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Why Plastic-Free?
Launching Citizen Science Crowdfunding (Sept 27th)
Help Us See the Plastic We Can't See
Microplastics are everywhere, but our ability to monitor them is still limited. We want to change that by combining long-term environmental monitoring, community participation, and accessible scientific tools.
Our goal is to build a better understanding of how microplastics move through Philadelphia's waterways while developing new ways for communities to participate in measuring them.
Building a long-term monitoring network
With community partners, we hope to establish weekly monitoring of microplastic loading in the Schuylkill River, including locations upstream and downstream of the dam. Repeated sampling can help us understand how microplastic pollution changes with rainfall, seasons, water flow, and other environmental conditions.
We also hope to expand watershed monitoring to locations including neighbouring Creeks, wetlands, stormwater pathways, soil and sediment, and areas surrounding synthetic turf at FDR Park.
Asking questions about the products we use
Our work won't stop at waterways. We also want to investigate microplastics in commercially available water, beverages, and selected food products.
And the community will help decide what questions we investigate.
You help choose the question. Our scientists determine how to answer it.
Making microplastic monitoring more accessible
We are also working to advance new approaches for detecting microplastics outside specialized laboratories. By combining research, validation, and community participation, we hope to make microplastic monitoring more accessible to educators, community organizations, and researchers.
We don't want to simply tell communities that microplastics are everywhere.
We want to give communities the tools to investigate for themselves.
Stay Tuned!
This work is only possible when people come together.
On World Rivers Day 2026 (Sept 27th), we will be launching our Kickstarter campaign to help support the next phase of our microplastic monitoring and community science efforts.
Want to be part of it?
Leave your contact information below to stay connected. We'll send you an email when the Kickstarter goes live, along with updates on how you can get involved.
Let's work together to see the plastic we can't see.
Latest Updates
Stay updated with the latest news and initiatives from Plastic-Free Pals. We are dedicated to promoting a sustainable, plastic-free lifestyle and sharing valuable resources to help you make a difference. Join us in our mission to protect the planet!
About Plastic-Free Pals
At Plastic-Free Pals, we are dedicated to promoting a sustainable, eco-friendly lifestyle that eliminates plastic waste. Our mission is to inspire individuals and communities to embrace green living by providing resources, products, and support for a plastic-free future. Join us in our journey towards a cleaner, healthier planet!
Have a question or idea? Get in touch!
Have a question about plastics, microplastics, our resources, or getting involved with Plastic Free Pals? We’d love to hear from you.
Let’s work together to better understand plastic pollution and create a healthier, more sustainable future.
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