John Charles Meyer founded Plastic Free America with a mission to reduce single-use plastic items in restaurants and quickly shifted to doing this work in schools across the country.

Articles by Alexandra Zissu
El Niño Has Arrived—And It’s Looking Stronger Than Ever Before
Meteorologists are warning that 2026–27 is going to be a very wet and snowy winter in many parts of the country—and a super El Niño is to blame. Learn what this weather pattern is and how it could impact your health.
The Power of Moms: Katherine Batiste’s Environmental Work Surfaces in Son Jon’s Music
Jon Batiste’s song “Petrichor” was inspired in part by his mother, Katherine, who went back to school to earn a Master of Science in Public Health in environmental management from Tulane University when Jon was only eight.
Ask Mom Detective: Is There Such a Thing as a Green Funeral?
Mom Detective investigates burial, cremation, and a few alternative “disposition” options to find out what is most eco-friendly.
Toxic Chemicals Can Harm Sperm. What About Eggs?
Want to know how toxic chemicals affect eggs and female fertility? It’s going to take some sleuthing—and time.
Interested in Environmental Science? Check Out These Schools
For high school students interested in studying any and all things climate, including environmental science, there have never been so many great schools and programs to choose from. Here are a few.
Ask Mom Detective: Are There Toxic Chemicals in Children’s Art Supplies?
Mom Detective takes a deep dive into arts and crafts supplies, looking at ingredients and finding the safest options for kids.
Back to School Snapshot: No Climate Education Plus Greenwashing
Students returning to schools across America are entering very different classrooms. In some, the climate crisis will be downplayed. In others, climate will be front and center, and school environmental clubs are booming.
Extreme Heat Hurts Student Athletes. This Sports Medicine Doctor Helps.
Meet Dr. Tiana Woolridge, a sports medicine doctor whose firsthand experience of how heat-related illness can quickly spiral if not recognized and treated early makes her uniquely positioned to raise awareness about the issue.
Don’t Send Kids Back to School With Pesticides
Preparing for the school year is full of emotions and supply gathering—but rarely entails plans to safeguard children from harmful pesticides sprayed at schools and playgrounds. That needs to change.
Ask Mom Detective: What Are the Safest Skin Care Products for Teens?
Mom Detective investigates the safety of skincare for your teens and tweens and shares how to make the best choices for their young bodies.
Extreme Heat in Mild San Diego Turns Pediatricians Into Climate Advocates
When Dr. Sabrina Perrino realized she could only offer practical advice to families when kids had reason to be in her clinic, she turned up the volume on her impact by founding San Diego Pediatricians for Clean Air.













