembly to influence the outcome of the upcoming treaty on plastics.
It will also be used throughout the treaty negotiations to provide a clear benchmark to decision-makers on what the treaty needs to do, and unite the scientific community around commonly agreed asks throughout this process.
Drafting Committee
Dr. Terry Collins, Carnegie Mellon University
Dr. Jane Muncke, Food Packaging Forum
Dr. Neil Tangri, GAIA
Associate Prof. Trisia Farrelly, Massey University
Dr. Sascha Fuller, University of Newcastle/SPREP
Dr. Steph Borrelle, BirdLife International
Dr. Shahriar Hosseni, ESDO
Malelili Rokomatu, Fiji Water
Professor Jorge Emmanuel, Silliman University
Dr. Leslie Adogame, SRADeV Nigeria / GAIA
Felipe Torres, University of Sao Paulo
Dr. Thomas Aneni, Sustainable Environment Development Initiative (SEDI)
Patricia Villarubia-Gomez, Stockholm University
Dr. Tosca Ballerini, THALASAA Marine Research
Professor Richard Thompson, OBE, Plymouth University
Signatories
INDIVIDUALS
Abigail Barrows, College of the Atlantic
Adegbile Oyeronke M, Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research Victoria island Lagos
Adriana Isabelle Barbosa Lima, PhD, Sá Leitão, University of Pisa – Italy
Ajishnu Roy PhD, Guangzhou University
Alan Drljacic, BSc Sustainability
Alejandro Apolo Fernández Ajó, ICB / MMI-OSU
Alexandra Ghenea, EEB
Alexandre, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
Aline Grard, University of Liege
Alastair Iles, University of California, Berkeley
Aleksandra Kulic Mandic, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Serbia
Alice Leney, Company Director of Pacific Reef Savers Ltd
Alfonso Navarro Carvallo, Elite SDGs Business Consulting
Alisi Tokalau Dimaicakau Rabukawaqa, International Union for Conservation of Nature
Amanda Millin, Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego
Amila Abeynayaka, PhD, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
Amina Salamova, Emory University
Ana Bozovic, Institut of Nuclear Sciences “Vinča”, Serbia
Ana M. Soto, M.D Tufts University School of medicine
Ana Markic, Asia Pacific Waste Consultants
Anderson Ferreira, Oceanographic Institute of the University of São Paulo
Andreia Neves Fernandes, UFRGS
Andrea Bonisoli Alquati, Cal Poly Pomona
Andrea Cocchini, Ph.D, Universidad de Navarra
Andrés Barbosa, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC
Andrew Paris, University of the South Pacific
Andy Booth, SINTEF Ocean
Ángel José Martínez Salinas, PhD, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México FCA
Angela Takayanagui, School of nursing at Ribeirão Preto at São Paulo University
Ann Blake, PhD, Environmental & Public Health Consulting
Anna Sanchez-Vidal, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
Anna Winkler, University of Milan
Anna-Maria Andersson, Dept. of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet and Center on endocrine disrupting chemicals
Anna Sanchez-Vidal, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
Anne K. S. Justino, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco
Annett Finger, PhD, Victoria University Australia
Annika Jahnke, RWTH
April J Burt, Oxford University/Seychelles Islands Foundation
Arlini Dyah Radityaningrum, Environmental Engineering Departement, Institut Teknologi Adhi Tama Surabaya
Armando M. Guidote Jr., Ph.D, Ateneo de Manila University
Ashley E., King Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Aygün Karlı, Atılım Univesity
Babayemi Joshua Olajiire, Anchor University Lagos
Ben Wooliscroft, Auckland University of Technology
Beth Polidoro, PhD, Arizona State University
Bethanie Carney Almroth, PhD, University of Gothenburg
Bethany Jorgensen, MA, Cornell University
Bethany Clark, BirdLife International
Betty Cernol McCann, PhD, Association of Christian Schools, Colleges and Universities, Philippines
Bharath Ganesh Babu, Valparaiso University
Blandine DAVAIL, PhD, University of Bordeaux
Bonnie Hamilton, University of Toronto
Brenda Eskenazi ,Ph.D, University of California, Berkeley
Brendan Godley University of Exeter
Britta Denise Hardesty, Ph.D, CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere
Bruno Walther Alfred Wegener Institute
BSc. Gabriel E. De-la-Torre Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola
BSc. Vitoria Milanez Scrich University of Sao Paulo
Camila Kneubl Andreussi Federal University of Santa Catarina – Brazil
Captain Charles Moore, Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research
Carlos Alberto Mendes Moraes, University Unisinos Brazil
Cassandra Nelson, Ph.D, Rutgers University
Charlotte Lefebvre, University of Bordeaux
Chelsea Rochman, University of Toronto
Chiara Altobelli National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics
Chona Y. Fontelo-Javier, PhD Silliman University College of Agriculture
Christine Majeni, Wiblue
Christian Ebere Enyoh, Saitama University, Japan
Christina ZERI ,PhD, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research
Christine Figgenee, PhD, Footprint Foundation
Christine Liang, Southern Institute of Technology Christophe Maes
Christoph Rummel Helmholtz, Centre for Environmental Research
Coskun Eruz
Cristiano Carvalho Coutinho, UFRJ
Cynthia de Wit, PhD, Stockholm University
Cyndhia Ramatchandirane, Earthjustice
Dannielle Green, Anglia Ruskin University
David O. Carpenter, MD, University at Albany
Daniel Wilson, University of Exeter
Daniela Duran Gonzalez, TNC
Daniela Tacconi, Arco Lab University of Florence
Dave Albao, Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation
Dave Arthur Robledo De La Salle, University
David N Collier MD, Ph.D, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University
Dee Kochirka, RN MA, Izaak Walton League
Décio Semensatto, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Brazil)
Delilah Lithner, PhD, Water Authority of the Kattegat and Skagerrak Water District
Deonie Allen University of Strathclyde
Dipani Sutaria, James Cook University
Dick Vethaak, VU University Amsterdam
Doris Knoblauch , Ecologic Institute, Berlin
Dorota Napierska, PhD, Zero Waste Europe
Dorte Herzke, NILU
Dr Abilio Soares-Gomes, Universidade Federal Fluminense
Dr Adam Porter, PhD, University of Exeter
Dr Alessandra Larissa D O Fonseca Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (Brasil)
Dr Alexander L. Bond, Natural History Museum, London
Dr Alicia Mateos Cárdenas , University College Cork
Dr Amy Lusher, Norwegian Institute for Water Research
Dr Angelo Gilles, REM Consult
Dr. Agathe Bour, University of Roskilde
Dr Ankit Yadav, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali
Dr Anna Lennquist, ChemSec
Dr Anthony SF Chiu, De La Salle University
Dr Britta Denise Hardesty, CSIRO
Dr Boniface Yeboah Antwi, CSIR-Institute of Industrial Research, Accra, Ghana.
Dr Camille Richon, Université de Bretagne Occidentale
Dr Carla Elliff, Oceanographic Institute, University of São Paulo
Dr Catherine Russell MGeol, University of Leicester & Louisiana State University
Dr Celia Regina de Gouveia Souza, Instituto de Pesquisas Ambientais-SIMA/SP
Dr Ceri Lewis, University of Exeter
Dr Christos Symeonides, Royal Childrens Hospital, Melbourne
Dr Christelle Not, The University of Hong Kong
Dr Claudia Halsband, Akvaplan-niva
Dr Cristiano Lima Hackmann, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
Dr Dave Arthur Robledo, Ehime University
Dr Dativa Joseph Shilla Senior Lecturer, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Dr Delphine Lobelle, Utrecht University
Dr Dragana Čavlović, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Forestry, Department for Landscape Architecture and Horticulture
Dr Elvis Carissimi Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM)
Dr Eduardo Moreno, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid
Dr Eng. Wassim Chaabane, Waste management / circular economy policy expert
Dr Felipe R T, University of Sao Paulo
Dr Flávio Freitas, Amazon Biotechlogical Center
Dr Florian Pohl, University of Plymouth
Dr Francisco Barros Universidade Federal da Bahia
Dr Gabriel Sigmund , University of Vienna
Dr Gerson Fernandino, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
Dr Helena Andrade, Labcorp
Dr Hideshige, Takada Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technolgoy
Dr Ingvild Harkes Wageningen University
Dr Innocent Chidi Nnorom Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria
Dr Ivana Jurin Society for the protection of Natural and Cultural heritage of the island of Silba-Croatia
Dr Juliane Glüge, ETH Zürich
Dr Josephine Vaughan Bsc(Arch) B(Arch), PhD, University of Newcastle, Australia
Dr Kathy Townsend University of the Sunshine Coast
Dr Kathryn A Willis, PhD, University of Washington
Dr Kristian Syberg, Roskilde University
Dr Lauren Biermann, Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Dr Leslie Adogame, Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADeV Nigeria)
Dr Maria Virginia Petry, Universidadde do Vale do Rio dos Sinos – UNISINOS
Dr Mary Gleason, The Nature Conservancy
Dr Mark Hartl, Heriot-Watt University
Dr Max Liboiron, PhD, RSC, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Dr Melanie Bergmann, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
Dr Michelle Blewitt, PhD, Australian Microplastic Assessment Project, Total Environment Centresment
Dr Miriam Weber HYDRA Marine Sciences GmbH Dr Rosanna Schöneich-Argent Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland (BUND) e.V. | Friends of the Earth Germany
Dr Neha Mehta, Queen’s University Belfast, UK
Dr Nesrin Algan, Ankara University
Dr Nikola Zdolšek, “Vinca” Institute of Nuclear Sciences – National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade
Dr Nova Mieszkowska BSc(Hons), MSc, PhD, University of Liverpool & Marine Biological Association of the UK
Dr P. Karthikeyan, Ph.D
Dr. Panate Manomaivibool Mae Fah Luang University
Dr Rachel L Coppock, Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Dr.Robert Newton, Columbia University
Dr Roland Weber, POPs Environmental Consulting
Dr Sabine Rech, ESMOI Center for Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands, Universidad UCN
Dr Sascha Fuller, The University of Newcastle, Australia
Dr Shamik Dasgupta, Institute of Deep Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Dr Sonia Maria Dias, WIEGO
Dr Stephanie Borrelle, Birdlife international
Dr Thierry Huck. Laboratoire d’Océanographie Physique et Spatiale (LOPS), Brest, France
Dr Thomas Maes , GRID-ARENDAL
Dr Toby Samuels, BSc PhD Heriot-Watt University
Dr Tommaso Giarrizzo, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
Dr Tridibesh Dey, Aarhus University
Dr Michel Ch, Liège University Aquarium-Natural History Muséum, Belgium
Dr P.Nammalwar Rajan, PhD, A.R.S(Agricultural Research Service) Indian Council of Agricultural Research(ICAR)
Dr. Robson Guimarães dos Santos, Universidade Federal de Alagoas
Dr. Sedat Gundogdu, Çukurova University
Dr. Susanne Brander, Pacific Northwest Consortium on Plastics, Oregon State University
Dr Valentina Tartiu, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA)
Dr Valerie Boll, South Australian Museum, Australia
Dr Vânia Baptista, Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR-UAlg)
Dr Viviana Colombo, Clinica Luganese
Dr Zahid Naeem Qaisrani Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences Quetta, Pakistan
Eddy Setiadi Soedjono, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS)
Edwin F. Romano, PhD, Negros Oriental State University
Efstathios Reppas Chrysovitsinos, PhD, Chalmers tekniska högskolan
Elci S. Santos, Ma PHS
Eleni Iacovidou, Brunel University London
Elisa Rojo Nieto, PhD, UFZ- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
Elise Phillips, BS, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Emily Cowan, SINTEF Ocean
Emilie P. Dassié, UMR
Emily Venuti, Usca
Enrique G. Oracion, PhD, Silliman University
Eppe, University Liège
Erin Murphy, Arizona State University
Florencia Trama, CDS
Fabian M. Dayrit, PhD, Ateneo de Manila University
Fabian Sá, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Brazil
Felipe Rodriguez Torres, PhD, USP
Farhan R. Khan, PhD, Norwegian Research Centre
Filipa Bessa, University of Coimbra MARE
Floramae Joyce Neri, Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences – Silliman University
Francesca Del Falco, PhD, University of Plymouth
Francisca Ribeiro, University of Exeter
Francesco Regoli, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
Francisco Gutib, BSME Silliman University
Fredeerick S. vom Saal, PhD, University of Missouri-Columbia
Fredric Bauer, PhD, Lund University
Frederick S vom Saal, PhD, University of Missouri-Columbia
Frederick S Vomsaal, PhD, Universitty of Missouri-Columbia
Freija Mendrik Energy and Environment Institute, University of Hull
Frosyl F. Miguel, Ramon Magsaysay High School-Manila
Gail Woon, B.Sc., I am the Founder of EARTHCARE and I am a marine biologist.
Geetha P. N., Artificiallagoon International Pvt. Ltd
Gerd Liebezeit, MarChemConsult
Georgie Savage, University of Exeter
Gilbert Kuepouo, CREPD
Gilberto Binda, Norwegian Institute for Water Research
Giorgia Carratta, HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management
Giovanni Vinti, PhD, University of Brescia (Italy)
Giuseppe Suaria, CNR-ISMAR, Lerici, Italy
Gregory Fuchs, Ecologic Institute, Berlin
Grima, CNRS
Guido Pietroluongo, Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science
Gustavo F. de Carvalho-Souza, Dr. UCA / UFBA / UCSal
Hanna Dijkstra, Institute for Environmental Studies – Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Hannah De Frond, MSc, University of Toronto Trash Team & Ocean Conservancy
Hannes Schritt, Ecologic Institute, Germany
Heather Patisaul Ph.D North Carolina State University
Hans Peter Arp, NGI / NTNU
Helene Wiesinger, ETH Zürich
Hoseung Jung, OSEAN
Ifenna Ilechukwu, Environmental Chemistry Department, Madonna University, Nigeria
Ifte Ahmed, University of Newcastle
Imari Walker, PhD, Duke University
Ina Tessnow-von Wysocki, University of Vienna
Ingeborg G Hallanger
Inger Lise Nerland Bråte, NIVA
Irene Rego Haddad, HCWH
Isabel Marín Beltrán, PhD, Centro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve
Jack Buckingham, BSc, MSc (PhD in progress), University of Hull, Energy and Environment Institute, Plastics in the Environment Research Cluster
Jack Stein Grove, PhD, Marine Science Advisor Galapagos Education & Research Alliance University of Pennsylvania
Jacqueline Santos Silva-Cavalcanti UFRPE
James M. Coe, MMA, NOAA (ret.)
Jan A. van Franeker, Wageningen Marine Research
Jane Muncke, Food Packaging Forum Foundation
Janet Estacion, PhD, Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences, Silliman University
Jason McDevitt, PhD, William & Mary
Jeanette Rotchell, BSc MSc PhD FRSB , University of Hull
Jennifer Lavers University of Tasmania
Jeremy L. Conkle, PhD, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi
Jerome Cachot, University of Bordeaux, laboratory EPOC
Jerrold J. Heindel, Ph.D Healthy Environment and Endocrine Disruptor Strategies
Jesse Harrison, PhD, CSC – IT Center for Science Ltd.
Joanna Vince PhD, University of Tasmania
Joel Tickner, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Johanne Tarpgaard, The Department of Anthropology, Aarhus Univeristy
John Peterson Myers, Ph.D, Environmental Health Sciences
Jongmyoung Lee, Oure Sea of East Asia Network
Jorge A. Emmanuel, PhD, Silliman University, Philippines
Jorge L. Nina Espinosa, American Public Health Association
Jorke Kamstra, Utrecht University
José, University of São Paulo
Josefa Carandang, Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation
Juan Pablo Torres-Florez, PhD, ICMBio/CMA
Judith S Weis, PhD, Rutgers University
Juliana Ivar do Sul Leibniz, Institute for Baltic Sea Research
Julie Peller Valparaiso university
Justin Boucher, Food Packaging Forum Foundation
Justin Ho Guo Shun , United Nations Association of the Philippines
Justine Ammendolia, MSc Dalhousie University, Faculty of Graduate Studies, Halifax, Canada
Khamphe Phoungthong, Faculty of Environmental Management, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand
Karl Palmquist, PhD candidate, Rockefeller University
Katharine A. Owens, PhD, University of Hartford
Kathleen Burns, PhD, Sciencecorps
Kathleen Burns, PhD, Sciencecorps
Ken Geiser, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Kevin Thomas PhD, DSc, University of Queensland, Australia
Kiki Dethmers, Plastic Soup Foundation
Kimberly A. Warner, PhD, Oceana
Krishna Das, University of Liège
Kristian Parton, MbyRes University of Exeter
Kristian Syberg, PhD, Roskilde University
Kristina Cvejanov plastic rrcycling, packaging waste management
Ksenia Groh, PhD, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology
La Daana Kanhai, PhD, The University of the West Indies (St. Augustine)
Laetitia Nunny MSc, Wild Animal Welfare
Lara M. Pinheiro, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande – Brazil
Laura Markley, Syracuse University
Laura Megan Hughes, University of Padua
Laurent Lebreton, The Ocean Cleanup
Le Plomb Eric, The SeaCleaners
Lena Gipperth , University of Gothenburg, Sweden
Liane Biehl Printes, UFSCar
Libby Harrison, PhD, Institute of Environmental Science and Research, New Zealand
Lidia Lima, Hospital de Clínicas of the Federal University of Paraná
Linda Mederake, MA, Ecologic Institute
Linda S. Birnbaum, PhD NIEHS/NTP and Duke University
Lisa Kaas Boyle, Esq. , Plastic Pollution Coalition
Lisa Zimmermann, PhD, Food Packaging Forum
Lisbet Sørensen, PhD, SINTEF Ocean
Louise Goodes, BSci, UWA, Minderoo Foundation
Lourdes J Cruz, PhD, University of the Philippines Diliman
Lucas Barbosa, Laboratório de manejo, ecologia e conservação marinha do Instituto Oceanográfico da Universidade de São Paulo
Luciano Valenzuela, CONICET-UNCPBA, Instituto de Conservación de Ballenas
Luis Fernando Amato-Lourenco Sao Paulo Medical School – University of Sao Paulo
Lynn Sorrentino, IUCN
M. Strokal Wageningen, University
Madeleine Scammell, DSc. Boston University School of Public Health
Maja Grünzner, University of Vienna, Department of Cognition, Emotion and Methods in Psychology
Malleykhedi Ajay Kumar, Annamalai University
Mandy Hinzmann, Ecologic Institute Berlin
Manu Soto, University of the Basque Country
Marcelo Soares, Institute of Marine Sciences (LABOMAR), Federal University of Ceará (Brazil)
Maren Ortiz-Zarragoitia Plentzia Marine Station, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)
Marga L Rivas, University of Almeria
Margy Gassel, PhD, California Environmental Protection Agency (retired)
Maria del Prado Domercq Nuñez, Stockholm University
Maria Eugenia Molina Jack, Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e Geofisica Sperimentale
Marianna Pinzone, University of Veterinary Medicine of Hanover, Foundation
Maricar Sison Prudente, PhD, De La Salle University
Marine Banse, University of Liège
Marjan Eggermont, PhD, Schulich School of Engineering
Mark C. Benfield, PhD, Louisiana State University
Mark Peter Simmonds, OBE, OceanCare
Mark S. Rossi, PhD, Clean Production Action
Markus Brinkmann, PhD, University of Saskatchewan
Martin Eriksson, Chalmers University of Technology
Martin Hassellöv University of Gothemburg,
Martin Scheringer ,Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic, and ETH Zürich, Switzerland
Martin Wagner, PhD, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Matt Barlow, The University of Adelaide
Matthew MacLeod, PhD, Stockholm University
Matthew J. Hoffman, PhD, Rochester Institute of Technology
Matthew Miller, University of Victoria
Matthew Peryman, Massey University
Matthias Egger, PhD, The Ocean Cleanup
Maya Weeks, PhD
Megan Lamson, M. Sc., Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund
Melita Aguilar, Office of Information & Publications, Silliman University
Michael Karapetian earthday.org
Michelle Hall, Environmetal Practoce
Milica Lukić, University of Belgrade – Faculty of Geography, Belgrade, Serbia
Miljana Tanic, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia
Milton Cesar Calzavara Marcondes, Humpback Whale Institute
Mine Tekman, Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research
Miquel Canals, University of Barcelona, Spain
Miquel Porta, IMIM UAB PRBB
Mónica Almeida, CESAM, University of Aveiro, Portugal
Monica Lind, Ph.D, Uppsala University
MSc. Hamilton Ortiz, Sucata Quântica
MSc Henrique de Medeiros Back, Federal University of Santa Catarina
Muhammad Reza Cordova, Ph.D National Research and Innovation Agency, Republic of Indonesia
Myra Hird, Queen’s University
Myra Hird, Queen’s University
Nadia Palomar-Abesamis Biology Department, Silliman University
Naiara Machado Casagrande, Nova School of Science and Technology
Nélida Catalina Pérez, Docente
Nicolas Kalogerakis, DiplChemEng, MEng, PhD, Technical University of Crete
Nicole Parsons, Citizen of Earth
Niko Urho, University of Massachusetts Boston
Nikola Zdolsek, “Vinca” Institute of Nuclear Sciences- National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade
Nina Orlow, ODS-SP
Nino Pierantonio, Tethys Research Institute
Odei, University of Barcelona
Olga Pantos, Ph.D, Institute of Environmental Science and Research
Onameditse BBA IN OHS, Save the planet
Osama Abu-Libda, MSc. Pi Academy
Oswaldo Lucon, PhD, University of Sao Paulo
Pamela Miller, M.En., Alaska Community Action on Toxics
Parameswar Pal, Graduate student
Patricia Hunt, PhD, Washington State University
Patricia Pedrus (Patti), National Government
Patricia Villarrubia Gómez, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University
Patrick Dauby, University of Liège
Paul Boisseaux, University of Exeter
Paula Bonjorno da Silva
Paula Mendez Fernandez La Rochelle University
Paula Sobral, PhD, NOVA School of Science and Technology
Paulita Bennett-Martin, Oceana, Emory University, and Georgia State University
Pedro Guedes Ribeiro, USP
Premakumara Jagath Dickella Gamaralalage Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES),
Peter Orris, MD, MPH, FACP, FACOEM, University of Illinois School of Public Health
Peter Siegel, I teach about plastic soup
Peter Stoett, Ontario Tech University, Canada
Pierre Girard ,Federal University of Mato Grosso
Pierre-Jean Clausse, King’s College London
Piotr Barczak, Polish Zero Waste Assiciaion
Pierre Girard, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Brazil
Prakash Mesta, Snehakunja Trust
Prof. Adrian Covaci, University of Antwerp
Prof. Deirdre McKay, BA MES PhD FRGS FRAI, Keele University
Prof Eric Parmentier, University of Liège
Prof. Frank Kelly, Imperial College London
Prof. Guillermo Luna-Jorquera, Universidad Católica del Norte
Prof. Jenna Jambeck, University of Georgia
Prof Karen, Stockin Massey University
Prof Karen, Stockin Massey University
Prof. Klaus Kümmerer Leuphana, Universität Lüneburg
Prof. Markus T. Lasut, Sam Ratulangi University
Prof. Manu Soto, University of the Basque Country Plentzia Marine Station
Prof. Michael Bentley, BSc PhD, Durham University, UK
Prof. Monica Ferreira da Costa, BSc, MPhil, PhD, Federal University of Pernambuco – UFPE
Prof. Peter Fantke, Technical University of Denmark
Prof. Richard Thompson, OBE FRS, University of Plymouth
Proff. Tanya King, Deakin University
Prof Victorine Pinas, Kuleuven
Prof. Walter Ruggeri Waldman, Federal University of São Carlos
R. Thomas Zoeller, PhD, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Rachel Doughty, Esq., Greenfire Law, PC
Radmila Novakovic, PhD, M.Sc University of Belgrade
Rakesh Vazirani, TUV Rheinland, Hong Kong
Raphaël Bajon Ifremer, LOPS
Raqueline Cristina Pereira Monteiro, R.C.P., Federal University of Pará
Raveena M. Tamoria, University of York
Rayane R S Abude, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
Rebecca Altman, PhD
Rene Abesamis, PhD, Suakcrem
Renee Sharp, Insight Power Partners
Rev. Zahra Indigo Rønlov, Human
Richard Hugh Thompson, MA, Independent expert
Rico Euripidou, groundWork
Robert Ulric Lee, UNFAO
Rob Deaville, Institute of Zoology
Robert S. Guino-o II, PhD, Faculty Researcher
Rodrigo Ribeiro, Roraa
Roger Judson, NPS
Romilly Cumming, Massey University
Roxana Schteinbarg, Instituto de Conservacion de Ballenas
Sabine Pahl, PhD, University of Vienna
Sabine Springer
Sam Harrison, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Samarys Seguinot-Medina, DrPH, MSEM, Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT)
Sandra Steingraber, PhD, Science and Environmental Health Network
Sang Hee, Hong Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology
Sarah Dunlop, Minderoo Foundation
Sarah Hameed, PhD, Marine Conservation Institute
Saroja Kumar Barik, Department of Environment Forest and Climate change Bihar
Sarva Mangala Praveena, Universiti Putra Malaysia
Scott Coffin, Ph.D, California State Water Resources Control Board
Scott M Belcher, Ph.D, North Carolina State University
Sebastian Kahlert, ETH Zurich
Sergio López, Martínez Scientific Collection Centre, University of Almería – CECOUAL
Shahriar Hossain , Environment and Social Development Organization-ESDO
Shanna Swan, PhD, ICahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Shantha Dalugamage , Stichting Mission Lanka
Silvia Galafassi, PhD, Water Research Center – National Research Council – Italy
Socorro E. Aguja, PhD, De La Salle Araneta University
Sonja Eisfeld-Pierantonio, Whale and Dolphin Conservation
Sophia Reichelt, Stockholm University
Stephanie Letessier, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Stephen Burrows, University of Exeter & The University of Queensland
Stephen Smith, PhD, Southern Cross University
Steve Allen, PhD, Dalhousie University
Susete Wambier Christo, Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grosa
Sy Taffel, Massey University
Tadele Assefa Aragaw, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University
Tamara Maricic, Institute of Architecture and Urban & Spatial Planning of Serbia
Tanveer Adyel, PhD, Deakin University
Tatiane Benvenuti, UESC – BA/ BRazil
Tatiane Martins Garcia, Institute of Marine Sciences – Federal University of Ceará, Brazil
Tayo Sindiku, University of Ibadan
Terrence James Collins, Carnegie Mellon University
Tess DeSerisy, Sea Turtle Inc
Tierney Thys PhD, California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic Explorer
Thais Mauad, Sao Paulo University
Thomas Mani, The Ocean Cleanup
Timnit Kefela, MSc, UC Santa Barbara
Tista Prasai Joshi, PhD, Nepal Academy of Science and Technology
Tom Gammage, Environmental Investigation Agency
Tomaso Fortibuoni, PhD, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale
Tommaso Giarrizzo, Ph.D, Institute of Marine Sciences (LABOMAR), Federal University of Ceará (UFC), Brazil
Tony R. Walker, MPhil, PhD, School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
Tosca Ballerini, Thalassa – marine research and science communication
Tracey Easthope, MPH Health Care Without Harm
Valerie Mitchell Hanley, Ph.D, California Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Toxic Substances Control
Vanessa Hatje , CienAm, universidade Federal da Bahia
Vanessa Rees
Vesna Aleksić, Institut ekinomskih nauka, Beograd
Vesna Teofilovic, University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technology, Department of materials engineering
Vickie L Boothe, 350 New Orleans
Victor Kwansa, KNUST
Victoria Fulfer, MS, University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography
Vinati Bhola, UNEP
Vital de Oliveira Ribeiro Filho
Viviane Coelho Buchianeri, USP
VM – MSc
Ursula Rojas-Nazar, NIWA
Wilma Milo Tejero, Ph.D, Silliman University, Philippines
Willis Mattison, Ph.D
Win Cowger, Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research
Winnie Courtene-Jones PhD, University of Plymouth
Won Joon Shim, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology
Yago Guida, PhD, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
Yousra Ghezali PhD candidate , ENSSMAL
INSTITUTIONS
A Plastic Planet
Alaska Community Action On Toxics
Alliance For Zero Waste Indonesia
Aotearoa Plastic Pollution Alliance
ASHIA International
Association For Promotion Sustainable Development
Asociación Nacional de Recicladores de Colombia
Ban SUP
Betterman Simidi Musasia
Bond Beter Leefmilieu
Centre For Citizens Conserving Environment & Management (CECIC)
Circular Economy Club Kuala Lumpur
Clean up Uganda
Community Action Against Plastic Waste (CAPWS)
Community Action Against Plastic Wastes Rwanda
Conservation Alliance Int; Ghana
Cross River State Ministry Of Environment
Earthcare
Ecology Center
EDER (Environnement, Developpement Et Energies Renouvelables)
Energy And Environment Institute, University Of Hull
Environmental Organisation for the Preservation of Aquatic Ecosystem
Federal University of Pará, Brazil.
Fisheries And Ocean Governance Unit
FL Keys Environmental Coalition
Friends of the Earth – SPZ (Slovakia)
Fronteras Comunes
Fundación Bioelit
Génération Maastricht
Geosciences Institute
Green Heritage Fund
Habitat World
Haereticus Environmental Laboratory
Instituto Limpa Brasil
Kiwi Bottle Drive
Korea Marine Litter Institute
Makesense Philippines
Marine and environmental sciences centre
Massey University Political Ecology Research Centre
Moore Institute For Plastic Pollution Research
Moore Se
Naturepedic Organic Mattresses & Bedding
Nexus3 Foundation
New Zealand Product Stewardship Council
OceanCare
Oeko Bioplasticos
Our Blue Hands
Pan-African Micro(Nano)
Para Kore Marae Incorporated
Pelican Kenterra P Ltd
Plastic Punch
Plastic Soup Foundation
Plastic Soup Surfer
Philippine Institute of Pure and Applied Chemistry (PIPAC)
Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation
Pi Academy
Polish Zero Waste Association
Projeto Hospital
Reachout Salone
Race for Water Foundation
Salonvironment
Save Our Shores
Science and Environmental Health Network
Seventh Generation
Silliman University
Sustainable Environment Development Initiative
Sucata Quântica
Sulubaai environmental foundation
The marine biological association
The Ocean Foundation
Toxisphera Associação de Saúde Ambiental
Uergs
UNISC International
Universitas Maritim Raja Ali Haji
University of Algarve
University of Tasmania
Verein Plastic Planet Austria
WasteAid UK
Youth Initiative For The Promotion Of Good Leadership In Nigeria
Zero Waste Academy
Zero Waste Alliance Ireland
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