Kokua Hawaii Foundation

The Kokua Hawaii Foundation supports environmental education in the schools and communities of Hawaii with interactive experiences that will enhance the appreciation for our environment. Jack Johnson will be performing on Kauai, Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island to benefit Kokua Hawaii Foundation.

Plastic Free Facts

• Styrene can leach from polystyrene plastic and is toxic to the brain and nervous system.
• DEHA is one of several plastics used in food containers to which people have daily exposure through food, water, air, and consumer products. DEHA can leach into oily foods on contact and when heated. Exposure is linked to negative effects on the liver, kidney, spleen, bone formation, and body weight.
• Bisphenol A (BPA), used in food can liners, ‘sippy’ cups, clear plastic cutlery etc. is a chemical that mimics the action of the human hormone estrogen, can leach from polycarbonate plastic.
• Plastic bags don’t biodegrade, they photo-degrade – breaking down into small toxic bits contaminating soil and waterways and entering the food chain when mistaken for zooplankton or jellyfish.
• In the marine environment plastic bag litter is lethal, killing at least 100,000 birds, whales, seals and turtles every year.
• Worldwide, the United Nations Environment Program has calculated there are 13,000 pieces of plastic litter per square kilometer of the world’s oceans.
• Disposable bags cost our cities up to 17 cents per bag for disposal.
• The U.S. goes through 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually.
• The world uses over 1.2 trillion plastic bags a year. That averages about 300 bags for each adult on the planet. That comes out to over one million bags being used per minute.
• A reusable bag can eliminate hundreds to thousands of disposable bags over its lifetime.
• Although most people are aware that paper bags are recyclable, only about 20% of them are actually recycled.
• The saying goes, “Reduce, reuse, recycle.” First, we should reduce our usage, second we should reuse materials for as long as possible and only then, third, should we recycle them.
• The goal is to minimize, and eventually eliminate, the use of single-use plastic such as plastic bags, food take-out containers (including styrofoam), plastic utensils, and bottled water.