As a Goodwill Ambassador for UN Environment, Jack will join people around the globe to Beat Plastic Pollution on World Environment Day. Whether you are a citizen, school, a government, or a business, everyone can take action by coming together on June 5th to tackle plastic pollution. Check out this new World Environment Day video of Jack encouraging ocean  lovers to share their passion for the ocean and find alternatives to single-use plastic.

Share your photos and stories using #WorldEnvironmentDay and #BeatPlasticPollution. If you can’t reuse it, refuse it.

To coincide with World Environment Day, A Plastic Planet is launching the world’s first One Plastic Free Day to inspire people to #PassOnPlastic and turn off the plastic tap. The goal is simple…for just one day, say no to any products packaged in plastic.

Oahu’s plastic bag ban is now stronger. Starting July 1, 2018, grocery stores on O‘ahu are required to charge customers a minimum of 15 cents for each checkout bag. A fee on bags has proven effective in counties around the country to reduce waste and protect the environment. The intention is for residents and visitors of O‘ahu to make bringing their own reusable bags a regular habit. Additionally, by January 1, 2020, all of the thicker, so called “reusable” plastic checkout bags will no longer be considered “reusable,” banning them from use at grocery stores. Both of these updates to Oahu’s plastic bag ban are part of amendments that were approved by City Council and signed by the mayor in July of 2017. The ordinance still exempts restaurants.

This is one of many policy victories in Hawai‘i around reduction of single-use plastics. Additionally, Hawai‘i may become the first state to ban polystyrene foam food containers, with two out of four Hawai‘i counties with policies in place. In Maui County, there is now an ordinance that prohibits the sale and use of polystyrene food containers as of Dec. 31, 2018. In Hawai‘i County (Big Island), a ban on foam food containers goes into effect July 1, 2019.