Blog Archives

McDonald’s Launches Pilot Program to Drop Polystyrene Coffee Cups

Press Coverage

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McDonald’s Testing Paper Cups for Hot Drinks

Press Coverage

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McDonald’s Testing Eco-Friendlier Coffee Cups

Press Coverage

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Starbucks Downsizes Goal for Reusable Cups

THE SEATTLE TIMES – The coffee colossus no longer aims to get 25 percent of drinks served in ceramic mugs or customers’ tumbler. (…) Starbucks makes no small plans, but occasionally one of its endeavors … MORE >

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Extended Producer Responsibility

Make It, Take It! Background Humanity is overshooting Earth’s ecological limits, consuming resources and generating waste at an unsustainable rate. Packaging materials are valuable resources, yet at least 43 million tons of plastic, glass, metal, … MORE >

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Dunkin Donuts – Consumer Packaging – 2013

As You Sow has engaged in dialogue with Dunkin’ Donuts about reducing consumer packaging waste.

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Dunkin’ Donuts

Dunkin’ Donuts is an American global doughnut company and coffeehouse chain. Dunkin’ Donuts to Remove Nanomaterials from Powdered Donuts As You Sow Withdraws Shareholder Proposal on Nanomaterials Use Following Dunkin’s Commitment Dunkin’ Brands, the parent … MORE >

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Whole Foods

Whole Foods Market has a reputation for caring about corporate social responsibility especially in regard to packaging. It encourages offers a nickel credit for customers who bring in their own bags, offers items in bulk … MORE >

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General Mills – Consumer Packaging – 2011

Shareowners of General Mills request that the board of directors issue a report at reasonable cost, omitting confidential information, by February 1, 2012 assessing the feasibility of adopting a policy of Extended Producer Responsibility for … MORE >

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General Mills – Consumer Packaging – 2013

Shareowners of General Mills request that the board of directors issue a report, at reasonable cost and omitting confidential information, addressing company responsibility for post‐consumer product packaging and a plan for developing and participating in … MORE >

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Product Stewardship Institute

The Product Stewardship Institute promotes EPR and product stewardship policies by providing information and working to build consensus among stakeholders.

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Plastic Pollution Coalition

A global alliance of individuals, organizations, and businesses working to stop plastic pollution and its toxic impacts on humans, animals, and the environment.

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National Recycling Coalition

The National Recycling Coalition is a coalition of organizations, NGOs, professional recyclers, and the beverage industry.

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Electronics Take Back Coalition

The Electronics Take Back Coalition promotes green design and responsible recycling in the electronics industry by using extended producer responsibility as a policy tool.

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Container Recycling Institute

The Container Recycling Institute studies and promotes policies and programs that increase recovery and recycling of beverage containers, and shift the social and environmental costs associated with manufacturing, recycling, and disposal of container and packaging … MORE >

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Clean Water Action

Clean Water Action works on a variety of water quality issues, including the impact of post-consumer packaging waste on waterways and wildlife.

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California Product Stewardship Council

CPSC is focused on shifting California’s waste management system from government and taxpayer funding to producer funded models, especially through promoting new state legislation.

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Starbucks Coffee

Starbucks Corporation is an American global coffee company and coffeehouse chain. It is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, operating in 62 countries. The company has made an impressive commitment to recycle all post-consumer … MORE >

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Yum! Brands

YUM! Brands is the world’s largest restaurant company. It operates or licenses major fast-food chains including Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut. It has 38,000 restaurant locations worldwide in more than 120 countries and global … MORE >

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Walmart

Walmart is the second largest retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, yet does not have an electronics recycling and take-back strategy. The aim is of our engagement is to encourage Walmart to develop … MORE >

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Procter & Gamble (P&G)

P&G is the world’s largest maker of consumer packaged goods, operating in more than 180 countries. SHAREHOLDERS REPRESENTING $35BN PRESS PROCTER & GAMBLE FOR RECYCLABLE PACKAGING Company Also Commits to 90% Recyclable Packaging by 2020 … MORE >

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Mondelēz International

Asserting that unrecyclable packaging wastes resources and contributes to the growing pollution of world oceans, our 2014 shareholder resolution asking Mondelez International to assess the risks on unrecyclable brand packaging received 28.4% shareholder support representing … MORE >

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General Mills

General Mills, Inc. is an American Fortune 500 corporation that produces food products. As You Sow has engaged with General Mills on issues related to recyclable packaging, GMOs, and pollinator protection. As You Sow Applauds … MORE >

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Target

Target Corp. is among the top 15 U.S. e-commerce retailers with $70 billion in annual revenue. As You Sow is in dialogue with the company as part of its work on reducing plastic pollution to … MORE >

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Amazon – E-Waste – 2013

In 2013, As You Sow filed a shareholder proposal asking Amazon to explore ways it can provide its customers with take-back of used electronics.

We withdrew the proposal in exchange for a series of in-person meetings with company management to discuss the feasibility of crafting a policy on used electronics recycling. MORE >

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Basel Action Network

The Basel Action Network has done unique original reporting about improper disposal of electronic equipment in developing countries.

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RELEASE: Dunkin’ Donuts Moves to More Sustainable Coffee Cups

As You Sow Press Release

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Amazon

Amazon.com is the second largest online U.S. retailer of consumer electronics with revenue of $61 billion in 2012, yet offers no comprehensive electronic waste take-back options for the vast majority of electronics it sells. In … MORE >

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Dunkin’ Donuts Paper Cups and Gluten-Free Donuts Coming Soon

MOTHER NATURE NETWORK – June 21, 2013 – Over the course of the next few years, fans of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee won’t have to feel guilty about having their morning cup of Joe in an … MORE >

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Dunkin’ Donuts is Going Green

QSR – June 20, 2013 – Dunkin’ Donuts is throwing out its foam coffee cups. Dunkin’ Brands Group, parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin Robins, announced in its corporate social responsibility (CSR) report that … MORE >

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U.S. Packaging Recycling Would Benefit From Extended Producer Responsibility

WASTE MANAGEMENT WORLD – June 4, 2013 – In those countries which have implemented them, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs for packaging have increased packaging recycling rates and could provide an effective policy for the … MORE >

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Kraft Foods – Consumer Packaging – 2012

In 2012, we filed a proposal asking Kraft Foods (now known as Mondelez International) to explore the feasibility of adopting an EPR policy for post-consumer product packaging. A quarter of investors supported our resolution, a … MORE >

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You See Garbage, I See Value: Let’s Make Recycling a Business a No-Brainer

GOOD MAGAZINE- March 7, 2013 – Did you know that only 34 percent of municipal solid waste is recycled in the U.S.? That’s because recycling programs are inconsistent and vary in quality across the country.

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Colgate-Palmolive – Consumer Packaging – 2012

Our 2012 shareholder resolution with Colgate-Palmolive requested they explore the feasibility of adopting an EPR policy for post-consumer product packaging as a means of reducing carbon emissions and air and water pollution resulting from the … MORE >

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At Starbucks: Paper or Plastic?

USA TODAY – January 3, 2013 – Amid public pressure to curb trash from disposable cups, Starbucks is rolling out a novel possible solution today: a $1 reusable tumbler.

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Dr Pepper Snapple Group – Consumer Packaging – 2012

Our shareholder proposal gained support from a third of the company’s investors at the 2012 annual meeting. Our resolution asked Dr Pepper to develop a comprehensive recycled content or container recovery strategy.

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McDonald’s

The McDonald’s Corporation is the world’s largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, operating in 119 countries. Recent News As You Sow Files To Reduce Antibiotics In All Livestock In 2015, McDonald’s adopted a U.S. … MORE >

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Consumer Packaging

Presses consumer packaged goods and grocery companies to take responsibility for post-consumer packaging waste. MORE >

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Waste

Our Waste Program advocates for more responsible production and recycling of consumer products and packaging to preserve the Earth’s limited natural resources. We want to reduce and then eliminate waste, especially in the post-consumer phase through adoption by companies of extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies. MORE >

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Our Work

As You Sow tackles some of the most important environmental and social issues facing the world today. Read about our programs below, then click through to learn more about our efforts to hold corporations accountable. … MORE >

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