Microplastics

It is estimated that  22 million pounds of plastic enter the Great Lakes annually. These plastic particles, less than 5 mm in size, enter our waters through urban runoff, wind, rain, and the breakdown of larger plastic debris. They have been found in every Great Lake, in drinking water, in fish and wildlife, and in the people and communities that depend on these waters. GLBN members know that clean water is good business. That's why we're mobilizing business voices to reduce plastic pollution at its source, advance smart policy, and help companies across the region adopt practices that keep plastics out of the Great Lakes.

Learn more about the sources and consequences of microplastics here. 

Working together

GLBN's Microplastics Committee brings together business leaders from across the Great Lakes region who are committed to tackling plastic pollution head-on. The committee meets monthly to guide GLBN's advocacy priorities, develop resources for the business community, and inspire action by state, regional, and federal decision makers. Committee members share a simple conviction: the businesses that depend on the Great Lakes should lead the effort to protect them.

If you are passionate about the microplastics issue and would like to join the committee, please submit our interest form.

practical change

Policy change takes time. Businesses can act now. Across the Great Lakes region, GLBN members are already cutting plastic use in their own operations, switching to alternative packaging, eliminating single-use items, reducing waste, and working with suppliers to keep plastics out of the chain from the start.

GLBN supports these efforts with practical resources and peer-to-peer learning to help businesses identify where plastics enter their operations and reduce plastic waste without eating into the bottom line.