Plastic pollution is a global crisis threatening both human and environmental health. We've gotten to the point where one garbage truckload of plastic enters our ocean every 60 seconds, and plastic contamination is found in 94% of drinking water in the US as well as in the air we breathe! Globally, the average person consumes a credit card's worth of microplastics every week. The solutions to tackle this crisis must come at the community, industry and policy levels.

In this module, we will explore simple behavioral changes we can all make in our own lives as well as best practices for businesses to achieve sustainable operations. We will also briefly discuss how individual and industry action can inspire and impact policy reform efforts. I will present a high-level overview of Oceanic Global's industry solution, The Oceanic Standard (TOS), highlighting the success we've found in different industries and demonstrating how engaging business and communities has supported policy reform initiatives globally. TOS is a set of free, industry-specific guides for adopting sustainable operating practices that meet both business and environmental needs.

TOS consists of various research-backed editions designed to support shifts in operational infrastructure, while promoting best practices for responsible consumption. TOS demonstrates that b2c and b2b change is possible, and is a resource for political action and reform. Oceanic Global has awarded over 300 TOS badges in 30 cities with the help of 20 consultant partners around the world, so far impacting four policies banning single-use plastics.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understanding of the magnitude of our global plastics crisis.
• Understanding of how plastics threatens both ecological and public health.
• Identification of simple actions to achieve a greater level of responsible consumption in one's personal life.
• Identification of strategies businesses can implement to achieve a greater level of responsible consumption.
• Understanding of how these global movements impact policy reform.
• Additionally, specific tailoring of all of the above to the fashion industry.

Faculty

Cassia Patel is the Program Manager of Oceanic Global, a global NGO that engages new audiences in ocean conservation. Her work with Oceanic Global includes overseeing their industry solution program, educational programming, and managing The Oceanic Standard (TOS), a free set of industry-specific resources for adopting sustainable practices that meet both business and environmental needs.

Cassia is a lifelong environmental and ocean advocate with degrees in Environmental Engineering and Biology. She advocates for sustainable design in the built environment as an accredited LEED GA, WELL AP, and RESET AP. Cassia also envisions ways in which we can restore coastal ecosystems and spearheads the science division for a global coral reef restoration NGO.

Kindly note this workshop begins promptly at 6:30pm and participants are invited to arrive any time after 6:00pm.