On December 1, 2021, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM)’s Committee on U.S. Contributions to Global Ocean Plastic Waste released a new report, “Reckoning with the U.S. Role in Global Ocean Plastic Waste.” In response, Nicholas Mallos, Senior Director of Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas® program, issued the following statement:

“As an early champion of the Save Our Seas Act 2.0 legislation that authorized this research, we are thrilled to have this report in hand. We’ve long known that the United States is the world’s leading generator of plastic waste and a significant global contributor to coastal plastic pollution. Today’s report delivers a clear, unmistakable message from our own government institutions that the United States needs to be part of the solution to the plastic  pollution crisis, and that source reduction is a critical strategy. We simply cannot stop plastic pollution without reducing plastic production. We hope that legislators see this Congressionally-commissioned report as a green light to pursue plastics reduction policies as part of a national plan, and Ocean Conservancy stands ready and eager to help.”

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About Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas® Program

Ocean Conservancy has led the fight for a clean, healthy ocean free of trash since 1986, when the U.S.-based nonprofit launched its annual International Coastal Cleanup (ICC). Since then, Ocean Conservancy has mobilized millions of ICC volunteers to remove trash from beaches and waterways around the world while pioneering upstream solutions to the growing ocean plastics crisis. Ocean Conservancy invests in cutting-edge scientific research, implements on-the-ground projects, and works with conservationists, scientists, governments, the private sector and members of the public to change the plastics paradigm. To learn more about our Trash Free Seas® program visit oceanconservancy.org/trashfreeseas, and follow Ocean Conservancy on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.