Keep America Beautiful Joins SoulBuffalo’s Ocean Plastics Leadership Network as Nonprofit Member

STAMFORD, Conn. (June 30, 2020) – Keep America Beautiful®, the nation’s premier community improvement nonprofit organization, today announced it has joined SoulBuffalo’s Ocean Plastics Leadership Network (OPLN), a global community of retailers, brands, NGOs and alliances committed to developing new approaches, innovations and solutions-based projects to address the impacts of plastic waste. 

The organizations unite along the common goal of ending littering, with a specific focus on plastics in our oceans. This partnership will promote major volunteer engagement events including National Clean Beaches Week, which takes place July 1-7, and the Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup®, which normally takes place during the spring months (March 19-June 20) but has been extended through Oct. 18 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Many Keep America Beautiful community-based affiliates will be conducting beach and coastal cleanups throughout the year.

“Keep America Beautiful believes in tri-sector partnerships for social good, where government entities, corporations, and NGOs work together to solve problems,” said Keep America Beautiful President and CEO Helen Lowman. “We are excited to partner with the Ocean Plastics Leadership Network and collaborate with its prominent list of members in seeking solutions to address the ocean plastics crisis.”

Founded in 2003 by the Clean Beaches Coalition, National Clean Beaches Week focuses on appreciating and respecting our nation's beaches. Known as the Earth Day for beaches, hundreds of events are organized throughout the country in celebration of National Clean Beaches Week, from beach cleanups to educational programs.

SoulBuffalo’s OPLN launched in January 2020 with the introduction of its online community and leadership network available at OceanPlasticsLeadershipNetwork.com. The OPLN features industry news, tools, and research from experts and advocates to advance innovative solutions and projects that reduce plastic waste. OPLN currently includes more than 60 members committed to collaborative solutions, including organizations representing the development, distribution, purchase, retail use, and recycling of plastic products.

“We're excited to have Keep America Beautiful, with a robust network of partners of its own, into the SoulBuffalo - Ocean Plastics Leadership Network,” said Dave Ford, co-founder of SoulBuffalo. “Keep America Beautiful's dedication to keeping the environment pristine is aligned with our mission, and essential to both inspiring and capturing the hearts and minds of consumers around the world."

In addition to being a member of OPLN, Keep America Beautiful is also a founding member of the Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas Alliance, as well as a partner of Earth Day Network on its Great Global Cleanup.

About Keep America Beautiful 
Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s leading community improvement nonprofit organization, inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful strives to End Littering, Improve Recycling, and Beautify America’s Communities. We believe everyone has a right to live in a clean, green, and beautiful community, and shares a responsibility to contribute to that vision. 

The Keep America Beautiful Model for Change – steeped in education, research, and behavioral science – is the cornerstone of Keep America Beautiful. We empower generations of community and environmental stewards with volunteer programs, hands-on experiences, educational curricula, practical advice, and other resources. The organization is driven by the work and passion of more than 650 Keep America Beautiful affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the collaborative support of corporate partners, social and civic service organizations, academia, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Donate and take action at kab.org. 

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Contacts 
Tiffany Telemaque / Larry Kaufman 
DKC / Keep America Beautiful 
301.802.6270 / 203.659.3014 
[email protected] / [email protected]
dkcnews.com / kab.org