Why plastic-free?
With the average person using 0.34 kg of plastic every single day, humanity produces an astonishing 460–500 million metric tons of plastic waste each year. To put that into perspective, that’s the weight of 3,700 to 4,000 Statues of Liberty (with pedestal and base) made entirely of plastic trash—every single year.
Unlike organic matter, plastics don’t break down into harmless byproducts like CO₂ or water. The very properties that make plastics so useful—durability, flexibility, and resistance to degradation—become deeply problematic after disposal. Instead of disappearing, plastics simply fragment into smaller and smaller pieces, becoming what we call microplastics (MPs, <5 mm).
Over time, these MPs can be inhaled or ingested by animals and humans, where they may lodge in tissues, trigger inflammation, and cause long-term health risks. Even worse, plastics act like sponges in the environment—absorbing heavy metals and “forever chemicals” like PFAS, which they then transfer to any organism unlucky enough to consume them.
With only about 10% of plastics ever recycled, our plastic future looks grim unless we choose a different path. But here’s the paradox: plastics are also woven into the fabric of our daily lives. They keep blood sterile in hospitals, extend the shelf life of food, and provide unparalleled convenience.
This love–hate relationship with plastics is at the heart of our mission. At Plastic-Free Pals, we empower students and adults alike to understand the plastic problem and discover how everyday lifestyle changes and collective action can help turn the tide against plastic pollution.
Learn More - MPs in the Soil (ArcGIS Storymap)
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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