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Working to reduce plastic use in Missouri
"The Great Rivers State"
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We can break free from plastic, Missouri!
As the holiday season approaches, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about how to celebrate sustainably this year. This month’s newsletter shares five simple ways to reduce plastic waste during your holiday meals, along with the latest news on plastic pollution, health research, and upcoming events and webinars. From new studies linking microplastics to more negative human health impacts to inspiring actions across the reuse movement, there’s plenty to explore and share!
Here's your October Plastic Awareness news!
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October Recap
10/14 - Springfield, MO - Advocacy Outreach Coordinator, Emily, presented at the Master Gardeners of Greene County's monthly meeting (bottom left).
10/25 - Jefferson City, MO - The Missouri River Bird Observatory hosted a Plastic Brand Audit at Bonnots Mill River Access following Missouri River Relief's river cleanup (bottom center).
10/28 - Blue Springs, MO - Plastic Pollution Educator, Stori, with Missouri River Bird Observatory, attended the Osage Trails Missouri Master Naturalist partner night (bottom right).
| | 5 Tips to Reduce Plastic During Holiday Meals | |
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Cook from scratch when you can. Homemade dishes help avoid excess plastic packaging. When buying ingredients, choose items in paper, metal, glass, or no packaging at all.
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Shop local and support small businesses. Local bakeries, farm stands, and farmers markets often offer products with minimal or plastic-free packaging. Not baking your own rolls or pie? Buy them fresh from your local bakery instead!
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Decorate sustainably. Use natural items like pressed leaves, pumpkins, or squash. Add a personal touch by displaying your kids’ artwork or crafts from past holidays.
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Think reusable. Set your table with cloth napkins, tablecloths, cups, dishes, and cutlery—no disposables needed! Serve your meal in reusable serving dishes, too.
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Plan for plastic-free leftovers. Ask guests to bring their own containers, or pick up a few from a thrift store so you can send everyone home with a delicious, waste-free reminder of the day.
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US Right to Know
Chemicals found in everyday products—from plastics and pesticides to cosmetics and non-stick cookware — interfere with the body’s hormone systems...
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Discover Magazine
A cancer diagnosis is the last thing anyone under the age of 50 expects to be hit with, but lately, this is becoming a harsh reality for many younger adults. Cases of early onset cancer...
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PhillyVoice
Philadelphia is suing two major manufacturers for allegedly mislabeling plastic bags as recyclable. Bimbo Bakeries, a bakery product manufacturer...
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Mongabay
When Saabira Chaudhuri began covering consumer goods companies for The Wall Street Journal, she expected stories about marketing and product launches. Instead, she uncovered a deeper pattern...
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The Kitchn
Budgeting is so boring. I swear just thinking about ways to cut my grocery bill makes the resulting food I buy taste a bit meh. Plus, I'm already...
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September 2025
There is widespread concern regarding the effect of microplastics (MPs) on human reproductive health. The accumulation of MPs and their potential effect on adverse pregnancy outcomes...
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October 2025
Microplastics (MPs), as emerging contaminants, may adversely affect male reproductive health. This study investigated the potential association between MP accumulation in human semen and...
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September 2025
Insulin resistance is a condition of impaired tissue reactivity to insulin. This state is primarily associated with...
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Sustainable Brand Highlight
Did you know that the beauty industry created 120 billion units of packaging waste every year? Axiology is a plastic-free and vegan beauty brand, bringing you high quality beauty products with clean and ethically sourced ingredients without the plastic packaging. Check them out!
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Plastic Podcast Pick
We've had the information we need to implement reuse systems, but how do we get people to act? This episode of The Indisposable Podcast dives into the psychology of normalizing reuse and influencing behavior change with leading experts. Give it a listen!
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Featured Documentary
The PBS documentary SINGLE-USE PLANET explores why an increasing amount of single-use plastic trash enters the ocean each year despite recycling efforts—going upstream to where millions of tons of plastics are produced with generous government support.
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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!
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