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Dear Friends of 5 Gyres,
Thank you for your continued dedication to 5 Gyres’ mission and vision toward a planet free of plastic pollution. Your support means the world to us as we finish a year’s worth of organizational soul searching, also known as strategic planning. As the plastics movement expands in size and the science documenting plastics’ harm intensifies, determining 5 Gyres’ unique superpower becomes increasingly urgent. One term that has surfaced and become a guiding light for our team is the “Honest Broker.”

While I was musing on this idea of an Honest Broker, whose primary interest is a true and unbiased solution, I heard a story on the news about an industry attempt to hide the truth around asbestos. One line from the report made my hair stand on edge, "industry calls the shots, but the public are the ones to suffer."

The parallels within the plastics space are undeniable. In the last year alone, new studies have documented microplastics in our blood, our lungs, our breast milk, and the far reaches of our planet, while false narratives around the benefits of recycling and cleanup abound.

And we, the public, are again the ones to suffer. Marginalized communities closest to the source of the problem bear the greatest burden, but no living thing on the planet is safe from the perils of plastic.
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These harrowing reports are exactly why we’re driven to continue leading with science and staying true to the Honest Broker philosophy. We will ask questions that guide our research, properly vet innovation and alternatives, and examine the full landscape before reaching a conclusion.

In the next few years, our science team will deepen our understanding of microfiber pollution sources to identify effective solutions, as well as continue to vet biomaterials, like PHA, to understand the role these new innovations can play in mitigating the plastic packaging crisis.
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Over the next two months, you’ll hear more about our strategic focus as we move away from downstream, ocean-focused solutions, and instead focus on using science, education, and advocacy to serve as an Honest Broker for trusted information. By putting research in the hands of decision makers, real change can be made “upstream” – where the problem begins.

Thank you for helping us bring our science to life. We consider all of you key decision makers as you invest in our work! You've supported us every step of the way - for which we are truly grateful.

Wishing you a safe, healthy, and peaceful holiday season.

With gratitude,


Anna Cummins
Co-Founder & Executive Director
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