No plastic in nature

Plastic waste is choking our planet – polluting the air, water, and soil both people and wildlife need to survive. Plastic flows into our natural environment at an unprecedented rate – every minute a dump truck's worth of plastic waste enters into our oceans alone.

We need to transition to a circular economy that allows us all to reuse, recycle and reduce our plastic footprint. In a circular economy, materials would be effectively recycled and reused to create new products, reducing the impact of waste on the environment. Five years ago, WWF set an ambitious goal to see no new plastic in nature by 2030. And thanks to the efforts of millions of people like you across the world, we’re on track to meet that goal. At home, WWF is advocating for strong policies to tackle the problem of plastic pollution from both federal and state governments such as Extended Producer Responsibility.

Timeline in Action

A Global Commitment

In March 2022, the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) agreed to establish a legally binding international agreement to end plastic pollution. A treaty like this will hold countries accountable for building better systems for recycling and waste management. It will also mandate them to meet specific targets that reduce reliance on virgin plastic, or plastic that is produced from brand new resources.

Over the next 2 years, WWF will advocate for the final treaty to include the necessary elements for the resolution to be a success. To get there, we need all parts of society—from NGOs, to businesses, to individuals—to keep speaking up. Garnering support from the private sector is particularly important, as businesses are now facing an unprecedented opportunity to leverage their critical influence and maximize their impact.

As the United Nations Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee (INC) begins to shape the treaty’s final form, WWF is calling on world leaders for a strong and efficient agreement.

A Broken System

The current systems for handling waste and recycling in the US cant properly handle sheer volume of new material that is produced all the time. Our waste management system and recycling infrastructure are simply not adequately equipped for that. When we throw out plastic instead of recapturing and recycling it, we miss an important opportunity to recapture the value of the resources already used to produce our plastics. WWF is advocating for a holistic solution that curbs plastic pollution and its many associated consequences.

Recent public opinion polling commissioned by WWF shows the public is not satisfied with a confusing and overwhelming recycling system.

See the full Public Opinion Polling of Plastic Waste and Management.

Extended Producer Responsibility can make recycling work by holding companies responsible for the waste they create and drive a future that keeps plastic out of nature as we transition to a circular economy. Ask your elected officials to support Extended Producer Responsibility.

Tackle the Problem at Home

Individually, we can't solve the plastic pollution problem, but we can all contribute in ways to help build a world without plastic pollution in nature. We need strong policies to keep producers of plastic accountable, and at the same time, there are daily steps we can take within our own lives to help.