Contact:
Elizabeth DiSanto, Oceans Associate, (401) 602-0260, [email protected]
Juliana Clejan, Zero Waste Associate, (631) 377-6892, [email protected]
Taran Volckhausen, Communications Associate, (720) 212-9955, [email protected]
Shareholders urge Whole Foods not to use single-use plastic packaging
This is in response to consumer pressure from the company to make plastic less popular.
BOSTON Green Century Capital Management and Amazon shareholder Sara Sackner, with support from shareholder advocacy organization As You Sow, have jointly filed a shareholder resolution with Amazon.com, Inc.* (Amazon) urging the company to reduce its use of plastic packaging across its operations, including Whole Foods Market. Green Century is a PIRG and Environment Americas affiliate mutual fund company. This is the second consecutive year Green Century has filed a shareholder resolution aimed at plastics at Whole Foods.
Elizabeth DiSanto from Environment America, an oceans associate, said that supermarkets like Whole Foods can play a key role in fighting plastic pollution. They are responsible for packaging our food in single-use plastic, which pollutes waterways and litters beaches, as well as causing harm to ocean life, such as whales, sea turtles and dolphins.
Over 28% of all U.S. waste is packagedThis amounts to 82 million tonnes of material that is usually thrown away after a product has been purchased or used. Environment America, PIRG and other coalition partners have pushed Whole Foods for the elimination of single-use plastic. The coalition has nearly 80,000 signatures from consumers to support its efforts.
Whole Foods Market has been a leader in sustainability in grocery stores for many years. It was named the “Best Grocery Store” in 2004. First American grocer2008: To phase out plastic bags at checkout counters. Whole Foods has taken Small stepsSince then, they have worked to reduce plastics by offering paper straws, paper grocery bag, and smaller plastic produce bags as well as removing polystyrene foam completely from their stores.
Whole Foods continues its slide in terms of reducing their plastic use, however. It has been ranked second in plastic reduction for the second year. Received an FAs You Sow is being held responsible for failing to develop a comprehensive plan to deal with plastic waste.
It is obvious that Whole Foods sells plastic packaging. Juliana Clejan (PIRGs Zero waste campaign associate) said that it has become almost impossible to shop without plastic. It is time for Whole Foods not to use so much plastic packaging.
Amazon shareholders comprise 35 percent Voted in support of the resolution from last yearurging the company to stop using plastic. Environment America and PIRG were also leaders in a Thanksgiving campaign. Social media Week of ActionWhole Foods should eliminate single-use plastic packaging. Participants stressed that they only shop at stores that actively work to eliminate single-use plastic packaging and urged Whole Foods not to forget about the environment.
DiSanto stated that nothing we use for just a few seconds should last hundreds of years. We need to stop this problem at its source, and get Whole Foods grocery stores to reduce their plastic use.
Environment America is a network of 29 state environmental groups. Our staff works together to ensure clean air, clean water and open spaces and a livable environment. Our research and advocacy are supported by grassroots support from our members across the United States. Environment America is part The Public Interest Network. It runs organizations that share a common vision of a better future, a set core values, and a strategic approach for getting things done.
U.S. PIRG federation is a federation independent, state-based and citizen-funded Public Interest Research Groups (25 states) whose role it is to find common ground around commonsense strategies that will make our future more secure, healthier, and safer. The Public Interest Network operates and supports organizations who share a vision for a better world and take a strategic approach toward social change. Learn more at uspirg.org.
Green Century Capital Management
Green Century Capital Management, Inc. (Green Century), is the investment advisor for the Green Century Funds (The Funds). The Green Century Funds are the first group of responsible, fossil fuel-free, and diversified mutual fund families in the United States. Green Century Capital Management is the only mutual fund company that is entirely owned by environmental and public-health nonprofit organizations in the United States. It hosts an award-winning shareholder advocacy program.
*As of December 31, 2021, Whole Foods Market, Inc. compromised 0.13%, 0.00%, and 0.00% and Amazon.com, Inc. comprised 0.00%, 0.00%, and 0.00% of the Green Century Balanced Fund, the Green Century Equity Fund, and the Green Century International Index Fund respectively. Other securities mentioned in this article were not held by any of the Green Century Funds portfolios as of that date. Referring to specific securities, which may change due to ongoing management by the Funds should not be taken as a recommendation of the Funds or their administrator.
The percentage in favor was calculated as (i) divising the number votes in support by the proposal by (ii), the sum of all votes cast in support or against the proposal. The calculation did not include broker non-votes and abstentions.
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