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.
As You Sow Statement on McDonald’s Recycling Goal Announcement
As You Sow congratulates McDonald’s Corp. on its industry-leading goal announced today to recycle all post-consumer packaging in all its restaurants by 2025. This action follows several years of dialogue by As You Sow with … MORE
McDonalds’s Promises to Eliminate Foam Packaging by 2019 in Response to As You Sow Challenge
Oakland, CA, January 10, 2018 – In December, shareholder advocacy group As You Sow filed for 2018 resolution with McDonald’s Corp., urging the company to assess the environmental impact of its use of harmful polystyrene in beverage cups … MORE
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.
RESOLUTION: Starbucks Corporation – Request Sustainable Packaging
Filing Year: 2018 Company: Starbucks Corporation Download PDF WHEREAS: Starbucks Corporation has emphasized a commitment to environmental leadership, yet failed to attain key environmental commitments. Starbucks continues to use mostly single use cups and service ware, … MORE
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.
Can activist investors encourage better carpet recycling?
The challenges on the road to a circular economy are evident within the carpet industry. The U.S. sector produces about 12 billion square feet of carpet and rugs per year. Around 91 percent of end-of-life … MORE
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
Carpet Recycling
The U.S. carpet industry lags in actions to make discarded carpets recyclable and commitments to ensure that they are collected and recycled. As companies incorporate circular economy framing into their sustainability programs, it is important … 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
AbbVie-Pharmaceutical-Waste-2017
BE IT RESOLVED: Shareowners of AbbVie request that the board of directors issue a report, at reasonable expense and excluding proprietary information, reviewing the company’s existing policies for safe disposition by users of prescription drugs … MORE
Johnson-and-Johnson-Pharmaceutical-Disposal-2017
RESOLVED: Shareowners of Johnson & Johnson request that the board of directors issue a report, at reasonable expense and excluding proprietary information, reviewing the company’s existing policies for safe disposition by users of prescription drugs … MORE
Pfizer-Pharmaceutical-Waste-2017
RESOLVED: Shareowners of Pfizer request that the board of directors issue a report, at reasonable expense and excluding proprietary information, reviewing the company’s existing policies for safe disposition by users of prescription drugs to prevent … 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
Ocean Plastics
Plastic Ocean Pollution and Consumer Packaging Plastic ocean pollution, a component of marine litter, injures and kills marine life, spreads toxins, and poses a potential threat to human health. The ocean already contains an estimated … 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
Big Pharma Under Pressure to Pay For Drug Take-Back Programs
Fortune – April 30, 2016 – More laws requiring Big Pharma to take financial responsibility. On Saturday, April 30, the Drug Enforcement Agency calls on Americans to “safely” dispose of unused and unwanted medications. As part of the National Prescription Drug Take-Back … MORE
Non-profit Urges Big Pharma to Take Responsibility for Drug Take Back Programs
BioPharma DIVE – April 27, 2016 – The non-profit “As You Sow” is spearheading an effort to make pharmaceutical companies responsible for disposal of unused drugs, with support from socially responsible investment funds. Some of the … 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
