Health and Human Services and the EPA are taking decisive action to confront microplastics as a growing threat to human health,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy. April 1, 2026
Plastic sheds, contaminating our food and beverages. The microplastics we eat have been linked to cancer, dementia, cardiovascular disease, and reproductive disorders. Link.
Together, we can replace petroleum-based plastic food packaging with plant-based, renewable materials.
Human brain samples contain an entire spoon’s worth of microplastics, study says. Link
Renewable, safe, plant-based biopolymers can replace petroleum-based plastics. With sufficient volume, biopolymer packaging can cost the same as petrol-plastic packaging.
A Letter from a Ukrainian student to Jason Buechel, CEO, Whole Foods Market
How can Whole Foods help repair 3,700 damaged and destroyed schools in Ukraine?
A personal letter from a student in Ukraine to the CEO of Whole Foods Market.
This “Hold the Plastic” program is dedicated to replacing petroleum-based plastic food packaging with plant-based biopolymers, everywhere in the world.
Whole Foods Market can help by asking your suppliers to work with us to replace plastic packaging. All of the other supermarkets in the United States and globally will follow your lead.
Ninety percent of the income from the sale of biopolymer food packaging to food producers will be spent rebuilding damaged and destroyed schools in Ukraine, and helping our teachers and students.
By coordinating all of your suppliers to replace petro-plastic food packaging, we will achieve sufficient volume to reach price parity with plant-based biopolymers. No one, not your suppliers or your customers, will choose petro-plastic food packaging when plant-based packaging is available for the same price.
Whole Foods Market is America’s leading seller of organic and natural foods. We hear that your stores avoid more than 300 unhealthy products in the foods that you sell. We think that your customers will appreciate it when your products avoid microplastics, too.
Thank you for meeting with Hold the Plastic to plan this inevitable transition from petro-plastic food packaging to plant-based biopolymers. And thank you for helping Ukraine rebuild our 3,700 damaged and destroyed schools.
Sincerely,
Ukrainian Student
