The Earth Day 2021 Beyond Plastics Meme Contest has closed. Click here to see who won and view all the memes entered.

Whether it’s the iconic I CAN HAS CHEEZBURGER? cat that started it all way back when or Bernie Sanders in his upcycled Vermont chic woolen mittens, there’s no denying that memes have power! This Earth Day, we invite you to join us in celebrating by making a funny meme to help raise awareness about plastic pollution and build support for the excellent Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act that is our best tool to tackle this crisis.

HOW TO ENTER

1. Follow Beyond Plastics on at least one (or more!) of our social channels:

• Twitter: @plasticsbeyond 

• Facebook: @beyondplasticsaction 

• Instagram: @beyondplasticsbennington 

2. Create a meme (static or gif) that focuses on some aspect of plastic pollution (check out our fracked plastics stats if you’re looking for something to riff on.)

3. Share your meme on social media with the text below:
This #EarthDay, I’m calling on Congress to put #planetoverplastic by passing the #BreakFreeFromPlastic Pollution Act to reduce #singleuseplastic, stem the tide of #oceanplastic, and slow the #climatecrisis. ✍️🏾 Join me now at: https://bit.ly/CosponsorBFFPPA

4. Tag Beyond Plastics in your tweet, Facebook post, or Instagram post (we’re @plasticsbeyond on Twitter, @beyondplasticsaction on Facebook and @beyondplasticsbennington on Instagram) and tag your members of Congress along with any friends or other people you think would be interested in your tweet, post or gram (if you run out of space on Twitter, keep in mind that you can tag up to 10 people in your image - see screenshot at the right.)

5. Include as many of these hashtags as you can fit: #frackedplastic #planetorplastic #wildlifeoverwaste #plasticpollution #climatecrisis #refusesingleuse #zerowaste #reuserevolution #noexcuseforsingleuse #breakfreefromplastic #peopleoverplastic #toxicplastic #plasticplanet. Feel free to add your own favorite hashtags, too, of course.

6. Bonus: Post your meme on reddit.com/r/environmentalmemes with the same text and tag Beyond Plastics in the comments by pasting /u/beyond_plastics

Note: Memes must be original and funny! We cannot wait to see what you come up with :)

THE NITTY GRITTY

• The contest opens on April 1, 2021 (a.k.a. Fossil Fools Day) and closes on April 18, 2021 at midnight EDT. 

• The winners will be announced on Earth Day, April 22, 2021.

• Contestants must reside in the United States. 

• Contestants may submit multiple entries for judging. 

• Memes will be judged by the Beyond Plastics team, and judging will be based on the following criteria: 

  • Originality and creativity of design

  • Clear and engaging messaging around the topic of plastic pollution and the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act

  • All the rules for design and submission are met (as outlined below)

• The winner will receive major Internet kudos and a $100 gift certificate to Lauren Singer’s The Package-Free Shop, a great place to stock up on plastic-free, zero-waste goods to help you reduce single-use plastics in your own life. We will also feature the winning meme on our website and via our social media channels.