Blog | News, Stories & Action | The Story of Stuff Project
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date: 2026-04-22T22:29:24Z
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items: What Type of Changemaker are You?
items: 2025 Impact from Our Grassroots Grants Program
items: Launching a Reuse Revolution: Our Latest DocuSeries
items: McDonald’s Doubles Down on Opposition to Reusable Packaging Despite Support from Its Shareholders
items: More Joy, Less Junk
items: Building a Pathway towards a Refillable Beverage System in California
items: Governor Newsom: Don’t Back Down
items: Story of Stuff Community Newsletter: July – September 2024
items: From likes to landfills
items: Story of Stuff Community Newsletter: April – June 2024

What Type of Changemaker are You?
type: item
creator: The Story of Stuff Project
date: 2026-02-20T00:10:06Z
subject: Uncategorized
description: 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.
encoded: 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:…

2025 Impact from Our Grassroots Grants Program
type: item
creator: Elisa Ringholm
date: 2026-01-28T01:49:07Z
subject: Uncategorized
description: 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.
encoded: 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…

Launching a Reuse Revolution: Our Latest DocuSeries
type: item
creator: Sam Pearse
date: 2026-01-08T00:38:41Z
subject: blog
description: 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.
encoded: 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 Wast…

McDonald’s Doubles Down on Opposition to Reusable Packaging Despite Support from Its Shareholders
type: item
creator: Sam Pearse
date: 2025-12-09T22:38:12Z
subject: Uncategorized
subject: McDonalds
subject: Packaging
subject: Plastic
subject: Reusable
subject: Trash
subject: Waste
description: 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.
encoded: 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 …

More Joy, Less Junk
type: item
creator: Alex Choy
date: 2025-10-06T20:49:52Z
subject: Uncategorized
description: 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.
encoded: 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 vid…

Building a Pathway towards a Refillable Beverage System in California
type: item
creator: The Story of Stuff Project
date: 2025-03-26T17:53:57Z
subject: blog
subject: Uncategorized
description: 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.
encoded: 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.

Governor Newsom: Don’t Back Down
type: item
creator: The Story of Stuff Project
date: 2025-03-03T18:49:37Z
subject: Uncategorized
description: 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.
encoded: 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,…

Story of Stuff Community Newsletter: July – September 2024
type: item
creator: Smruti Aravind
date: 2024-09-25T14:19:12Z
subject: blog
description: 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.
encoded: 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 activ…

From likes to landfills
type: item
creator: The Story of Stuff Project
date: 2024-09-10T21:34:47Z
subject: blog
description: 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.
encoded: 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-cont…

Story of Stuff Community Newsletter: April – June 2024
type: item
creator: Smruti Aravind
date: 2024-07-01T20:38:36Z
subject: blog
description: 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.
encoded: 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 Hous…