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Shareholder resolution season is ongoing with numerous proposals targeting the use of packaging by CPGs, foodservices and hotel companies.
These gloop For years, the focus has been on plastic packaging, and the theme continues. This time, categories such as flexible packaging and reusable packaging have also appeared. Companies have the option to challenge resolutions with the Securities and Exchange Commission, but so far, several proposals have sought a potential vote. The group has also reached agreements to withdraw proposals at several companies.
flexible
Shareholder advocacy group Sow has chosen to focus on flexibility this year. US Plastic Agreement and Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
“I think we need to have some accountability when the deadline is overlooked,” said Conrad Mackerron, senior vice president of As Sow. “If we see the ongoing struggle just to recycle something as simple as a pet bottle, I think how they will soon achieve flexible recycling on a large scale.”
Flexibility and film It often appears as a challenge For businesses that want to make their packaging portfolios recyclable due to multi-material design and other factors.
Sow’s language requires companies to develop reports on “reputation, financial and operational risks” as they evaluate actions such as using non-recyclable packages and eliminating these packages and eliminating reusable alternatives.
PepsiCo demanded that the SEC be disqualified when you propose and now it is now Recommended The shareholders vote against it. According to the company, “flexible films consist of only about 5% of their total packaging portfolio” in 2023, “optimized to safely deliver certain snack products with relatively low GHG and water footprints.”
Craft Heinz too Recommended The shareholder voted against the proposal, saying, “Recycling in many countries where we sell our products is not progressing enough to efficiently collect, recycle and convert these materials into viable final products on a large scale.”
The companies cited their involvement in various voluntary initiatives to fund and research material recycling and involvement in future state EPR programs. Both also paid attention to investments in compostable packaging. PepsiCo said it has achieved some success with paper-based packaging, but not if high barriers are required.
In some cases, businesses want chemical recycling to become a flexible packaging solution, both with recyclable and qualified flexibility and using process recycled content, but the technology is still not active on a large scale. McKellon isn’t sure it’s the solution. This is because in some cases, “the actual yield is low,” making it difficult to know how many materials are transformed into plastic and fuel. “We don’t know because most of them don’t disclose,” he said.
McKellon has noted several initial advances in standardizing risk disclosure and reporting through a group of CPG, packaging and petrochemical companies. Responsible Production Guidelines for the US Plastics Agreement. Participating companies have yet to identify themselves in the process.
Reuse
Promoting greater adoption of reusable packages is a continuing focus for shareholder advocacy groups.
Coca-Cola Co. has recently attracted criticism I’ll return that pledge 25% reusable packaging by 2030 in favor of various recycling-related goals. Green Century funds said they recently reached an agreement to withdraw the resolution at the company. Coca-Cola agreed “We will disclose the continued investment in reusable bottles and the results of these efforts.”
“Although Coca-Cola has regretted its plastic reduction and reuse goals, this new commitment to disclosing reusable packaging investments and results will help investors track the company’s efforts to mitigate plastic-related risks.”
“We are investing and working on expanding refillable packaging options, and this work will continue as part of a consumer-centric strategy,” said Daniel Hughes, director of continuous communications at Coca-Cola. Hughes said glass bottles accounted for 1.6 billion units of the company’s total volume in 2024, growing at a rate that “outperformed the company’s overall volume.”
Green Century has also been announced Same agreement as Starbucksthe company “consented to share actions and plans to increase the adoption of reusable cups by early 2026.” The coffee chain recently expanded its encouragement for reusable ceramic mugs at its stores and joined again Other exam programs.
Starbucks did not respond to requests for comment.
Recyclability
The Green Century Starbucks proposal touched on another important theme of the year: recyclability labeling and pledge.
According to the group, Starbucks also agreed to internally assess recyclability claims aimed at customers and “remove misleading labels” in connection with the Federal Trade Commission’s Green Guide.
The fund has also announced a related agreement this year with Sealed Air, the only known converter with packaging-related shareholder resolutions targeted this.
Companies that manufacture plastic protective packaging and other products are Business Shift recently. Green Century An agreement has been reached In sealed air, phase out its use “Store Drop-Off” recycle label By the end of the year. Environmental groups have previously questioned the effectiveness of these stores’ drop-off systems and whether they are misleading to consumers.
The group also said it had agreed to “disclosing total plastic and fiber footprints by 2026 and investing in non-plastic packaging options.”
Sealed Air’s latest sustainability report did not disclose board failures. As of December 2023“Recycled content derived from plastics or fibers accounts for 14% of the weight of materials sold” and “Content derived from virgin fiber or other newly produced bio-based materials accounts for 3% of the weight of materials sold.”
The enclosed air did not respond to requests for comment.
The last beach cleanup of non-profit targeted Kraftheinz suggestion “Contains a de facto basis for all recyclability and legitimacy of claims for recycled content,” which requires the company to issue a report by the end of the year. Kraft Heinz opposed the proposal for a variety of reasons, including a statement that “there are strict internal measures,” designed to help our pack claims not to mislead consumers.
Additionally, the last beach cleanup submitted what it describes as the first suggestion We ask Mondelēz to issue a report by December “including the de facto basis for the legitimacy of all recycled content claims regarding plastic packaging.” The proposal was cited through Mondelēz’s recent decision to source plastics linked to chemical recycling. Mass balance Accounting approach Specific Trisquet Packages. Mondels opposes the proposal.
Recyclability also showed up in other 2025 proposals from sow. They include a resolution asking hotel chains Wyndham and Hyatt about plans to reduce plastics. Both were withdrawn following an agreement with the company. The hotel sector has seen a push towards refillable or large format toiletry bottles recent yearsdriven by some State law.
Similar proposals are targeted at Home Depot In recent years, certain types of plastic have been phased out. and I disagree with the solutionand Wendy’s, It is listed in previous sustainability reports Use of textile alternatives in some markets.
For a complete list of packaging-related shareholder resolutions for major companies, see below. Do you know other people? Please email to [email protected].
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include additional suggestions submitted to Mondelēz.
