You Are Not Alone
- Viroqua Plastic Free
- Apr 25
- 3 min read
Do you ever feel that you are the only one in your circle of friends who takes the plastic pollution problem seriously? Maybe you sometimes feel over whelmed by the immensity of the problem and how small your individual effort seems.
The good news is that you are not alone. In addition to your local friends at Viroqua Plastic Free, let us introduce you to just two of the many national and international organizations fighting to reverse this man-made disaster.
Beyond Plastics
Beyond Plastics’ mission is a simple one – “to end plastic pollution everywhere.” Beyond Plastics president and founder, Judith Enck, is a prominent environmental policy expert and former EPA Regional Administrator appointed by President Obama.
Beyond Plastics recognizes that in order to reverse the tide of plastic production and the accompanying toxicity and pollution, they must seek to “educate the media, policymakers, and the public on the plastic pollution crisis; encourage businesses to eliminate single-use plastics; train students to become leaders in the anti-plastics movement; and help block new plastic manufacturing and plastic burning facilities.”
The organization puts action to their words by sharing information about plastic and its impact on our bodies and the environment, how to start or continue a plastic free journey, ways to organize a neighborhood group to help spread the word, and methods to effectively voice concern at the political level. In other words, everything people need to know about plastic and how to turn their concern into action.
Check out their website for petitions to sign, letters to send, fact sheets on everything from plastic toys to microplastics in our bodies, classes to take, and webinars to watch.
Break Free from Plastic
Break Free from Plastic is a global alliance of over 13,000 organizations and individuals working to ensure a future free from plastic pollution. This organization holds a special place in the hearts of VPF members because US and Canada Communications Manager Brett Nadrich lived in Viroqua for a couple years and was an active member of Viroqua Plastic Free. He served as one of the panelists on the 2022 Viroqua Plastic Free public forums on “The Myth of Plastic Recycling” and “How Plastic Makes Us Sick.”
Break Free from Plastic is well known for its global brand audits which target corporate accountability. During a five-year period, volunteers around the world collected and documented which brands were responsible for the plastic waste found in their area. The top offenders have consistently been the Coca-Cola Company, Nestlé, Unilever, PepsiCo, Mondelēz International, Mars, Inc., Procter & Gamble, Danone, Altria, and British American Tobacco.
More recently thirty-six member organizations audited the plastic-free business practices in grocery stores across twenty-seven countries. Break Free from Plastic published a report on the findings encouraging this business sector to lead the way with packaging free choices and reuse options, and to eliminate single use plastic voluntarily rather than waiting for legislation to mandate these changes.
As part of its focus on creating sustainable policy, Break Free from Plastic has also been active in the Global Plastic Treaty events. Since 2022, countries across the globe have been meeting to design a treaty to effectively address plastic pollution throughout its lifecycle. At the February 2026 meeting, a new chair was appointed. Plans for continued negotiations have not yet been announced.
Check out the Break Free from Plastic website for more information on their current campaigns, the latest plastic news, and reports published by associate members around the globe.
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So, the next time you catch yourself feeling discouraged by the plastic you encounter in your daily life, remember that you are not alone. There are millions of others in your town, state, country and the world that are walking hand in hand with you in the shared determination to create a sustainable future.
From making changes in our personal lives, to joining the movement with our neighbors, to putting pressure on corporations to change their manufacturing processes, to voting for leaders that will support legislation to protect the public and the planet, together we can change the world.
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