North America
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Organization
5 Gyres Institute
Santa Monica, California, USA | Founded 2009
Science-led nonprofit that measured plastic in all five subtropical ocean gyres and uses that research to drive policy and corporate change.
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Organization
Algalita Marine Research and Education
Long Beach, California, USA | Founded 1994
Founded by Captain Charles Moore, who brought the Great Pacific Garbage Patch to public attention; now focused on youth education.
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Organization
Beyond Plastics
Bennington College, Vermont, USA | Founded 2019
US policy project that pairs plastics research with model legislation and training for local advocates.
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Law or Bill
Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act (US Congress)
United States | Introduced, not enacted
Proposed federal bill for national producer responsibility, a bottle deposit and a pause on new plastic plants. Introduced in several sessions; not enacted.
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Law or Bill
California AB 2253 (recycled content claims)
California, USA | On the Governor’s desk; decision due by 30 September 2026
Would require any product claiming recycled content to back the claim with documented, certified recycled content from 2030. Opposed by Bill Shireman, author of California’s bottle bill, in a featured viewpoint.
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Law or Bill
California SB 1053 (plastic checkout bags)
California, USA | In effect since January 2026
Ends the sale of thick “reusable” plastic film bags at checkout from 1 January 2026, closing a loophole in the state’s earlier bag ban.
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Law or Bill
California SB 54 (Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act)
California, USA | In implementation; full targets by 2032
The most ambitious US packaging law: 25 percent source reduction of plastic packaging and 65 percent recycling of single-use plastic by 2032.
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Organization
Circular Action Alliance
Producer responsibility organization that runs packaging EPR programs on behalf of brands in several US states.
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Organization
Closed Loop Partners
New York, USA
Invests in recycling and reuse infrastructure and runs industry consortia testing reusable cups and packaging.
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Law or Bill
Colorado HB22-1355 (Producer Responsibility Program for Recycling)
Colorado, USA | Operating; fees since January 2026
Packaging EPR law that funds statewide recycling access; producer fees began in January 2026.
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Technology
Deposit return systems and reverse vending
Proven at national scale
A small refundable deposit on drink containers, collected back through machines or shops, routinely returns more than 90 percent of bottles and cans.
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Organization
EarthX
Dallas, Texas, USA
Dallas-based environmental nonprofit behind one of the world’s largest Earth Day gatherings; host of the Environmental Xperience.
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Technology
Enzymatic recycling of PET and polyester
Pilot to first commercial plants
Engineered enzymes break PET bottles, trays and polyester textiles back into their building blocks, which can be made into new plastic of virgin quality.
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Organization
Loopway
Featured partner: a circular economy directory covering all 50 US states and a growing list of countries, connecting people to the organizations, programs and projects that keep reusable materials out of landfills.
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Law or Bill
Maine LD 1541 (Stewardship Program for Packaging)
Maine, USA | In implementation; stewardship organization still being selected
First US packaging EPR law (2021), reimbursing municipalities for recycling costs.
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Law or Bill
Maryland SB 901 (Packaging and Paper Products Producer Responsibility)
Maryland, USA | Early implementation; payments expected from 2028
Packaging EPR law enacted in 2025 that allows more than one producer responsibility organization.
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Law or Bill
Minnesota HF 3911 (Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act)
Minnesota, USA | Early implementation
Packaging EPR law enacted in 2024 with reuse and reduction goals; producers cover at least half of costs from 2029.
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Technology
Mycelium packaging
Commercial, niche
Mushroom roots grown around farm waste form protective packaging that replaces polystyrene foam and composts at home.
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Organization
Ocean Conservancy
Washington, DC, USA
Runs the International Coastal Cleanup, whose volunteer data on what washes up has shaped bans and product redesigns around the world.
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Law or Bill
Oregon Bottle Bill
Oregon, USA | In force since 1972
America’s first container deposit law (1971), still one of the highest-performing deposit systems in the country.
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Law or Bill
Oregon SB 582 (Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act)
Oregon, USA | Operating; first fees July 2025
Packaging extended producer responsibility law; producers began paying fees in July 2025.
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Law or Bill
Pending state packaging EPR bills (New Jersey, Illinois and others)
Several US states | Pending
New Jersey is seen as the most likely next state; bills were also filed in Illinois, New Hampshire, Wisconsin and Michigan. New York’s bill failed again in June 2026 and Massachusetts’ lapsed in July 2026.
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Organization
Plastic Pollution Coalition
Founded 2009
Alliance of organizations, businesses and individuals working for a world free of plastic pollution and its toxic impacts.
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Organization
Product Stewardship Institute
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Tracks and helps design extended producer responsibility laws across US states, including packaging.
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Technology
Recycled plastic building materials
Commercial
Mixed and low-value plastic is compressed into boards, blocks and bricks for construction, creating a market for plastic nobody else will buy.
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Technology
Seaweed-based packaging
Early commercial
Films, coatings and pods made from seaweed replace plastic in sauce sachets, takeaway box linings and flexible wraps, and break down naturally.
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Technology
Solvent-based purification
Early commercial
Dissolves a single plastic in a solvent to strip out colour, odour and contaminants, then recovers the polymer without breaking its chains.
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Organization
Surfrider Foundation
San Clemente, California, USA | Founded 1984
Coastal network whose chapters win local bag and foam bans and certify Ocean Friendly Restaurants that drop single-use plastic.
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Law or Bill
Texas: no statewide bag law
Texas, USA | Local bag bans preempted since 2018
Context for our Dallas network: in 2018 the Texas Supreme Court ruled that Laredo’s bag ban was preempted by state law, which ended local bag bans across Texas.
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Organization
The Environmental Xperience
Global sustainability event series at EarthX where projects like RiverRecycle and One Earth One Ocean present their work.
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Organization
The Recycling Partnership
Works with US communities and companies to improve curbside recycling access, carts, education and sorting.
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Organization
Tijuana River Project
Cross-border river pollution reporting and restoration on the Tijuana River, linked to Rotary global grant proposals with RiverRecycle.
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Organization
Upstream
Champions reuse over single-use and helps cities and restaurants switch to reusable foodware.
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Law or Bill
US Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015
United States | Law since December 2015
Federal ban on plastic microbeads in rinse-off cosmetics, prompted by research that included 5 Gyres’ Great Lakes sampling.
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Law or Bill
US Save Our Seas 2.0 Act
United States | Law since December 2020
Federal law (2020) that strengthens marine debris response, funds research and supports international cooperation on ocean plastic.
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Law or Bill
Washington SB 5284 (Packaging and Paper EPR)
Washington, USA | Early implementation
Packaging EPR law enacted in 2025; producer registration was due in July 2026 and the program starts later this decade.