November 8, 2025 , 9:00 am – 5:00 pm PST
On November 8, 2025, TEDxGreatPacificGarbagePatch will be livestreamed from Santa Monica, CA, featuring sessions with global thought leaders addressing the question: How Do We Solve Plastic Pollution by 2040?
Topics include microplastics and human health, environmental justice, and climate change, with experts presenting the latest knowledge and research. We will dive into exploring the necessary and innovative solutions to the plastic pollution crisis—strong policies, culture change, and business solutions, including regenerative materials and product design, reuse solutions and circular systems, finance and investing, and corporate accountability.
Together, we will share the wealth of knowledge gained and galvanize collective action to tackle one of humanity’s toughest challenges.
Sign up for the livestream to take part in this exciting event from wherever you are in the world! We will be documenting the sessions, so if you cannot watch live, be sure to sign up to receive information about the archived talks post-event.
DATE:
Saturday, November 8, 2025
TIME:
9 am – 5 pm PST
SPEAKERS:
Melissa Aguayo – Interim Global Co-Coordinator, Break Free From Plastic
Jo Banner – Founder and Director, The Descendants Project
Abigail Barrows – Owner/Operator, Deer Isle Oyster Company
Hayden Begley – Actor
Arlene Blum – Founder and Executive Director, Green Science Policy Institute
Hon. Rob Bonta – Attorney General, State of California
Sea Briganti – Founder and CEO, LOLIWARE®
Ken Cook – President and Co-Founder, EWG
Fran Drescher – President SAG-AFTRA, Actor, Founder CancerSchmancer
Kristy Drutman – Founder, Green Jobs Board
Marcus Eriksen – PhD. Researcher and Co-Founder, 5 Gyres Institute
John Felts – Co-Founder and CEO, Cruz Foam
Esteban Gast – Comedian and Activist
Suzie Hicks – Climate Educator
Van Jones – Political Commentator and Changemaker
Pam Longobardi – Artist, Activist, Regents’ Professor, GSU/Atlanta
Sumona Majumdar – Chief Executive Officer, Earth Island Institute
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi – Founder and CEO, Ahimsa
Lauryn Menard – CEO and Founder, GOB
Dr. Jane Muncke – Managing Director and Chief Scientific Officer, Food Packaging Forum
Paula Poundstone – Comedian
Antonique Smith – Actor, Singer and CEO and Co-Founder, Climate Revival
Dr. Leonardo Trasande – Director, Center for the Investigation of Environmental Hazards, NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Vien Truong Shakman – Co-Founder and CEO, Eco Equity
Dagny Tucker, Circular Design Pioneer, Co-Founder, Perpetual
Heather White – CEO/Founder, OneGreenThing
Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr – President and CEO, Hip Hop Caucus
Phoebe Yu – Founder and CEO, Ettitude
The Living Sisters, musicians
The Pullum Center Jazz Band
SPONSORS:
