Each day, more than 500 million plastic straws are used and discarded in the U.S. alone. Plastic straws often end up on beaches and in waterways, where they are one of the top 5 items found, according to Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup data.
Plastic Pollution Coalition and The Last Plastic Straw have joined a new collaborative called Strawless Ocean that aims to raise awareness about plastic straws and ocean plastic pollution in a social media challenge. Watch PPC notable members Amy Smart and Van Jones challenge the public to #StopSucking plastic in Lonely Whale Foundation‘s newest PSA.
“Most people don’t think about the plastic straw, and are shocked to learn that plastic straws are not recycled,” explains Jackie Nuñez, founder of The Last Plastic Straw, who has raised awareness about plastic straws for 6 years. “They are used for minutes at best and tossed ‘away’ in our environment, where they will outlive us all and generations to come.”
The new campaign urges followers to take a video, selfie, or post a photo with a caption sharing a pledge to #StopSucking on plastic straws.
“We’re excited to be a part of the momentum building globally on refusing plastic straws,” continues Nuñez. “Together with Lonely Whale Foundation and many other plastic pollution campaigns, we are helping raise awareness to save the planet from plastic pollution one sip at a time!”
