National campaign empowers communities to stop plastic pollution at its source and highlights aquarium-led solutions supported by NOAA Marine Debris Program

Washington, D.C. — July 1, 2026 — The Aquarium Conservation Partnership (ACP), a coalition of 33 aquariums and zoos with aquariums across North America, today launched “From Creeks to Coasts”, a new public engagement campaign designed to inspire communities to take action to reduce plastic pollution before it reaches rivers, lakes, and the ocean.

The campaign is the culmination of a 2025 award supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program and coincides with Plastic-Free July, a global movement encouraging people to reduce their reliance on single-use plastic.

The campaign’s central message is simple: every action upstream matters downstream. Whether someone lives near the coast or hundreds of miles inland, waterways connect communities to the ocean. Plastic pollution travels through storm drains, creeks, rivers, and lakes before ultimately reaching marine ecosystems, making plastic pollution a challenge that affects everyone.

“Plastic pollution continues to impact ocean and freshwater ecosystems, wildlife, human health, and communities around the world,” said Kim McIntyre, Executive Director of the Aquarium Conservation Partnership. “From Creeks to Coasts helps people understand that their everyday choices matter and demonstrates how aquariums are leading by example through meaningful reductions in single-use plastic, partnerships with businesses, and activities that address plastic pollution at its source.”

The campaign combines digital storytelling, educational exhibits, community engagement, and practical actions that individuals can take to reduce waste and support healthier waterways. Through the campaign microsite, visitors can learn how plastic enters aquatic ecosystems, discover the impacts of plastic and microplastic pollution, explore what aquariums are doing to reduce plastic use, and take action in their own communities.

“Tackling an issue as widespread and complex as plastic pollution requires more than individual action—it demands collective effort,” said McIntyre. “By bringing together aquariums, zoos, communities, and businesses across the country, we can drive meaningful, lasting change. Collaboration at this scale not only amplifies impact but also inspires others to join in creating a healthier, more sustainable future for our planet.”

As part of the NOAA-funded initiative, seven ACP member institutions received sub-awards to create educational exhibits and signage that showcase plastic reduction efforts and reusable systems within their facilities. Participating institutions include California Academy of Sciences, The Florida Aquarium, Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, Seattle Aquarium, and Shedd Aquarium.

• The Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium welcomes visitors to Sobela Ocean Aquarium where a combination of art and signage help to convey the importance of ocean health and inspire guests to take actions to preserve the natural world. 

• The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk's ECHO Choice program teen volunteers are inspiring community-wide action to reduce single-use plastics by partnering with local restaurants and their customers to make daily sustainable choices that prevent marine debris from reaching Long Island Sound. 

• The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium is launching an interactive outdoor sculpture and debris receptacle designed to engage visitors in pollution reduction through striking visual art and hands-on conservation messaging.

• The Seattle Aquarium showcases new wall signs and cafe tabletop messages designed to connect guests to its conservation mission, inspiring everyday actions to reduce plastic pollution and marine debris. 

• The Shedd Aquarium’s food court features new trays, a children’s activity sheet and compostable paper products designed to help raise awareness of our shared responsibility to protect the water that connects us. 

• Steinhart Aquarium at California Academy of Sciences has reimagined its Northern California Coast: Dive Deeper exhibit to engage visitors in understanding the impacts of marine plastic pollution and microplastics through enhanced storytelling, interactive experiences, and actionable conservation solutions. 

• The Florida Aquarium is using AI-powered recycling bins called Oscar Sort to help guests correctly dispose of trash and recyclables. The aquarium features four of these interactive bins, which have dramatically improved waste-sorting accuracy and visitor engagement across the campus. 

The campaign also highlights ACP’s collective efforts to reduce plastic use across aquarium operations. Through shared commitments, member institutions are working to eliminate single-use plastic dining ware, reduce plastic packaging in retail operations, and decrease operational plastic use behind the scenes. The initiative includes a public-facing plastic dashboard developed in partnership with Verdis Group that tracks and communicates progress toward these goals.

"Trash can make its way into waterways and the ocean, where it is a growing problem for wildlife, communities, and the environment," said Jason Philibotte, Director of the NOAA Marine Debris Program. “NOAA is working with zoos and aquariums across the country to reduce waste in their operations and connect Americans with solutions that make a difference, no matter where they live.”

Aquariums are uniquely positioned to engage the public on conservation issues. Collectively, ACP member institutions welcome more than 40 million visitors annually and use their trusted platforms to connect people with solutions that protect ocean and freshwater ecosystems. The From Creeks to Coasts campaign builds on ACP’s longstanding commitment to sustainable business practices, public engagement, and conservation action.

Visitors are encouraged to explore the campaign, learn about the impacts of plastic pollution, choose reusable alternatives when possible, participate in local aquarium initiatives, and support efforts that reduce plastic waste before it reaches waterways.

To learn more and take action, visit creekstocoasts.org. 

About the Aquarium Conservation Partnership

The Aquarium Conservation Partnership (ACP) is a coalition of aquariums working together to increase conservation impact. Collectively, ACP’s 33 members in 21 states welcome more than 40 million visitors annually. ACP members advocate for policy change, advance conservation solutions, mobilize audiences to take action, and demonstrate their commitment to conservation through sustainable business practices.

ACP’s mission is to safeguard ocean and freshwater ecosystems by aligning and supporting the conservation efforts of aquariums for greater collective and individual impact.

For more information, visit aquariumconservation.org. 

Media Contact

Kim McIntyreExecutive DirectorAquarium Conservation Partnershipkmcintyre@mbayaq.org(808) 561-6929