PLASTICS AND ENVIRONMENT
PepsiCo and Mondelez agree to cut use of virgin plastics for packaging / As You Sow withdraws shareholder proposals filed with US giants
 Mondelez has set a reduction target for 2025 to reduce the use of virgin plastics in packaging by 5% (Photo: Mondelez) |
After a conversation with US environmental pressure group As You Sow (Berkeley, California; www.asyousow.org), food and beverage giant PepsiCo (Purchase, New York / USA; www.pepsico.com) and food conglomerate Mondelez International (Deerfield, Illinois / USA; www.mondelezinternational.com) have agreed to cut their use of virgin plastics for packaging.
Mondelez said it has set a reduction target for 2025 to reduce the use of virgin plastics in packaging by 5%, and by 25% in rigid packaging, initiatives expected reduce virgin-plastic packaging by 10,000 t. PepsiCo said it is still assessing the size of cuts and will announce the goal later in 2021. The beverage giant has, however, committed to a time-bound target for reducing virgin plastics across its business units. In 2019, PepsiCo had agreed to reduce virgin plastics content by 35% in its beverage portfolio, by 2025. In July 2020, As You Sow’s report criticised PepsiCo for failing to address the waste crisis (see Plasteurope.com of 14.07.2020). In Germany, PepsiCo Deutschland (Neu-Isenburg; www.pepsico.de) intends to exclusively use PET recyclate for the production of carbonated soft drinks (CSD) bottles from the end of 2021 (see Plasteurope.com of 03.11.2020).
In recognition of the latest steps, As You Sow has withdrawn shareholder proposals filed with Mondelez and PepsiCo in February 2021 (see Plasteurope.com of 25.02.2021). The proposals were submitted based on data collected in the report, “Breaking the Plastic Wave: A Comprehensive Assessment of Pathways Towards Stopping Ocean Plastic Pollution” by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF, Cowes / UK; www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org), environmental group Common Seas (Bristol / UK; www.commonseas.com), the University of Oxford and the University of Leeds.
However, according to As You Sow, cuts in virgin plastics, while beneficial in several ways, may or may not lead to lower plastics consumption overall, as virgin polymers can be substituted for recyclate without redesigning packaging or transitioning into reusable options. Countering the same, some brand owners and leading food chains from all over the world have been leading the way with sustainable and renewable packaging (see Plasteurope.com of 10.03.2021).
Mondelez said it has set a reduction target for 2025 to reduce the use of virgin plastics in packaging by 5%, and by 25% in rigid packaging, initiatives expected reduce virgin-plastic packaging by 10,000 t. PepsiCo said it is still assessing the size of cuts and will announce the goal later in 2021. The beverage giant has, however, committed to a time-bound target for reducing virgin plastics across its business units. In 2019, PepsiCo had agreed to reduce virgin plastics content by 35% in its beverage portfolio, by 2025. In July 2020, As You Sow’s report criticised PepsiCo for failing to address the waste crisis (see Plasteurope.com of 14.07.2020). In Germany, PepsiCo Deutschland (Neu-Isenburg; www.pepsico.de) intends to exclusively use PET recyclate for the production of carbonated soft drinks (CSD) bottles from the end of 2021 (see Plasteurope.com of 03.11.2020).
In recognition of the latest steps, As You Sow has withdrawn shareholder proposals filed with Mondelez and PepsiCo in February 2021 (see Plasteurope.com of 25.02.2021). The proposals were submitted based on data collected in the report, “Breaking the Plastic Wave: A Comprehensive Assessment of Pathways Towards Stopping Ocean Plastic Pollution” by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF, Cowes / UK; www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org), environmental group Common Seas (Bristol / UK; www.commonseas.com), the University of Oxford and the University of Leeds.
However, according to As You Sow, cuts in virgin plastics, while beneficial in several ways, may or may not lead to lower plastics consumption overall, as virgin polymers can be substituted for recyclate without redesigning packaging or transitioning into reusable options. Countering the same, some brand owners and leading food chains from all over the world have been leading the way with sustainable and renewable packaging (see Plasteurope.com of 10.03.2021).
16.03.2021 Plasteurope.com [247193-0]
Published on 16.03.2021