
Waste and opportunity 2020: Searching for Corporate Leadership - 50 corporations ranked on plastic packaging pollution
The 2020 published report by As You Sow investigates 50 corporations and ranks them based on their performance in leadership and ambition relating to sustainable packaging of their products, while also taking into account their contributions and support to increase recycling rates and engage in producer responsibility efforts.
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OVERVIEW
The report published by As You Sow in 2020 was in response to the escalating global issue of plastic production and pollution. In order to provide context, the report highlights the negative impacts that plastic is inflicting on human health, terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and climate change.
As You Sow identifies corporations as massive contributors to this issue and are therefore implored to show leadership and ambition to combat the prevalence of single use plastic packaging seen in today’s market. This study was specifically conducted to monitor the progression of 50 large corporations by surveying them in regards to leadership in sustainable product packaging and related areas. The corporations that were surveyed are a combination of publicly traded restaurants, food and drink companies, consumer packaged goods companies and various retailers.
The report identifies six pillars of sustainable plastic packaging, and the 50 companies were ranked based on their leadership performance and proactivity in each of these areas. The grades were produced by analysing current publicly accessible information as well as answers to a survey that the 50 companies had completed.
The six pillars:
- Packaging Design – This regards prioritising reusable, recyclable and compostable packaging. In addition, considering plastic packaging alternatives and ensuring that packaging is compliant with collection and recycling programs/processes.
- Reusable Packaging – This involves implementing reusable or refillable packaging systems and transitioning toward zero to low-waste single use packaging.
- Recycle Content – The proactivity of companies increasing the amount of recycled content used in plastic packaging.
- Packaging Transparency – Whether companies are willing to disclose information relating to weight and units of packaging produced and dispersed as well as virgin plastics generated for products verses recycled content used.
- Supporting Recycling – Whether corporations financially support recycling research and infrastructure and minimise the impact that packaging has at points of collection and processing.
- Producer Responsibility – Proactively supporting programs and/or initiatives that aim to increase recycling rates.
Positive trends and outcomes of the report:
- Packaging Design and Recycled Content were seen as the areas where leadership and progress were more prominent among companies.
- 19 of the 50 companies pledged to make all packaging recyclable by 2025.
- Trends among newer companies see them adopting reusable packaging models.
- Several companies have now agreed to disclose unit sales, this helps to more accurately monitor reductions in plastic use.
Identified concerns and areas for improvement:
- The remaining four areas – Supporting Recycling, Producer Responsibility, Reusable Packaging, and Packaging Transparency – were seen to be less of a priority as reflected in the grading.
- Companies that manufacture products in pouch and sachet packaging are struggling to find recyclable alternatives. This combined with the fact that these are becoming popular packaging options indicates the potential to exacerbate the plastic pollution and issues in recyclability of packaging.
- There is slow uptake of companies switching to reusable products.
- The amount of recycled content that products are made up of is low.
- Most companies have not agreed to support or partake in necessary solutions in producer responsibility law.
KEY INSIGHTS
- As You Sow contends that harnessing the power of stakeholder advocacy and holding corporations responsible is crucial in the fight against single use plastics dominating the market.
- Sustainable finance, with a focus on corporate engagement, and the adoption of an environmentally and socially inclusive lens when investing in companies, is key to getting these companies to take action.
- All companies except one (Unilever PLC), received a C, D, or F as their average score across the six areas. The high number of poor and failing grades reflects a lack of basic goal setting, strategy, and planning which must be developed to effectively address the plastic pollution crisis.
- The six largest companies based on revenue that averaged a D or an F are Walmart Inc., Kroger Co., PepsiCo, Tyson Foods, Inc., Kraft Heinz Co., and Mondelēz International.
- Major company Unilever PLC pledged to reduce plastic packaging by 100,000 tons and use 25% recycled plastic content by 2025. This is considered a significant commitment and sign of leadership. Unilever PLC scored an average B-.
- Coca-Cola Co., Colgate-Palmolive Company, Nestlé, PepsiCo, and Unilever PLC have been identified within the top 10 polluters by Break Free From Plastics and are large companies in their own right. They also happen to be the companies that scored the highest in packaging sustainability.
- The commitment of larger companies compared with limited evidence of commitments from lesser-known companies, infers that perceived reputation and public pressure are driving factors in efforts to fund policies and programs that aim to reduce plastic pollution and address single use packaging. This accentuates the power of consumer choice and demand for companies to start operating within a sustainable finance framework.
- The authors of the report urge corporations to adopt practices that adhere to a circular economy means of designing product packaging.
- Ambitious and financially measurable reusable packaging commitments are rare. Most companies are lagging in establishing reusable packaging models and are not moving swiftly enough to replace single-use packaging.
- While some encouraging first steps, given the scope and seriousness of the plastic pollution crisis, far more companies must make commitments to reduce the total amount of plastic used, reduce the amount of virgin plastic used, and dramatically increase use of recycled content. These pledges need to be paired with financial support for more efficient recycling systems, enhanced recycling processing infrastructure, and expanded processing markets.