Happy Earth Month! Educate. Advocate. Celebrate.

Thank you, Stasher Squad!

You helped raise $100K during Earth Month. Here's how the Surfrider Foundation will put it to use:

...supporting Surfrider's initiatives to carry out policy campaigns at the local, state and federal level to eliminate single-use plastic pollution at the source.
...supporting the Surfrider Foundation's hands-on volunteer programs that remove trash from our coasts and waterways and prevent plastic pollution from ever reaching our ocean.
...supporting Surfrider's national network of over 100 Student Clubs- the next generation of coastal defenders as they engage with plastic pollution policy initiatives.
...supporting Surfrider's Ocean Friendly Restaurants program which supports small business relationships as they seek sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic take-out and dining items.
....supporting Surfrider's chapter network in their effort to host over 1000 beach cleanups in 2021, removing hundreds of thousands of pounds of trash and plastic from our beaches

Our mission

At Stasher, we’re on a mission to fulfill our vision of a waste-free world. That’s why we created the first-ever pure platinum silicone storage bag — to help reduce the 11M metric tons of plastic that enter our ocean each year (yikes). Today, thanks to you, we’re a global Squad of joyful eco-warriors, working together for change. And we’re about to make even more waves through our partnership with The Surfrider Foundation, a grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves, and beaches, for all people.

Your impact

To celebrate Earth Month, we’ll donate $1 to The Surfrider Foundation for every Stasher bag sold in April. That’s right, $1 for every bag sold — not every purchase, but every bag — will directly support The Surfrider Foundation’s work to protect our Mama Earth.

Since Earth Month is about action AND awareness, our friends at The Surfrider Foundation have shared their expertise on the threats to our ocean and coasts, why plastic pollution is such a pervasive problem, and the role each of us can play in protecting our planet.

The ocean connection

Around 70% of the Earth’s surface is ocean, and it plays a critical role in maintaining the health of our planet. No matter where you live or how far you are from the shore, you’re in a watershed. That means that you have the power to impact the health of the ocean right from your community. From the products we buy to how we dispose of waste, and even the way our homes and public spaces are landscaped — all of our choices make their way downstream to the ocean. And one of the simplest ways we can all help offset our own impacts on the ocean is by reducing the amount of plastic we consume.

The plastic pollution crisis

Of all the litter and waste clogging our natural world, single-use plastic is one of the worst offenders. We asked Surfrider to share the real scale of the problem. Brace yourself — these numbers aren’t pretty.

Plastic makes up about 80% of marine litter and about 60% of beach litter.
Up to 80% of marine litter is plastic and comes from land-based sources.
Over 75% of all marine debris is made up of plastic, and the impacts of marine debris have been reported for 817 marine wildlife species. Over half of these reports documented entanglement in, and ingestion of, marine debris, including plastic.
Recent studies estimate that fish off the West Coast of the United States ingest over 12,000 tons of plastic a year.

Change adds up

So, we have our work cut out for us — but we can do anything when we all do something! For starters, we can commit to being more mindful about what we buy, use, and discard. Because good or bad, our actions add up. Choosing and reusing Stasher bags is a great step in the right direction. On top of that, here are some ways to make waves in your everyday life:

Join more than 1,000,000 supporters and activists by becoming a member of The Surfrider Foundation and getting connected with your local chapter. Bring a friend and make a difference in your community!
Stay positive, and stay in the know. Up-to-date information is always being added to The Surfrider Foundation’s website and Coastal Blog.
Reduce and reuse! Simple personal habit changes can add up to big impacts over time.
Sign up for The Surfrider Foundation’s newsletter, Making Waves (at the footer of any page on their website)
Follow The Surfrider Foundation on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter
Learn more about The Surfrider Foundation’s campaign victories and active campaigns at the federal, state and local levels
Take action by supporting The Surfrider Foundation campaigns right from your computer, through their Action Alert webpage

Ready to start celebrating Earth Month? Ready to make some changes for the ocean? Let’s do it!