Meet ... Conrad MacKerron, Senior Vice President, As You Sow

Q5: How should sustainable investors react to 2016's political events?

"In the U.S., we need to defend against any efforts to weaken our ability to engage and file shareholder proposals with companies. Small and medium-sized shareholders, like those of many SRI firms, have often been the early warning system to companies on business risk. It is often passionate smaller investors who educate companies first on issues that could blow up eventually into big crises, like toxic ingredients, air and water pollution and waste, and supply chain labor rights. In many instances, these are brought initially to investors’ attention by committed social and religious investors."

Invest Your ValuesAs You SowApril 18, 2017Conrad MacKerron

Target says it will phase out polystyrene packaging

Polystyrene foam used for direct-to-consumer packing materials is rarely recycled, As You Sow says. “More than 100 U.S. cities or counties and nine countries have banned or restricted foam packaging in various forms,” states the group.

“We are pleased that Target has committed to work with corporate partners and peers to press for alternatives to environmentally harmful foam,” says Conrad MacKerron, As You Sow senior vice president.

Waste, Circular EconomyAs You SowApril 7, 2017Consumer Packaging, Conrad MacKerron

What happened to Dunkin' Donuts' vow to get rid of Styrofoam cups?

"They're being reactive," said Conrad MacKerron, senior vice president of As You Sow. They have been trying for years to get Dunkin' Donuts to get rid of their foam cups. "They're in a comfortable spot because they've made the commitment, and now they say they're just trying the get the logistics right."

Waste, Circular EconomyAs You SowSeptember 26, 2016Consumer Packaging, Conrad MacKerron

Activists call for Oreo, Chips Ahoy packaging to be recyclable

Come May 18, at the company's annual meeting in suburban Lincolnshire, Mondelez shareholders will vote on a proposal introduced by As You Sow, a California-based nonprofit that challenges corporations on social and environmental issues. The group has brought similar proposals to Mondelez investors for the last three years, receiving about 28 percent support last year.

"We are sending a message here that's slowly catching on," said Conrad MacKerron, senior vice president of As You Sow. "We'll see what happens."

Oreo and Chips Ahoy cookies are "increasingly packaged in flexible film or other plastic packaging, such as pouches, that are not recyclable," according to As You Sow's proposal.

As You Sow is requesting a report that would assess the environmental impact and financial risks of using nonrecyclable packaging and set a timeline for phasing out such materials.

As You Sow doesn't typically buy shares of a given company directly, instead partnering with like-minded shareholders who sign off on the group representing their interests, MacKerron said.

"Over the years, McDonald's has engaged in constructive dialogue with As You Sow on a variety of topics, such as a multistakeholder project to address supply chain working conditions in Chinese toy factories and general conversations with updates on McDonald's packaging," McDonald's spokeswoman Lisa McComb said in an email.

The proposals are intended to "forestall harm, create value for the company or hopefully both," said Danielle Fugere, president and chief counsel of As You Sow. And even shareholder proposals that receive very little support can start a conversation within a company.

"It's an important process no matter what the outcome is in a given year," Fugere said.

Waste, Circular EconomyAs You SowMarch 30, 2016Consumer Packaging, Conrad MacKerron, Danielle Fugere