Save OUR Oceans- Reduce

The world faces a pollution crisis driven in large part by the use and disposal of single-use plastic products. I urge the General Services Administration to prohibit the purchase of disposable plastic products by federal agencies.

Plastic production fuels the climate crisis and damages communities with toxic air and water pollution. Once discarded, plastic clogs our rivers and oceans, harms wildlife, infiltrates our drinking water, and persists in the environment for centuries. Plastic is also a direct threat to human health: As we consume more and more of our food and drinks from single-use plastic wrappers and containers, we're exposed to more chemicals linked to many of the known public health crises of our time, including obesity, ADD/ADHD and many forms of cancer.

The federal government is the largest consumer in the world. Its spending strategy can act as a powerful market leader, driving change across entire industries.

The General Services Administration should leverage that purchasing power and catalyze a more sustainable marketplace. If it prohibits the purchase of disposable plastic products by federal agencies, that will significantly reduce the production of plastic and its disposal in landfills and incinerators and spur demand for better alternatives.

The time to act is now. I’m counting on you to reduce pollution and stem the tide of single-use plastic entering our waste stream and contaminating our oceans, wildlife and bodies.