Judith Enck on Plastics and Creating Legislation

Name: Judith Enck on Plastics and Creating Legislation
Start: 2026-11-19T19:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-11-19T21:00:00-05:00
Location: The Sanctuary

November 19, 2026 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm EST

Join us for a book talk and conversation around plastics and how to push legislation with environmental policy expert Judith Enck. After presenting on her book The Problem with Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It’s Too Late, which investigates plastic innovation which has created devastating environmental and public health impacts, Enck will be joined by Shaunty M of Golden Leaf Books to talk about how to make a bill into law. Enck’s organization Beyond Plastics works on a slew of legislation to reduce the plastic in our environment, while Shaunty has experience pushing electric vehicle legislation.

Golden Leaf Books will supply books for sale.

What if we said that the line between societal advancement and environmental degradation is as thin as a layer of plastic wrap? Once a marvel of modern science, plastic has become so inextricably woven into our lives that imagining a world without can seem impossible. Over the last 75 years, plastic has cradled our planet in a synthetic embrace.

“The Problem with Plastic” critically examines the paradox of this material, first celebrated for its innovations and now recognized for its devastating environmental and public health impacts. This compelling narrative reveals how plastic pollution contributes to poisoned oceans, polluted air, a warming planet, and overwhelming waste, particularly affecting marginalized communities, which bear the brunt of petrochemical pollution. The book highlights the pervasive presence of microplastics in the environment and the human body, challenging the belief that recycling can solve the crisis.

In addition to uncovering environmental racism and debunking industry claims, “The Problem with Plastic” emphasizes the urgent need for action against plastic’s toxic legacy, and offers readers practical, actionable solutions, including a “household waste audit,” which empowers readers to track and reduce their own plastic consumption.