Photo by tanvi sharma on Unsplash.
"A new report from the nonprofit Plastic Pollution Coalition documents the many ways the plastics industry has been inserting its agenda into classrooms across the U.S.," reported Grist (September 1, 2026) — and NCSE's Wendy Johnson was consulted for comment.
"While many of the materials claim to support STEM learning objectives, they do so while promoting familiar industry talking points, emphasizing the affordability and safety of plastics. Some acknowledge plastic pollution as a serious problem, but they blame irresponsible consumer behaviors," according to Grist.
Johnson told Grist that the plastic industry's lesson plans and worksheets don't reflect good pedagogy. "By using all of these technical terms [from the industry], it's tricking people into thinking … that they're doing science," while in fact the materials are promoting "ideological perspectives about the economy," like the desirability of cheap consumer goods.
Grist notes, "Teachers often lack the time and money needed to design their own curricula, or to buy high-quality materials and lesson plans needed for in-class labs or science projects. When vested interests come along offering support — whether it's the tobacco industry, the junk food industry, the pesticide industry, or the fossil fuel industry — it can be hard to say no."
The report itself, freely available (PDF) online, warns, "The Plastic Industry is targeting students and teachers in K-12 schools across the U.S. to help foster a positive public perception of plastics, gaining both future consumers and growing a future workforce."
