Absolute Cuts in Plastic

Recycling is important, but it’s not going to stem the tide of plastic pollution engulfing our oceans. A July report from Pew Charitable Trusts found that even if all current industry and government commitments were met, ocean plastic deposition would be reduced by only 7%; and that without immediate, sustained new commitments, annual flow of plastic into oceans could nearly triple by 2040. It also found that plastic pollution could be cut by ~80% in 20 years by aggressively applying existing solutions and technologies

We filed shareholder resolutions demanding absolute cuts in overall use of plastic with ten major consumer goods and retail companies. With a first-time resolution, it usually takes a while to elicit action — but Unilever made the first commitment, and now Keurig Dr Pepper, Pepsi, Mondelez (Chips Ahoy, Oreo, Triscuit), Target, and Walmart have also made absolute-cut commitments.

It’s a great start but not enough. We’re staying on it.