Working to reduce plastic use in Missouri

"The Great Rivers State"

July is License Plate Renewal Time! Renew Here.

We can break free from plastic, Missouri!

Happy Summer! With Plastic Free July on the horizon, it's a great time to get involved in plastic reduction advocacy. This month's newsletter features three upcoming engagement events, training opportunities, ways to take action during the month of July, and recent news and research findings. Plus, check out our Missouri Business Spotlight, Podcast of the Month, and this month's Featured Fact Sheet.

Here's your June Plastic Awareness news!

Featured Events

July 7: Bi-Monthly Advocate Network Meeting

Location: Virtual via Zoom!

Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Time: 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM

July 8: St. James & Rolla Region Community Engagement Luncheon

If you're in St. James, Rolla, or the surrounding areas, please join us for a luncheon to discuss next steps for local action in the region!

Location: Public House Brewing Company, 551 State Route B, St James, MO 65559

Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Time: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

JOIN

September 26: Community Advocacy Workshop - Sunrise Beach

Location: Lake of the Ozarks Board of Realtors, 123 Oddo Drive, Sunrise Beach, MO 65079

Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026

Time: 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM

Opportunity for Missouri Businesses

Plastic Free July: A Missouri Business Challenge

This July, we are encouraging businesses across Missouri to participate in this voluntary program by trying at least one plastic-reducing practice during the month of July in celebration of July as Missouri’s Lakes Appreciation Month.

We encourage YOU to connect with your favorite local restaurant, café, or retail store and share this program with them!

Benefits for participating businesses include:

Promotion on a statewide participation map: https://bit.ly/pfj2026-map
Recognition on social media platforms
Print and digital promotional materials to help businesses share their participation in Plastic Free July and communicate the “why” behind it
A unique opportunity to be a leader in community-wide plastic reduction efforts

Learn more about Plastic Free July here!

Special thanks to Friendship Brewing Company in Flint Hill, MO for pledging to "Skip the Straw!"

Check them out on the map!

Take Action this Month

Did you know that reusable bottles are banned from the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Ask FIFA to allow reusable bottles!

Visiting a national, state, or local park this summer? Check out 5 Gyres' Plastic-Free Parks 5th Annual Trash Blitz!

Plastics in the News

3 Teens Win Global Earth Prize for Inventing Tamarind Powder That Easily Removes Microplastics

Good News Network

In mid-May, GNN reported that 3 teens from India had won a major continental science prize for their brilliant use of...

Plastic food packaging blankets the world’s coastlines, study finds

Mongabay

Food packaging ranks among the top plastic pollutants littering the world’s coastlines, a new study confirms.

*See "Food and beverage plastics dominate global shorelines" under Recent Research below to read the research paper*

A unifying symbol for reuse is finally here

PR3 Standards

Reusable packaging systems are arriving around the world, and now there’s a symbol to unify them.

This popular fermented food may help flush microplastics from the body

ScienceDaily

Scientists in South Korea say a probiotic bacterium found in kimchi may help the body get rid of nanoplastics...

A lot of ‘recycled’ plastic is being burned overseas – and causing widespread pollution linked to health problems

The Conversation

Picture a pile of trash the size of Manhattan and taller than one and a half Empire State Buildings. That’s how much plastic waste the world...

*See "The impacts of global plastic waste export and burning on air quality" under Recent Research below to read the research paper*

Recent Research

Food and beverage plastics dominate global shorelines

June 2026

Plastic pollution represents a pervasive global environmental challenge. However, the lack of globally harmonized monitoring hinders the development of...

Human health outcomes of reducing exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals

June 2026

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are widespread environmental contaminants that interfere with hormonal signaling and are...

The impacts of global plastic waste export and burning on air quality

June 2026

Open burning of plastic waste may pose a significant threat to global health by degrading air quality, but...

A deeper look into plasticiser intake during intermittent fasting

April 2026

Intermittent fasting (IF) is becoming increasingly popular as a method of weight management, but it is unknown whether it affects plasticiser intake with...

Upcoming Webinars and Trainings

July 7 at 12:30PM - The Role of Thrift Stores hosted by Northeast Recycling Council

July 15 at 6:30PM - Zero Waste Task Force Meeting hosted by Westchester Alliance for Sustainable Solutions

July 21 at 4:00 PM - Solution Series: Reuse Wins in Food Service, Stadiums, and Beyond hosted by Plastic Pollution Coalition

August 4 at 6:00PM - Bi-Monthly Meeting featuring Doun Moon of GAIA speaking on Bioplastics hosted by BYO US Reduces

Upcoming Virtual Trainings

July Reuse Bootcamp hosted by The Story of Stuff Project

Basic Training: Reuse 101 & Becoming a Changemaker: July 7 at 5:00PM -or- July 9 at 6:00PM
Leadership Training: Becoming a Reuse Leader (Optional): July 13 at 5:00PM -or- July 14 at 5:00PM

Summer Grassroots Organizing Training hosted by Beyond Plastics

Saturday, 7/25 at 12:00PM
Tuesday, 7/28 at 6:00PM
Thursday, 7/30 at 6:00PM

Fall 2026 - Beyond Plastic Pollution Course with Judith Enck

The course will take place on Wednesday evenings from 6-8PM beginning on September 9 and ending on October 21

June Spotlights

Missouri Business Spotlight

The St. Louis Zoo has taken action to reduce plastic use and pollution by eliminating plastic straws, cup lids, and plastic bags in retail stores and replacing plastic beverage bottles with aluminum alternatives! Way to go, St. Louis Zoo! Learn more about conservation and sustainability efforts here.

Plastic Podcast Pick

In this episode of The Indisposable Podcast, Upstream's Sydney Harris is joined by Brian Loma of GreenLatinos Colorado to discuss the process of creating policies for a just reuse economy. Give it a listen!

Featured Fact Sheet

Silicone is often suggested as an alternative to plastic, especially for kitchen items, but are we sure they're a better option? Beyond Plastics' latest fact sheet explores the realities of silicone as an alternative and the things to consider when using silicone. Check it out here!

Connect with Our Team!

Interested in being part of the solution to plastic pollution in Missouri? Fill out this brief interest form or scan the QR code to connect with our Plastics Team!

Check out our plastics website at: https://www.streamteamsunited.org/show-me-less-plastic.html

Beyond Plastics' Ask a Scientist Tool

Do you ever wonder about various aspects of plastics and plastic pollution? Beyond Plastics science director, Trisha Vaidyanathan, PhD is here to shed some light on these questions in her monthly column, “Ask a Scientist.” Submit your question(s) here!

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