Environmental expert judith enck’s new book charts path beyond plastic dependency through collective action

Environmental policy veteran Judith Enck is making waves with her latest book, which tackles one of today’s most pressing environmental challenges: society’s overwhelming reliance on plastic. The seasoned advocate, who has dedicated her career to protecting public health and the environment, argues that breaking free from plastic dependency is not only possible but essential—and requires participation from every level of society.

Enck brings impressive credentials to this fight against what she calls “Big Plastic’s false solutions.” Her environmental career began early when she took leadership of Environmental Advocates NY, New York’s oldest environmental organization, shortly after college graduation. She went on to serve in senior roles across state and federal government, including as deputy secretary for the environment in New York, giving her unique insight into both policy-making and grassroots environmental advocacy.

As both an environmental policy expert and environmental justice champion, Enck’s book arrives at a critical time when plastic pollution has reached crisis levels globally. Rather than accepting industry-promoted solutions that often fall short, she presents a roadmap for genuine change that moves beyond superficial fixes to address the root of the plastic problem.

Her message is clear: while the challenge is enormous, meaningful progress is achievable when individuals, communities, businesses, and governments all commit to playing their part in reducing plastic dependency. The book offers hope that collective action can create the systemic changes needed to protect both human health and environmental wellbeing for future generations.