Corporate Insistence On Single-Use Plastics & Protecting The Environment

Corporations all over the world need to make a choice — are they going to commit to a future in which reliance on fossil fuel-based plastics is only a memory? Or are they going to continue to contribute to the 300 million tons of plastics produced every year, half of which is for single use? Loud investments in R&D to investigate future alternatives to plastics is a weak starting point, more public relations than practical reform. Our planet depends on corporations eliminating single-use plastics from all packaging — now.

Waste, Circular EconomyAsYouSowFebruary 4, 2019Carolyn Fortuna, Ocean Plastics

KFC, Walmart Canada Latest to Commit to Plastic Use Reduction

Plastic is a hot topic in Davos this week and more big-name companies are stepping up commitments to reducing plastic waste -- playing catch-up to other industry leaders.

Waste, Circular EconomyAsYouSowJanuary 24, 2019Carmen Reinicke, Ocean Plastics

Plastics industry launches waste initiative

In what is being billed as the largest-ever effort of its kind, 28 companies have formed the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, which plans to invest up to $1.5 billion over the next five years on projects to keep plastic trash out of the ocean.

Waste, Circular EconomyAsYouSowJanuary 24, 2019Ocean Plastics, Alexander H. Tullo

Investors Demand Nestle, Pepsi and Others Cut Plastic Use

A group of 25 investors managing more than $1 trillion in assets are demanding that Nestle SA, PepsiCo Inc., Procter & Gamble Co. and Unilever NV reduce their use of plastic packaging, calling it environmentally damaging.

The initiative was organized by As You Sow, a nonprofit shareholder advocacy group that pushes companies to act responsibly.

Waste, Circular EconomyAsYouSowJune 21, 2018Conrad MacKerron, Consumer Packaging, Ocean Plastics

As You Sow launches investor alliance to engage companies on plastic pollution

As You Sow is pleased to announce the launch of the Plastic Solutions Investor Alliance, an international coalition of investors that will engage publicly traded consumer goods companies on the threat posed by plastic waste and pollution. Twenty-five institutional investors from four countries with a combined $1 trillion of assets under management have signed a declarationciting plastic pollution as a clear corporate brand risk and pledging to interact with leading companies to find solutions through new corporate commitments, programs, and policies.

Waste, Circular EconomyAsYouSowJune 15, 2018Ocean Plastics, Conrad MacKerron, Consumer Packaging

What Happened To The Recyclable Cup Starbucks Promised Us Back in 2015?

In 2017, As You Sow, the nation's non-profit leader in shareholder advocacy, called Starbucks out for its single-use plastic cups, shortcomings with previous sustainability promises, and failure to phase out their signature green plastic straws.

Waste, Circular EconomyAsYouSowApril 23, 2018Conrad MacKerron, Starbucks, Ocean Plastics

Dunkin' Donuts to stop using foam cups by 2020

"This is a big victory, and it's taken a long time. Dunkin agreed way back in 2010, in theory, to phase out [foam cups], but it took until today for them to actually give a date and to say that they are going to switch to paper... We're talking about some very positive impacts on world oceans in terms of reducing plastic pollution," said Conrad MacKerron, Senior Vice President of As You Sow.

Waste, Circular EconomyAsYouSowFebruary 7, 2018Ocean Plastics, Consumer Packaging