Blog | News, Stories & Action | The Story of Stuff Project
From creating art, to writing to your representatives, to hosting a nonfiction book club, to investigating corporate corruption, to rallying at a protest, there are all kinds of ways to get involved and make change! Everyone is unique in the ways that they make an impact. We each have our own interests, skills and personality… The post What Type of Changemaker are You? appeared first on Story of Stuff.
From creating art, to writing to your representatives, to hosting a nonfiction book club, to investigating corporate corruption, to rallying at a protest, there are all kinds of ways to get involved and make change! Everyone is unique in the ways that they make an impact. We each have our own interests, skills and personality traits. We need all kinds of Changemakers: Networkers, Builders, Communicators, Resisters, Nurturers and Investigators. Each and every type plays an important part in creating the change we want to see in the world. Whatever you have to offer, a better future needs it! So, what type of Changemaker are you? Take the quiz to discover what kind of Changemaker you are, tangible actions you can take and inspiring people who share your type. Then, explore all of the 6 Changemaker types. Take the Changemaker Personality Quiz Networker Networkers help ensure that everyone stays connected. Some of our favorite Networker traits include: An outgoing, open-natured person that’s constantly trying to strengthen and grow their communities. A love and skill for making introductions and making new friends and contacts. Helping to bring all types of people and Changemakers Personalities together over common ideas, goals and actions. Here are some tangible ways you might be making change: Organizing a screening of The Story of Plastic documentary that brings people and stakeholders together. Hosting a potluck and postcard-writing party, where you build community while writing to your elected officials. Meeting with local policymakers about issues you care about. And bringing a few friends with you! Hosting a clothing swap or book club (did you know there’s a Story of Stuff book?) Connecting teachers, schools, or youth groups you know with great resources like videos, educational coloring books, and more. Inviting your friends to identify their Changemaker Personality Type by taking the quiz too! Notable Networkers who have done awesome things to change the world: Von Hernandez, Goldman Environmental Prize winner and former Break Free From Plastic global coordinator Nelson Mandela, activist and former president of South Africa Amy Aquino, actress and influencer Ai-Jen Poo, award-winning organizer and writer Builder Builders are aren’t waiting for the solutions, they’re out there creating them. Here are just a few ways you might be doing that: Using engineering, design, or science to make Stuff that doesn’t trash people or the planet. Starting or getting involved in a community garden, time bank, or other resource-sharing group. Hosting a local fix-it-fair or repair cafe, where people can come together, share their fixing skills, and repair their Stuff Starting new businesses that foster healthy communities and a healthy planet. Helping create a plastic-free campus at a local school or at your college. Organize a hack-a-thon event in your community to identify solutions to local plastic or waste problems. Talking to businesses and helping build out solutions to wasteful disposables, like reusable to-go cups and take-out containers. Notable Builders who have done awesome things to change the world: Sarah Paiji Yoo, plastic-free entrepreneur Ron Finley, urban gardening rebel Emily Chueh, reuse entrepreneur Benton MacKaye, father of the Appalachian Trail Wangari Maathai, movement builder Danny Kennedy, solar entrepreneur Communicator Communicators tell the stories and share information that build our power, bringing us closer together and closer to a better future! Communicators have a knack for: Creativity and expression to share knowledge in compelling and accessible ways, whether through art, film, oratory, music, online or innumerable other ways. Reminding people about all the ways we’re connected. Spreading news, information and ideas to all the other Changemaker personalities. Here are some tangible ways you might be making change: Organizing a screening of The Story of Plastic documentary or sharing the animated short with your community. Creating art, designing graphics, writing, or sharing content about issues you care about. Calling, sending emails, or writing letters to your elected officials in support of legislation. Writing Letters to the Editor in your local newspaper about issues that are important to you. Notable Communicators who have done awesome things to change the world: Annie Leonard, founder of The Story of Stuff Project Lauren Bash, climate optimist, activist, storyteller, and influencer Sojourner Truth, abolitionist Dennis Brutus, poet David Suzuki, world leader in sustainable ecology Resister Resisters are on the front lines of changemaking! You’re helping write the next chapter of the fight. Here are some ways you might be doing that: Standing up to the bullies and bad guys. Practicing civil disobedience. Using your voice and platform to spotlight injustice and amplify issues you care about at protests, town halls, and more. Halting destructive projects with a wide range of tools like lawsuits, injunctions, or blockades. Signing petitions and sharing them with others. Helping other Changemakers find their own power. Supporting fenceline communities by getting involved, amplifying the work, taking action in campaigns, and fundraising. Notable Resisters who have done awesome things to change the world: Bernadette Demientieff, executive director of the Gwichʹin Steering Committee Greta Thunberg, climate activist Marsha P. Johnson, LGBTQ+ rights activist Sharon Lavigne, founder of RISE St. James Louisiana and environmental justice activist Diane Wilson, writer, educator, activist, and bog steward Dolores Huerta, social justice advocate Rhiannon Tomtishen & Madison Torva, youth leaders Nurturer Nurturers support the movement and make change possible by: Providing support, care, and just about every other kind of sustenance to Changemakers and change efforts. Having (and keeping!) a source of strength so large that it can be shared with others when they need it. Being ready, able, and willing to help. Here are some tangible ways you might be making change: Bringing snacks to your next volunteering event. Participating in a Buy Nothing Group and resource-sharing with neighbors. Hosting a potluck and postcard-writing party, where you build community while writing to your elected officials about issues or policies you care about. Hosting a clothing swap or book club (did you know there’s a Story of Stuff book?). Raising funds for groups doing important work. Creating and sharing an agenda with participants in organizing meetings. Facilitating groups of Changemakers so they can learn from each other, hear everyone’s ideas, and formulate plans for success. Notable Nurturers who have done awesome things to change the world: Eric Enos, co-founder of Ka‘ala Farm, Inc. Tiza Mafira, co-founder of Indonesia Plastic Bag Diet Richard and Rhoda Goldman, philanthropists Mona Hanna-Attisha, Flint water crisis whistle-blower Joanna Macy, deep ecology pioneer Casey Camp-Horinek, actress and environmental ambassador for the Ponca Tribe of what is now Oklahoma Investigator Investigators play the crucial role of exposing both the problems we face and the solutions! Some of our favorite Investigator traits include: Reading, inquiring, and learning constantly. Researching facts questions, issues and stories thoroughly until the entire picture is clear. Asking the hard questions and finding the sometimes-dark truths, even when it’s challenging and uncomfortable. Here are some tangible ways you might be making change: Attending a panel or watching a documentary. Organizing a trash cleanup and brand audit – where you pick up litter while recording valuable data. Researching corporations, plastics and fossil fuel companies, and/or front groups. Seeing where the money flows and how they lobby to influence politicians, or which policies they are supporting or opposing in your area. Then sharing your findings with journalists and policymakers. Writing Letters to the Editor in your local newspaper about issues that are important to you. Notable Nurturers who have done awesome things to change the world: Ian James, journalist who broke the Nestle/BlueTriton Story Judith Enck, founder of Beyond Plastics and former EPA regional administrator Anna Sacks, NYC waste and circularity expert, and environmental influencer Rachel Carson, scientist and author Rollie Williams, comedian, writer, and host of Climate Town videos Wilma Subra, chemist and environmentalist Watch: The Story of Change The post What Type of Changemaker are You? appeared first on Story of Stuff.
2025 Impact from Our Grassroots Grants Program
Grassroots Power, Real Change January 2026 Since 2017, The Story of Stuff Project’s Grassroots Grants Program has invested in one simple but powerful idea: lasting environmental change is built from the ground up. Across the United States, small, community-based organizations are leading the fight against plastic pollution, water privatization, and extractive systems that harm people… The post 2025 Impact from Our Grassroots Grants Program appeared first on Story of Stuff.
Grassroots Power, Real Change January 2026 Since 2017, The Story of Stuff Project’s Grassroots Grants Program has invested in one simple but powerful idea: lasting environmental change is built from the ground up. Across the United States, small, community-based organizations are leading the fight against plastic pollution, water privatization, and extractive systems that harm people and the planet. These groups are deeply rooted in their communities, yet they are often under-resourced and overlooked by traditional philanthropy. Our Grassroots Grants Program exists to change that. In 2025—a year defined by rising costs, funding austerity, and growing pressure on frontline communities—we doubled down on our commitment to grassroots leadership. The result was tangible progress, strengthened local power, and renewed momentum for environmental justice across the country. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1573" height="1049" src="https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Image_20250531_215622_557-EDIT-Thomas-Helme-edited.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-3849" srcset="https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Image_20250531_215622_557-EDIT-Thomas-Helme-edited.jpg 1573w, https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Image_20250531_215622_557-EDIT-Thomas-Helme-edited-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Image_20250531_215622_557-EDIT-Thomas-Helme-edited-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Image_20250531_215622_557-EDIT-Thomas-Helme-edited-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Image_20250531_215622_557-EDIT-Thomas-Helme-edited-1536x1024.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1573px) 100vw, 1573px" /> Valley Improvement Project | Modesto, CA About the Grassroots Grants Program The Story of Stuff Project launched the Grassroots Grants Program in 2017 to support small organizations and informal groups organizing against plastic pollution and water privatization in the United States. Since then, we have supported over 115 grassroots groups with $575,000 in grants, alongside strategic, media, and coalition-building support. Beyond funding, our program provides grantees with: Access to media infrastructure and storytelling tools Strategic planning and campaign development support Opportunities for coalition building and movement alignment We prioritize projects that center local community involvement, creative interventions, strategic thinking, and both defensive “fight-back” campaigns and constructive, solutions-focused work. At its core, the Grassroots Grants Program is about trust—trusting that communities living with the impacts of pollution and environmental injustice are best positioned to design and lead the solutions. Who We Support Our grantees are under-resourced groups in the United States, primarily led by and serving: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities Youth and retirees Low-income and rural communities They work across environmental issues, with a special focus on plastic pollution, anti-consumerism, water access, and environmental justice. We prioritize organizations with annual budgets of $300,000 or less, where even modest grants can unlock outsized impact. 2025 by the Numbers In 2025, the Grassroots Grants Program delivered meaningful support during a challenging economic year—directing resources back to communities working to make their cities healthier, fairer, and safer. Key highlights from 2025 include: $75,000 awarded to 20 grassroots organizations Average grant size: $3,750 15 grants to new grantees, expanding our movement reach 5 renewal grants to trusted partners, supporting continuity and growth Launching the Pilot Reuse Fund In 2025, we also launched a Pilot Reuse Fund to accelerate solutions to single-use plastic pollution. Designed to complement The Story of Stuff Project’s Serve Up Reuse and Bring Back Refill campaigns, this fund supported local efforts to make reuse the norm. Through the Pilot Reuse Fund, we awarded: 7 grants totaling nearly $30,000 to community-based groups Began filming the documentary “Belly of the Beast” [working title] to profile the connection between reusables and environmental racism in Louisiana These projects focused on: Helping restaurants transition from single-use plastics to reusables Launching scalable, reusable dishware services for events Advancing local and state-level public policy for reuse Together, these efforts demonstrate that reuse isn’t just possible—it’s already happening, led by communities on the ground. @storyofstuff Schools across the country are ditching plastic for a healthier planet Join the movement with @cafcuyouth and bring Plastic Free Lunch Day to your school! ♬ original sound – The Story of Stuff Project Cafeteria Culture | NYC, NY A Model of Grassroots Leadership: Sea of Life One of our standout grantees, Sea of Life, exemplifies what sustained grassroots investment can make possible. Sea of Life works to empower local communities in the Caribbean to collectively reduce their plastic pollution footprint. Their journey with The Story of Stuff Project began with a seed grant during their startup phase. With early support, they launched brand audits to identify the sources of plastic pollution in their region, installed water fountains and reuse education programs at local schools, and built strong community engagement. Today, Sea of Life is scaling these efforts in partnership with the Belize Department of the Environment —a powerful example of how grassroots leadership can grow into systemic change. Their work underscores a core belief of our program: when frontline communities are trusted and resourced, they deliver lasting solutions. @storyofstuff It’s back-to-school season! In Belize, our Grassroots Grantee Sea of Life is working campus by campus to tackle plastic pollution with refillable water stations and student education. Through our Grassroots Grants program, we support underfunded organizations that are on the frontlines of fights against water privatization, plastic pollution, and other critical environmental justice issues. Learn more and support their work, link in bio! ♬ original sound – The Story of Stuff Project Sea of Life | Vero Beach, FL Centering Equity and Justice Environmental harm does not impact all communities equally—and neither does access to funding. The Grassroots Grants Program is grounded in an equity and justice lens that prioritizes BIPOC-led and BIPOC-serving organizations, particularly those operating with limited budgets and capacity. By shifting resources to groups historically excluded from philanthropic funding, we aim to help rebalance power within the environmental movement. This approach isn’t just about fairness—it’s about effectiveness. Communities facing the greatest environmental burdens are often the ones driving the most innovative, durable solutions. Looking Ahead As we move into 2026, we remain committed to strengthening this program, expanding support for the Reuse Fund, and continuing to learn alongside our grantees. The challenges ahead are significant, but so is the creativity, resilience, and leadership of grassroots organizers across the country. The Grassroots Grants Program is one way The Story of Stuff Project helps ensure that frontline communities are not just part of the conversation—but are leading the way toward a more just and sustainable world. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1973" height="1316" src="https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Street_Team_Community_Outreach-Amber-Haywood-edited-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-3851" srcset="https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Street_Team_Community_Outreach-Amber-Haywood-edited-1.png 1973w, https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Street_Team_Community_Outreach-Amber-Haywood-edited-1-300x200.png 300w, https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Street_Team_Community_Outreach-Amber-Haywood-edited-1-1024x683.png 1024w, https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Street_Team_Community_Outreach-Amber-Haywood-edited-1-768x512.png 768w, https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Street_Team_Community_Outreach-Amber-Haywood-edited-1-1536x1025.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1973px) 100vw, 1973px" /> SWEET Alabama | Birmingham, AL Join Us You can be part of this work. Learn more about our grantees, how to apply for funding, and how to support the Grassroots Grants Program at: storyofstuff.org/grassroots-grants/ Together, we can continue building people-powered solutions that put communities—and the planet—first. Yours in partnership, Elisa Ringholm, Chief of Staff & Grassroots Grants Program Manager Changemaker Personality Communicator/Nurturer The post 2025 Impact from Our Grassroots Grants Program appeared first on Story of Stuff.
Launching a Reuse Revolution: Our Latest DocuSeries
In 2026, we’re launching The Reuse Revolution, a new mini-documentary series spotlighting the emerging solutions and bold innovators tackling the plastics and waste crises through reuse systems. This series showcases business, public initiatives and community leaders planting the seeds for a reusable future. While some of the initiatives are in their nascent phase, they are… The post Launching a Reuse Revolution: Our Latest DocuSeries appeared first on Story of Stuff.
In 2026, we’re launching The Reuse Revolution, a new mini-documentary series spotlighting the emerging solutions and bold innovators tackling the plastics and waste crises through reuse systems. Watch Now This series showcases business, public initiatives and community leaders planting the seeds for a reusable future. While some of the initiatives are in their nascent phase, they are reversing the decades-long trend of major consumer goods companies externalizing the costs of their packaging – like toxic chemicals, litter and waste – onto society. Many are business success stories in their own right, but they also serve as reminders that reuse systems can bring people together—forging stronger bonds between businesses and customers, fostering collaboration between businesses, and safeguarding communities from waste and harmful chemicals. As people interact with these systems, they often report a deeper understanding of how their everyday choices can contribute to better outcomes for the planet. “The 21st Century Milkman” We created this series to tackle a core challenge with reuse systems: that most people haven’t interacted with them in their modern form. As you will see from the case studies highlighted in the series, interacting with reuse systems might feel as much like using your local library services as ordering at a McDonald’s. Many of the solutions profiled in the series spotlight the beverage and foodware sector. That is because the packaging sector remains the largest destination for plastic, much of which is single-use applications bound for landfills, incinerators and the environment. Thankfully, as is demonstrated in the series, much of this sector is well-positioned for innovation through reuse systems that can end this cycle of waste and pollution. Below is a list of the stories we’re profiling in this new series. Dive in—and join us in imagining how we can move beyond disposable design to a future built on reuse. Okapi – Your Coffee Without the Waste Usefull – Reuse is Taking off on College Campuses Mottainai – Building a Culture of Refill in Colombia Emeryville Elementary School & Center for Environmental Health – Taking the Plastic out of School Lunches Cyclei – Connecting the Reuse Ecosystem Aarhus – A City Designing for Reuse More to come… The post Launching a Reuse Revolution: Our Latest DocuSeries appeared first on Story of Stuff.
McDonald’s Doubles Down on Opposition to Reusable Packaging Despite Support from Its Shareholders
A New report, intended to commit to new measures to reduce plastic and disposable packaging, draws on its own flawed practices to forecast a ‘worst-case scenario’ for reusable packaging. In October 2025, McDonald’s released a report, ‘The Complex Reality of Reusable Packaging in Europe’, stating its position on reusable packaging based on an analysis of… The post McDonald’s Doubles Down on Opposition to Reusable Packaging Despite Support from Its Shareholders appeared first on Story of Stuff.
A New report, intended to commit to new measures to reduce plastic and disposable packaging, draws on its own flawed practices to forecast a ‘worst-case scenario’ for reusable packaging. In October 2025, McDonald’s released a report, ‘The Complex Reality of Reusable Packaging in Europe’, stating its position on reusable packaging based on an analysis of its packaging practices from McDonald’s case studies in France, Germany and the Netherlands. The report comes in response to a resolution filed by its own shareholders in 2021, calling on the company to publish a report describing how the company will reduce its plastic use by shifting away from single-use packaging. Rather than exploring measures that it will implement to reduce its reliance on single-use and plastic packaging, or cast light on other high-functioning “on-site” and “to-go” reuse models, the company has challenged the underlying environmental benefits, continuing to throw its weight behind recycling. McDonald’s based its analysis on unverifiable data from its own case studies, themselves poorly implemented reuse systems, thereby creating an overly pessimistic sample from which to draw its conclusions on reusable packaging. McDonald’s position paper is not just theoretical; its lobbying activities have had enormous consequences on policy development in recent years. The company led a huge, multi-year lobbying campaign, successfully blocking a component of the European Union’s Paper and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) to require reusables for “on-site” dining and some portion to go reusables from fast food chains like McDonald’s. This report marks a continuation of the strategy it employed to challenge reusable packaging regulation, which has been explored in our 2024 report “McDonald’s Hamburgluring Reuse: A Warning to US and Canadian Policymakers. Our report details the tactics McDonald’s employed to avoid regulation and sow doubt on reusable foodware packaging. There are numerous issues at play in McDonald’s report approach: Unverifiable claims: McDonald’s data is wholly unverifiable since it has only drawn on case studies from its own data. Due to its data being proprietary, it cannot be verified nor scrutinized. McDonald’s data on the return rate of its food serviceware is central to its environmental analysis of the product. Poor performance: The study’s ‘2030 scenario’ modeling is based on a return rate of 2.6 returns per packaging item, drawing from its case study in Germany in 2024. The report draws from its lower-performing system in Germany, which saw 2.6 returns in rather than its higher-performing system in France which reports 33.9 returns. By choosing its lower-performing system, it appears to be skewing the results of reusable packaging negatively. By comparison, our report (page ii) has cited several examples of companies deploying reusable foodware packaging that are achieving 50-100+ uses, including examples like Burger King. False equivalency in reuse models: McDonald’s “Scenario 2030” is supposed to simulate the EU PPWR, but does not accurately reflect the policy model. The PPWR was primarily designed to require reuse for on-site dining, with just a small portion dedicated to to-go food serviceware. McDonald’s modeling centers Germany’s example, which was optional reusables on dine-in or to-go, a different model garnering a pitiful 2.6 return rate. Minimizing the capacity for improvements in the reusables: While the report affords room for optimizing recycling, which it’s relied on for decades, it affords reusables little such room for long-term optimization through the likes of education, improved systems design or further testing, despite the reusables only being trialled for relatively short periods before the study. McDonald’s chooses plastic reusables: By utilizing plastic reusable food serviceware, McDonald’s is claiming that switching to fibre-based disposable food serviceware results in a reduction in plastics used. This logic is only upheld by McDonald’s centering of plastic in its reusable portfolio. Overly optimistic on Fiber/Recyclables: The report fails to recognize that while it competes for scarce recycled fibrewear, there are many reasons their fiber-based disposable items won’t be recycled: soiling the fiber-based items, their small size means it often avoid being sorted and baled as well as the fact that many McDonald’s restaurants themselves don’t even have recycling bins on site. Sam Pearse, Campaigns Director with the Story of Stuff Project, stated: McDonald’s latest report appears to be continuing its practice of cherry-picking data to frame an overly pessimistic model for reusable foodware, in doing so making the case that it’s less environmentally-friendly than disposables. Considering the report comes on the back of interest in its own shareholders in advancing reusable packaging, it lacks credibility or genuine willingness to assimilate elements of reusable packaging, an evidently better solution than recycling. Story of Stuff released a report in 2024 detailing McDonald’s campaign to derail EU reusables in the food serviceware sector, alongside the wider implications in our report: McDonald’s Hamburglaring Reuse: A Warning for US and Canadian Policymakers. You can send a letter to McDonald’s here calling on McDonald’s to shift to introducing reuse systems and comply with regional policies in good faith across their restaurants. Further Resources McDonald’s Report: The Complex Reality of Reusable Packaging in Europe: Environmental, financial and operational impacts Environmental, financial and operational impacts As You Sow shareholder resolution preceding McDonald’s report Story of Stuff 2024 Report: McDonald’s Hamburgaring Reuse: A Warning for US and Canadian Policymakers The post McDonald’s Doubles Down on Opposition to Reusable Packaging Despite Support from Its Shareholders appeared first on Story of Stuff.
Do you think life seems more meaningful when we step away from throwaway, consumption-crazed culture? A recent New York Times piece, Throwaway Plastic Has Corrupted Us, got me thinking. Cheap, versatile plastics made throwaway culture explode, fueling overconsumption and turbocharging corporate profits… The social costs of our addiction to disposable plastics are… subtle but significant. Cooking… The post More Joy, Less Junk appeared first on Story of Stuff.
Do you think life seems more meaningful when we step away from throwaway, consumption-crazed culture? A recent New York Times piece, Throwaway Plastic Has Corrupted Us, got me thinking. Cheap, versatile plastics made throwaway culture explode, fueling overconsumption and turbocharging corporate profits… The social costs of our addiction to disposable plastics are… subtle but significant. Cooking skills have declined. Sit-down family meals are less common. Fast fashion, enabled by synthetic plastic fibers, is encouraging compulsive consumption and waste. We see disposability impacting so many parts of our everyday lives, from what we eat and drink, to what we wear, to what we buy and more. So, how might our experiences become better and more meaningful when we ditch that throwaway culture? We’d see people curating a personal sense of style rather than cookie cutter fast fashion and microtrends. We’d cherish and pass down quality things that we own rather than dealing with planned obsolescence and cheap products. We’d build community in a shared economy (like Buy Nothing Groups), and share our skills with others (like at repair fairs). And yes, while convenience can be nice, isn’t there something about slowing down and really connecting with ourselves, our communities, our experiences, that feels especially meaningful? Here’s to more joy and less junk! That NYT opinion piece was written by Saabira Chaudhuri, a London-based journalist and author of a new book, Consumed – How Big Brand Got Us Hooked on Plastic (Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, or ask your local bookstore). Chaudhuri tells the story of how chemical and consumer goods companies deployed cutting edge technology, behavioral psychology and multi billion dollar marketing machines to steer us towards ultra-profitable disposable products—profoundly shaping our everyday behavior in ways that are taking a toll on the planet, and increasingly our health. Plus, we’re excited to partner with Saabira on our upcoming video—stay tuned. The post More Joy, Less Junk appeared first on Story of Stuff.
Building a Pathway towards a Refillable Beverage System in California
Groundbreaking New Report Integrating Reuse Into California’s Beverage Container Deposit System: A Feasibility Study The Story of Stuff Project commissioned Eunomia Consulting to investigate how the state of California might create a system for converting a quarter of the state’s 28 billion beverages sold annually, to reusable containers alongside the benefits of doing so. The… The post Building a Pathway towards a Refillable Beverage System in California appeared first on Story of Stuff.
Groundbreaking New Report Integrating Reuse Into California’s Beverage Container Deposit System: A Feasibility Study The Story of Stuff Project commissioned Eunomia Consulting to investigate how the state of California might create a system for converting a quarter of the state’s 28 billion beverages sold annually, to reusable containers alongside the benefits of doing so. The feasibility study found that, in line with recent EU targets, that milestone could be reached within a decade and doing so would bring widespread economic, environmental and social benefits including: Reducing the demand for plastic by around 3 billion bottles annually; Removing 32 million littered bottles and cans from the environment annually; Removing a quarter of a million metric tons of CO2 every year; Generating $75 million savings from waste management each year; Generating 11,000 jobs to the State. The report also assessed the infrastructural requirements to reach the targets and the costs associated with that infrastructural development. While the report specifically modeled for California, it has widespread applicability for states with deposit return systems (bottle bills). You can read and download the executive summary or the full report. Read the Report <object data-wp-bind--hidden="!state.hasPdfPreview" hidden class="wp-block-file__embed" data="https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Executive-Summary-Integrating-Reuse-into-Californias-Beverage-Container-Deposit-System.pdf" type="application/pdf" style="width:100%;height:600px" aria-label="Embed of Executive Summary - Integrating Reuse into California's Beverage Container Deposit System."> Executive Summary – Integrating Reuse into California’s Beverage Container Deposit SystemDownload Download Executive Summary Full Report The post Building a Pathway towards a Refillable Beverage System in California appeared first on Story of Stuff.
Implement California’s Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act Without Delay Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 54 in 2022 – the nation’s most far-reaching plastic reduction law – pledging to “hold polluters responsible” and “cut plastics at the source.” But now his office is being targeted by industry lobbyists to delay the law’s… The post Governor Newsom: Don’t Back Down appeared first on Story of Stuff.
Implement California’s Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act Without Delay Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 54 in 2022 – the nation’s most far-reaching plastic reduction law – pledging to “hold polluters responsible” and “cut plastics at the source.” But now his office is being targeted by industry lobbyists to delay the law’s implementation. SB 54 is poised to deliver a statewide expanded polystyrene foodware ban, a 25% reduction of single-use plastic packaging and foodware, mandated recyclability or compostability, and a $5 billion Plastic Mitigation Fund paid by plastic producers to address plastic pollution in disadvantaged communities. SB 54, the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, will: Reduce costs for Californians by charging the industry for the costs of waste management Decrease plastic production and pollution Invest in reuse and recycling systems across the state Take Action Now Call Governor Newsom’s office Urge the Governor to stay the course, resist industry stall tactics, and ensure CalRecycle finalizes SB 54 regulations this week. Please use the phone number and sample script below to make sure the law stays on track. It’s empowering to make your voice heard to those who are passing laws! Remember, it is your governor’s job to listen to and represent you. Can you make a quick phone call today in support? Call (916) 445-2841 Press 1 for English, then press 6 to speak to a staffer. Sample Script 1 – End Plastic Pollution Hi, my name is __, I am calling from [your city]. I’m urging Governor Newsom not to intervene, and to allow CalRecycle to finalize the regulations for SB 54 by March 8th without delay. I’m worried about the impact of plastic pollution on the environment, our communities, and even within our own bodies. The Governor’s leadership on this issue has been critical – please stay the course on tackling plastic pollution! Sample Script 2 – Reducing Consumer Costs Hi, my name is __, I am calling from [your city]. I am urging Governor Newsom not to intervene and allow CalRecycle to finalize the regulations for SB 54 by March 8th without delay. I’m worried about rising costs of waste management in my city and know that SB 54 will help reduce waste and costs by holding producers accountable. The Governor’s leadership on this issue has been critical – please stay the course on tackling plastic pollution! <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/download-1024x682.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-2791" srcset="https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/download-1024x682.webp 1024w, https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/download-300x200.webp 300w, https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/download-768x512.webp 768w, https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/download-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/download.webp 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> In The News California banned polystyrene. Has the plastic industry spooked the governor into silence? Read the Article The post Governor Newsom: Don’t Back Down appeared first on Story of Stuff.
Story of Stuff Community Newsletter: July – September 2024
Global Citizens or Mass Consumers? With the holidays around the corner, we can expect an uptick in the same tired messaging that tells us to buy more and more Stuff – because apparently that’s the only way to participate in what really matters to us. But, as a friend of Story of Stuff, we’re guessing… The post Story of Stuff Community Newsletter: July – September 2024 appeared first on Story of Stuff.
Global Citizens or Mass Consumers? With the holidays around the corner, we can expect an uptick in the same tired messaging that tells us to buy more and more Stuff – because apparently that’s the only way to participate in what really matters to us. But, as a friend of Story of Stuff, we’re guessing you already know: our joy, sense of belonging, and how we participate in society doesn’t need to be tied up with the consumer economy. And as the holidays roll around, you can expect counter messaging from us, including Buy Nothing November, a recurring segment we call Less Stuff, More Joy, and more. In fact, when we recently ran a social media poll asking what kind of content you want to see more of, 77% of you said “Sustainable Living Tips,” along with “How to Engage with Policy.” Right up our alley! As we work on incorporating more of your feedback into our programming, we’d like to give you an update on what we’ve been working on all summer. Keep reading for more! Progress on Reuse Campaigns At its core, Story of Stuff’s Reuse Project boils down to the same dynamic of citizens vs. consumers, rejecting the notion that we can shop our way to a better future. Instead, success for our major campaigns is based on what looks a lot like people power – folks coming together to demand change. Over the summer, our Bring Back Refill campaign – an initiative to displace single-use plastic beverage bottles with reusables, along with reuse infrastructure – saw significant gains. We drove more than 3,500 direct legislator contacts by members of our Community, pushing for reuse quotas to be worked into policy in U.S. states with existing or proposed deposit return systems. Those contacts included handwritten postcards, emails, phone calls, petition signatures and in-person turnout. We offered written or oral statements on legislative proposals in California, New York, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Washington and Maine. And, we provided trainings for both grassroots activists and “grasstops” leaders (folks involved in passing legislation) to create powerful and informed champions for refill legislation across the country. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="801" height="1024" src="https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/image-801x1024-1.webp" alt="image-801x1024" class="wp-image-3474" style="width:500px" srcset="https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/image-801x1024-1.webp 801w, https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/image-801x1024-1-235x300.webp 235w, https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/image-801x1024-1-768x982.webp 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 801px) 100vw, 801px" /> Though we’re a primarily digital organization, we took a jump into print with this full-page ad in the Boston Globe, calling on legislators to pass an updated bottle bill that includes a reuse mandate. Another arm of our reuse work focuses on foodware. Led by national reuse expert Miriam Gordon, this initiative seeks to bring reusables – plates, cups, utensils, trays, straws and more – to onsite dining, as well as takeout. We’re tracking implementation on a city-by-city basis, leading or participating in local reuse coalitions, and working to roll out a relaunch of our successful Citizen Muscle Boot Camp that will prepare grassroots activists to advocate for reuse policies at the local and state level. Fielding and passing legislation in multiple states will require distributed, effective grassroots leadership equipped with good policy and the tools to advocate for it. Recently Miriam was interviewed by Berkeleyside, where she discusses the evolving landscape of reusables and how even business models that ultimately fail, like Bay Area startup Dispatch Goods, can teach us a lot about getting the logistics right. Read the full article here. Capturing Refill At Work Last month our team began production on the third video in our Coca-Cola EXPOSED series showing how the company is capable of running effective reuse solutions with its iconic glass bottle. We’re profiling Coca-Cola’s reuse system – outside of the typical areas associated with progressive waste policy – in El Paso, Texas showing how the company has voluntarily championed its own reuse system by leveraging washing infrastructure in Mexico. This will make the case for how and why policy is the key for accelerating reuse at the scale required by the climate and plastics crises. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/image-1-768x1024-1.webp" alt="image-1-768x1024" class="wp-image-3475" srcset="https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/image-1-768x1024-1.webp 768w, https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/image-1-768x1024-1-225x300.webp 225w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/image-2-768x1024-1.webp" alt="image-2-768x1024" class="wp-image-3477" srcset="https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/image-2-768x1024-1.webp 768w, https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/image-2-768x1024-1-225x300.webp 225w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /> Our crew filmed at taquerias in El Paso, Texas that offer refillables. We also released Burning Injustice on YouTube, an inspiring short documentary that follows the journey of Central Valley activists as they expose the devastating health consequences behind one of the last trash incinerators in California, in an effort to close the facility once and for all, and protect their loved ones. Watch the film here. Alongside the video, we rallied our Community to take action and urge the US Treasury not to provide climate subsidies or bailouts for polluting waste incinerators. Over 1,300 individuals submitted official public comments to the Treasury, reminding the department that burning trash is not a climate solution. Our Community’s submissions made up 73% of the total public comments sent in. An Update on BlueTriton / San Bernardino Earlier this year, we provided financial support, strategic advice and our longtime lawyer to one of our main local partners and a Grassroots grantee, Save Our Forest Association, to pursue legal action against the Forest Service for allowing bottling giant BlueTriton to operate on federal lands with an expired and illegitimate permit. Towards the end of June, Save Our Forest Association filed a lawsuit against the Forest Service on these grounds, an event covered on the front page of The Los Angeles Times. That lawsuit prompted a BIG decision – in a July letter denying BlueTriton’s request for a new permit, the Forest Service ordered the bottling giant to plug its boreholes, turn over the keys to its infrastructure and submit a plan for decommissioning its pipeline. Then, the Forest Service invited local advocates to meet to develop a plan for the restoration of Strawberry Creek, which has been dewatered by BlueTriton and its predecessors for decades. When we asked for your help to support this grassroots fightback, you contributed over $13,000 to this local community, including citizen activists like our longtime partners Steve Loe, Amanda Frye and Hugh Bialecki and others – who made countless personal sacrifices to keep the pressure on. Together, we’ve come a long way. Every member of the Story of Stuff Community should feel enormous pride in this accomplishment – you powered this campaign for nearly a decade! And, we continue to provide “surge capacity” to diverse partners – putting these partners’ action requests in front of our Community members at the national, state and local level, from turnout emails during the Oakland City Council’s (successful) consideration of a reusable foodware ordinance to signatures on a petition to the Federal Trade Commission regarding the Right to Repair. All told, we contributed thousands of actions to partner organizations. With impact like this, it’s easy to see why active global citizens – not shoppers – hold the key to a better future. As always, we’re happy to share the impact of our work with you, who make it all possible! If you’d like to discuss anything in more detail, have questions or feedback, please feel free to reach out. We love hearing from you! The post Story of Stuff Community Newsletter: July – September 2024 appeared first on Story of Stuff.
Will this big tech partnership get you to shop more? You might have seen Amazon’s latest partnerships with TikTok and Pinterest, which will allow and encourage you to buy Amazon products without leaving the apps. It’s the latest tactic to further accelerate overconsumption. If you’re anything like us, you know this is terrible news –… The post From likes to landfills appeared first on Story of Stuff.
Will this big tech partnership get you to shop more? You might have seen Amazon’s latest partnerships with TikTok and Pinterest, which will allow and encourage you to buy Amazon products without leaving the apps. It’s the latest tactic to further accelerate overconsumption. If you’re anything like us, you know this is terrible news – as these tech giants profit, people and the planet pay the price. Let’s break down the real impact of this shopping spree: Every click fuels a chain reaction—one that starts with extraction and production and ends in a landfill. Fast fashion items, shiny gadgets, and microtrends (remember the Stanley cup craze?) have short lifespans, pushing us toward a cycle of constant consumption. This isn’t just bad for your wallet; it’s disastrous for our planet. The carbon footprint of shipping, the waste from returns (many of which, by the way, end up in the landfill), and the environmental cost of constant production all add up. Behind every “add to cart” is a person who made, packed, or shipped that product. Many of these workers face harsh conditions, significant health risks, low wages, and job insecurity. Big tech’s pursuit of profit comes at the expense of human rights. The more we buy into the idea that stuff equals happiness, the more we get trapped in a loop of mindless consumption. This isn’t just about cluttering our homes; it clutters our minds, too. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1315" height="877" src="https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/9efbe741b7c99ec0e1af03109d220f07-1.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-2367" style="width:708px;height:auto" srcset="https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/9efbe741b7c99ec0e1af03109d220f07-1.webp 1315w, https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/9efbe741b7c99ec0e1af03109d220f07-1-300x200.webp 300w, https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/9efbe741b7c99ec0e1af03109d220f07-1-1024x683.webp 1024w, https://www.storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/9efbe741b7c99ec0e1af03109d220f07-1-768x512.webp 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1315px) 100vw, 1315px" /> In the News: Amazon just figured out a way to make you buy more Read the Article As tech giants continue turning your social feed into a nonstop commercial, what can you do to fight back? Consider repair. Before buying something new, try fixing what you have – mend that sweater, polish the rusted jewelry, sand and repaint the chipped furniture. Just like cooking a meal is satisfying because of all the labor you put in, repair can be more gratifying than simply replacing an item. To get started, learn basic repair skills online or attend a local workshop with friends. And don’t forget to learn about your Right to Repair – remember, many manufacturers purposely make it difficult and expensive to repair your own stuff, like appliances and electronics. You can support legislation in your state that makes it easier, more affordable, and more accessible to fix what you own. Focus on buying only what you truly need, and when you do need to make a purchase, buy used. Whether it’s clothes, electronics, or furniture, there are marketplaces for pre-loved items that don’t only have a reduced carbon footprint, but are also much more gentle on your wallet. Or, you can choose not to pay at all – join your local Buy Nothing group, where you can give and receive items within your community for free. Say no to the scroll, and yes to what truly matters. Don’t let any company convince you that happiness is just one purchase away (and one more, again and again). The post From likes to landfills appeared first on Story of Stuff.
Story of Stuff Community Newsletter: April – June 2024
Summer has begun, and so have the heat waves. Did you know that the cool beverage bottle you reach for when it gets too hot is a major contributor to climate change? We’re not talking about the product – we’re talking about the packaging. The beverage industry sells more than 580 billion PET plastic bottles… The post Story of Stuff Community Newsletter: April – June 2024 appeared first on Story of Stuff.
Summer has begun, and so have the heat waves. Did you know that the cool beverage bottle you reach for when it gets too hot is a major contributor to climate change? We’re not talking about the product – we’re talking about the packaging. The beverage industry sells more than 580 billion PET plastic bottles per year – nearly 1 million a minute! – and the PET plastic supply chain emits nearly 9 million metric tons of greenhouse gasses every year, in North America alone. But, this single-use bottle is among the easiest plastic problems we can solve, if we can just replace it with a reusable container. Reuse can reduce up to 40% of raw material inputs and 50% of greenhouse gas emissions associated with beverage packaging. As you probably know, we at The Story of Stuff have been working towards this goal with our Bring Back Refill campaign. So far, we’ve achieved a level of momentum and enthusiasm for refillable targets that has exceeded even our own expectations! Keep reading for more on campaign updates, our work in reuse for foodware, and much more. Legislative Update on Bring Back Refill We’re working on winning mandatory refill quotas for beverage containers as part of state policy. Here’s a state-by-state update: California: Story of Stuff sponsored a bill (AB2762) that would call for quotas of 25% in ten years, 10% in eight years and 5% in six years. While it didn’t pass this year, we’re pushing hard for 2025 by working with a lobbyist, identifying additional sponsors, and holding a briefing this summer for Assemblymembers to continue the education of legislators ahead of next year. Massachusetts: Both the House and Senate will be releasing a Climate Omnibus Bill. The Senate version includes a bottle bill. While we initially advocated for inclusion of reuse quotas, leadership was clear that this would not be included in the Climate bills. We were successful in getting the requirement of a reuse feasibility study into the House bill. A vote is imminent in the House. Once the climate bills are enacted in each house the bills are considered by a conference committee that hammers out the final bill. There is no vote after that. New York: The Bigger, Better Bottle Bill proposal included our refill targets as well, gaining enthusiastic support from partners like Beyond Plastics and NYPIRG; with two major plastics reductions bills on the legislature’s slate, including a model EPR packaging bill with some momentum, it appears the bottle bill will fail to move before the legislative deadline. We will prepare for a renewed push on bottle bill modernization with reuse in 2025. Washington, North Carolina and Rhode Island: These states have no existing deposit return system, however bills with refill targets were nonetheless introduced. The Washington and Rhode Island bills did not survive this legislative session. The North Carolina bill is still in play but unlikely to pass this year. This signals an expanding interest in refill and deposit systems that we will jump on in 2025. Maryland and Washington, DC: In these jurisdictions, advocates developed bills with reuse language in them. Maryland’s didn’t move forward this year and D.C. advocates are waiting for budget negotiations to end before introducing its draft bill. Both are poised to move ahead next year. In addition, we are currently in discussion with the legislative champion of reuse in Oregon, Senator Sollman, about drafting a standalone reuse targets bill for the beverage industry next session. Annie Returns to the Small Screen We’re excited to have our founder and host of the original Story Of… films, Annie Leonard back in the second installment of our EXPOSED series. In this video, we continue to hold Coca-Cola – a giant of the beverage industry and the top plastic bottle polluter in the world – to account by exposing one of the company’s favorite greenwashing tactics. Watch the video. Annie hosts our latest video, EXPOSED: The Truth Behind Coca-Cola’s Advertising More broadly, we’ve used our extensive communications capabilities to frame and elevate refill as a solution to beverage container waste and plastic pollution, from developing social media campaigns to distributing thousands of postcards to legislators. Community Engagement at an All Time High! We’ve been flexing our Changemaking muscles like never before in support of Bring Back Refill’s legislative efforts, driving more than 2,000 direct legislator contacts by members of our Community, including via handwritten postcard, email, phone, webform and in-person. In addition, we’re holding policy workshops to equip folks – both grassroots activists and those involved in passing legislation – with the information they need to press for legislative quotas. After our successful webinar in February for 60 such advocates, we followed up with grassroots trainings in Massachusetts and California. Additional workshops are in development for legislators, staff and other stakeholders in Rhode Island, Oregon, Maryland and Washington, DC. Some of the feedback we received from workshop participants Reuse in Foodware With the addition of national reuse expert Miriam Gordon to our full-time staff, we’ve been able to expand our advocacy for widespread reuse policies not just for the beverage industry, but for onsite dining as well. This is an initiative that works from the ground up, starting at the local level and moving up regionally. So far, our team has led local reuse coalitions in San Francisco and Oakland, and participates in others in NYC and Los Angeles. Reusable Oakland recently succeeded in getting a local reuse ordinance enacted in Oakland and decided to expand its work to all of Alameda County where Miriam is leading policy campaigns for San Leandro, Livermore and Pleasanton. As the leader of Reusable San Francisco, Miriam is also leading efforts to enact a reusable foodware policy in the City of San Francisco. The Reuse Project tracks and supports local reusable foodware policy efforts across North America and is currently supporting policy efforts in Denver, Boulder, Los Altos, Sunnyvale and Albany. The plan is to bring reuse in foodservice to up to 20 cities across the U.S. over the next couple of years. This project will also develop a boot camp for local reuse activists to train and increase the number of local activists engaged in enacting policies locally and supporting state-level reusable foodware and beverage policies. Next up, we’re researching and preparing a report on a major fast food corporation’s role in disposability. The Fight Against BlueTriton Continues Though BlueTriton has sued to challenge last year’s Cease & Desist Order, which was meant to stop the removal of tens of millions of gallons of water from the San Bernardino National Forest, the fight continues. The case is winding its way through court and in the meantime, we’ve filed a renewed complaint with the CA Department of Fish & Wildlife. And through our Grassroots Grants program, we’re supporting our longtime partner on the ground, the Save Our Forest Association, as they apply pressure on the Forest Service – one of the few agencies that can force BlueTriton to end its occupation of federal lands. Read more: “Environmentalists urge California wildlife officials to investigate bottled water operation” Additionally, our Grassroots Grants program will award a total of $40,000 in direct grants over the summer to frontline groups engaged in water and plastics fights. New Staff Member! We’re excited to grow our team with the addition of Anna Sorokina as our new Marketing and Communications Manager! This is a position we’ve been trying to fill for a while, and we’re confident that a dedicated staffer to shepherd our content and grow our audience will have only the best outcomes for our campaigns, storytelling, and beyond. The post Story of Stuff Community Newsletter: April – June 2024 appeared first on Story of Stuff.