These days, it can be hard to wade through the barrage of endless content and find trusted sources to self-educate, and we want to help! We have collected articles and studies that will help you dive deeper into every facet of the global issue of plastic pollution. Browse them below.

Get the Facts From Trusted Sources

Our World in Data is a free online resource that provides accurate and concise data about the world's largest problems. Check out their Plastic Pollution page.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been a government since 1970.

1. See their statistics about Containers and Packaging: Product-Specific Data
2. Check out their Trash Free Waters program 

Scientific American Magazine is the oldest continually produced magazine in the United States. Learn more from this trusted source with the following articles:

1. COVID-19 Has Worsened the Ocean Plastic Pollution Problem 
2. Solving Microplastic Pollution Means Reducing, Recycling—and Fundamental Rethinking

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) publishes peer-reviewed scientific journals. Here are some of their respected articles on plastic pollution:

1. From AAAS Science Journal: Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean
2. From AAAS Science Journal: Evaluating scenarios toward zero plastic pollution
3. From AAAS Science Advances Journal: The United States’ contribution of plastic waste to land and ocean

The ScienceDirect website is run by Elsevier, a Dutch publishing company dedicated to scientific, technical, and medical research. ScienceDirect.com is home to a database of scientific reviews and studies, including the following:

1. The impact of debris on marine life
2. Sources, transport, and accumulation of different types of plastic litter in aquatic environments: A review study

Discover the Solutions to Ocean Plastic

By this point, the problem has well been diagnosed. So what about moving forward with solutions for a sustainable future? Here are a few resources that acknowledge what is being done and speak to the work ahead:

1. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation explains the concept of a circular economy and what it can do for the plastic problem.
2. National Geographic celebrates some sustainable milestones in this list of actions on plastic pollution.
3. Nature Communications weighs in with motivating actions to mitigate plastic pollution.
4. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has a research center just up the hill from us in Boulder, Colorado. Here is their comprehensive plan of action that is currently underway.

More From Sherpani

Environmental Activism on the Sherpani Travel Blog:

1. How Sherpani Bags Reduce Ocean Plastic
2. Small Pieces, Big Connections at our Upstream Cleanup
3. Sherpani's Top Five Picks for Must-See Environmental Documentaries
4. What is Sustainability? + What it Means to Us

Shop sustainable styles on Sherpani.com!