Blog Archives
As You Sow Statement on Dunkin’ Brands Phase out of Foam Cups
Oakland, CA – February 7, 2018 – Conrad MacKerron, senior vice president of As You Sow, made the following statement: As You Sow congratulates Dunkin’ Brands today for choosing a replacement material for its polystyrene foam … MORE
Kroger-Recyclable-Packaging-Proposal-2018
BE IT RESOLVED: Shareowners of Kroger request that the board of directors issue a report, at reasonable cost, omitting confidential information, assessing the environmental impacts of continuing to use unrecyclable brand packaging.
RELEASE: As You Sow Challenges McDonald’s on Environmentally Hazardous Polystyrene Use
Oakland, CA – Shareholder advocacy group As You Sow has re-filed for 2018 a resolution with McDonald’s Corp., urging the company to assess the environmental impact of its use of harmful polystyrene in beverage cups … MORE
McDonald’s-Foam-Polystryene-Resolution-2018
BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Shareowners of McDonald’s request that the board of directors issue a report at reasonable cost, omitting confidential information, assessing the environmental impacts of continued use of polystyrene foam-based food service ware, … MORE
Mondelez-Recyclable Packaging-Resolution-2018
BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Shareowners of Mondelēz International request the Board to issue a report at reasonable cost, omitting confidential information, assessing the environmental impacts of continuing to use non-recyclable brand packaging.
Kraft Heinz Company-Recyclable Packaging 2018
BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Shareowners of Kraft Heinz request that the board of directors issue a report at reasonable cost, omitting confidential information, assessing the environmental impacts of continuing to use non-recyclable brand packaging.
Starbucks Sustainable Packaging Resolution
BE IT RESOLVED: Shareholders request that Starbucks issue a report to shareholders, to be prepared at reasonable cost and omitting proprietary information, fulfilling its environmental leadership commitments by scaling up efforts through a comprehensive policy … MORE
An improbable ocean voyage to end plastic waste
The following is an edited excerpt from “Junk Raft: An Ocean Voyage and a Rising Tide of Activism to Fight Plastic Pollution” by Markus Eriksen (Beacon Press, 2017). Reprinted with permission from Beacon Press.
Column: Method soap’s Pullman factory can benefit S.C. Johnson – if cost cutting doesn’t get in the way
S.C. Johnson, the maker of Raid, Pledge and other household goods, wants to buy soap-maker Method and its South Side factory. That makes me wonder: If successful, what type of local corporate citizen will the … MORE
McDonald’s brings foam cups back to Chicago despite shareholder pressure
July 5, 2017 – Some local McDonald’s restaurants are throwing it back to the old days — not with a new menu item, but with plastic foam cups. McDonald’s says some Chicago-area restaurants are using foam cups … MORE
McDonald’s Consumer Packaging
Phase out of Polystyrene Foam Containers Globally McDonald’s Corp. took an important environmental step forward by phasing out harmful polystyrene (PS) foam packaging for hot beverage cups in the U.S. following engagement with As You … MORE
Target says it will phase out polystyrene packaging
Recycling today-April 7, 2017– Minneapolis-based retailer Target Corp. has “agreed to engage” with its supply chain regarding phasing out polystyrene foam packaging from its online retailing operations, according to the Oakland, California-based nonprofit organization As You Sow.
RELEASE: Target Agrees to Engage Corporate Peers on Phase out of Polystyrene Foam Packaging in E-Commerce
OAKLAND, CA. – April 5, 2017 – As You Sow has withdrawn a shareholder proposal with Target Corp. that asks the company to phase out use of polystyrene foam packaging in its e-commerce operations, as a … MORE
As You Sow calls out McDonald’s, Amazon, Wal-Mart, Target for polystyrene use
Waste Dive-February 7, 2017-As You Sow has asked McDonald’s, Amazon, Target and Walmart to stop using polystyrene to package and ship their products. The group points to a new report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation that recommends the … MORE
Shampoo bottle made from ocean plastics hailed as ‘technical breakthrough’
The Guardian-January 27, 2017-Beaches strewn with plastic waste have become a graphic illustration of just how much plastic we use in everything from food packaging to cosmetics, and how much of it gets thrown away. … MORE
Consumer goods giant Unilever and Ikea buy into green myth
Plastics Today-January 24, 2017-Two more companies have fallen under the spell of what I call green mythology. As You Sow just announced that consumer goods giant Unilever (London) has committed to making 100% of its … MORE
RELEASE: As You Sow asks four global brands to phase out polystyrene foam
AS YOU SOW RELEASE: As You Sow asks four global brands to phase out polystyrene foam OAKLAND, CA – February 6, 2017 – As You Sow has asked four major U.S. companies that use harmful polystyrene foam packaging … MORE
RELEASE: Consumer Goods Giant Unilever Commits to 100% Recyclable Packaging
UNILEVER CONSUMER GOODS RELEASE: Consumer Goods Giant Unilever Commits to 100% Recyclable Packaging OAKLAND, CA – January 19, 2017 – Consumer goods giant Unilever has made a commitment that 100% of its packaging will be … MORE
Kroger-Recyclable-Packaging-Goals-2017
BE IT RESOLVED: Shareowners of Kroger request that the board of directors issue a report, at reasonable cost, omitting confidential information, assessing the environmental impacts of continuing to use unrecyclable brand packaging.
Target-Foam-Packaging-2017
RESOLVED: Shareowners of Target request that the board of directors issue a report at reasonable cost, omitting confidential information, assessing the environmental impacts of continued use of foam packing materials, including quantifying the amount that … MORE
McDonald’s-Foam-Risk-2017
BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Shareowners of McDonald’s request that the board of directors issue a report at reasonable cost, omitting confidential information, assessing the environmental impacts of continued use of polystyrene foam beverage cups, including … MORE
Amazon-Packaging-2017
BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Shareowners of Amazon.com request that the board of directors issue a report at reasonable cost, omitting confidential information, assessing the environmental impacts of continued use of foam packing materials, including quantifying … MORE
Mondelez-Recyclable-Packaging-2017
RESOLVED: Shareowners of Mondelēz International request the Board to issue a report at reasonable cost, omitting confidential information, assessing the environmental impacts of continuing to use non-recyclable brand packaging.
Dunkin-Brands-Recyclable-Packaging-2017
RESOLVED: Shareowners of Dunkin’ Brands request the board of directors to prepare a report on the feasibility of developing a comprehensive recycling and reuse policy for food and beverage packaging to conserve resources, and reduce … MORE
Kraft-Heinz-Packaging-2017
BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Shareowners of Kraft Heinz request that the board of directors issue a report at reasonable cost, omitting confidential information, assessing the environmental impacts of continuing to use non-recyclable brand packaging.
What happened to Dunkin’ Donuts’ vow to get rid of Styrofoam cups?
Digital Journal – September 26, 2016 – In 2010, Dunkin’ Donuts said it was looking for a replacement for its iconic Styrofoam coffee cups because they were environmentally unfriendly. After six years, the company is … MORE
The Power of a Shareholder Proxy
Yahoo Finance – February 19, 2016 – If you own stock in a publicly traded company, you’ll soon receive an email or package in the mail. Either will announce important issues up for a vote … MORE
RELEASE: Shareholders Repudiate Dr Pepper Snapple’s Weak Recycling Goal
Oakland, CA – May 25, 2016 – Shareholders repudiated a weak recycling goal set in February by soda maker Dr Pepper Snapple Group by voting in even stronger numbers than last year for an As … MORE
Activists call for Oreo, Chips Ahoy packaging to be recyclable
Chicago Tribune – May 30, 2016 – Some Oreo and Chips Ahoy packaging isn’t recyclable and often ends up in the ocean where it harms marine life, according to a shareholder activist group pushing manufacturer Mondelez International to take action … MORE
America Recycles Day Should Be Every Day
Huffington Post – Dec. 2, 2015 America Recycles Day came and went without much fanfare this year. Yet it is still a powerful reminder to us not only how far recycling has come since it … MORE
RELEASE: Fast Food Companies Move Toward Improved Packaging Recycling After Shareholder Engagement
As You Sow Release– April 5, 2016 – Chipotle, Dunkin’ Brands, and YUM! Brands have made new commitments toward packaging recycling and composting, leading shareholder advocate group As You Sow to withdraw shareholder proposals filed … MORE
Kroger – Waste – 2016
BE IT RESOLVED: Shareowners of Kroger request that the board of directors issue a report, at reasonable cost, omitting confidential information, assessing the environmental impacts of continuing to use unrecyclable brand packaging.
Chipotle – Consumer Packaging – 2016
BE IT RESOLVED: Shareowners of Chipotle request the board of directors to prepare a report on the feasibility of developing a comprehensive recycling policy for on-site food and beverage packaging by the end of 2016. … MORE
Dunkin’ Donuts – Consumer Packaging – 2016
BE IT RESOLVED: Shareowners of Dunkin’ Brands request the board of directors to prepare a report on the feasibility of developing a comprehensive recycling policy for on-site food and beverage packaging to conserve resources, and … MORE
Dr Pepper Snapple Group – Consumer Packaging – 2016
BE IT RESOLVED: Shareowners of Dr. Pepper Snapple Group request that the board of directors adopt a comprehensive recycling strategy for beverage containers sold by the company and prepare a report by September 1, 2016 … MORE
U.S. Recycling: Green targets – Taking Charge of Recycling
ETHICAL CORPORATION – November 20, 2015 – The hodgepodge that is the US recycling landscape is being overhauled by corporate groups needing reliable and plentiful sources of recycled materials.
Tim Hortons, Starbucks Recycling Claims May Be Garbage
CBC NEWS – October 30, 2015 – Canada’s largest coffee chains are misleading customers about what happens to cups collected in their in-store recycling bins. A CBC Marketplace investigation reveals that many paper cups collected … MORE
Coke, Walmart Kick Off $100m Recycling Fund
THE GUARDIAN – September 25, 2015 – A consortium of 10 of the US’s largest corporations – including Walmart, Coca-Cola and Johnson & Johnson – has announced three new projects designed to boost dismal recycling … MORE
Starbucks and Tim Hortons in Canada May Not Actually Be Recycling Their Coffee Cups
DAILY MEAL – October 30, 2015 – Coffee chains in Canada may boast that they recycle their disposable, paper coffee cups, but a new investigation finds that that may not be the case.
Four Ways Starbucks Can Fix Its Cup Recycling Dilemma
GREENBIZ – November 9, 2015 – Starbucks’ trailblazing efforts to reduce the use of coffee cups and to recycle cups customers use hit turbulence in October with revelations that cups deposited in recycling bins in … MORE
