Break Free From Plastic: A Decade of Fighting the Plastic Pollution Crisis in Latin America

Plastic pollution has become one of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time. In response, a global movement, Break Free From Plastic (BFFP), has emerged over the last decade, uniting organizations and individuals to transform production and consumption models. In Latin America and the Caribbean, organizations like the Instituto Pólis in Brazil have been instrumental in driving this change.

Instituto Pólis: Pioneering the Right to the City and Environmental Justice

Founded in 1987, Instituto Pólis began as a response to Brazil’s constitutional reform process, advocating for the “right to the city” – the idea that all citizens have the right to access and enjoy urban spaces. Over its 38-year history, the institute has evolved into a multidisciplinary research organization tackling urban social issues, with a focus on gender and structural racism, socio-territorial justice (housing rights), and socio-environmental justice.

Within the socio-environmental justice area, Instituto Pólis concentrates on waste management, energy transition, and programs like Zero Waste and Brazil Composts and Cultivates, providing guidance to municipalities and recycling cooperatives on sustainable waste policies.

A Founding Force in the Break Free From Plastic Movement

Instituto Pólis holds a significant place in the history of BFFP, being one of the founding organizations of the movement in Latin America and the Caribbean. In 2018, the institute initiated the “Plastic-Free Ocean” project in the port of Santos, Brazil, aiming to galvanize action against plastic pollution. This project brought together 13 ocean activist organizations, shifting the focus from cleanup efforts to reducing plastic production and holding producers accountable.

“If we maintain cleaning without changing the system, this will never end. We had to move further: reduce plastic production and put pressure on those who produce it,” explains Elisabeth Grimberg, sociologist and senior advisor at Instituto Pólis.

Research and Advocacy Driving Policy Change

Instituto Pólis has conducted crucial research to understand the scale of plastic pollution. A study analyzing waste composition in São Paulo landfills revealed that approximately 33% of separated household waste consisted of plastics that were not practically recyclable due to market limitations, contamination, or lack of technology. [1]

The institute also utilizes the BFFP methodology for brand audits, identifying companies responsible for significant plastic waste, and bringing these issues into public discourse.

Brazil’s Role and the Push for a Global Plastics Treaty

Brazil is the largest producer of plastic in Latin America, making its role critical in addressing regional plastic pollution. [1] Civil society organizations have driven advancements in public policy, including the creation of a National Strategy for Plastic-Free Oceans and new regulations for plastic packaging and corporate responsibility.

Currently, a key focus for BFFP organizations is the negotiation of a global plastics treaty, an international agreement aimed at reducing plastic pollution worldwide. Rafael Eudes, project advisor at Instituto Pólis and representative of Brazil’s Aliança Residuo Zero, emphasizes the importance of Brazil taking a firm stance in these negotiations. [1]

The Power of Collective Action and a Vision for the Future

BFFP’s success over the past decade highlights the power of collaboration. With over 2,700 organizations and 11,000 individuals worldwide, [3] the movement provides a platform for collective action and shared advocacy.

Despite progress, challenges remain, including strong industry lobbying and the promotion of environmentally damaging solutions like waste incineration. Grimberg stresses the need to highlight the connection between plastic production and the fossil fuel industry. However, both she and Eudes remain optimistic, advocating for a shift towards reusable materials and a circular economy.

“We must return to an economy that does not depend on plastic and that uses reusable materials, as was the case before,” says Eudes. “I believe it is possible to build alternatives. When people start asking for solutions, it is because something is changing,” agrees Grimberg.

About Break Free From Plastic

#BreakFreeFromPlastic is a global movement working towards a future free from plastic pollution. BFFP members focus on prevention, tackling plastic pollution across the entire value chain – from extraction to disposal – and advocating for systemic change. [3]