What to do when you face the likelihood you will fail to reach a goal you set yourself only a short while ago? Well, you move the goalposts, of course. Or, at least, that is what you do if you are a large corporation that is having second thoughts about your public commitment to reduce plastic waste, as indicated in the article in the url below:
"In 2020, dozens of major companies joined the U.S. Plastics Pact, signaling a commitment to minimizing plastic waste. Their goals included phasing out plastic straws, cutlery and intentionally-added PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals"; recycling or composting half of their plastic packaging; and making sure 100% of plastic packaging would be reusable, recyclable or compostable—all by 2025."
After all, the companies that signed this pledge are responsible for up to a third of all plastic waste in the U.S.:
"Signatories include major brands like General Mills, Nestlé, Kraft Heinz and Coca-Cola Co., the largest known contributor to global branded plastic waste, according to research published in the journal Science Advances. Retailers like Walmart and Target and packaging and materials suppliers also signed."
While all the companies have reiterated their commitment to reducing plastic waste, of course, the targets will need to wait a little longer:
"Now, with the 2025 deadline close at hand, the U.S. Plastics Pact has published an updated set of objectives. They look a lot like the 2020 goals, with a key difference: Many of the target dates have been pushed back to 2030."
OK, so one reconsideration is understandable. After all, this is difficult stuff, right?
"It is not the first time companies have pushed back timelines for aggressive recycling targets. Coca-Cola and Nestlé both made public promises as far back as 2007 and 2008 that didn't come to fruition, according to the Conservation Law Foundation, an environmental advocacy group."
As always, it is easy to find reasons why we cannot make the progress we need to make. Ultimately, though, we either make the changes we need to, or we do not:
"Today, less than 10% of plastic waste in the U.S. is recycled annually, according to a 2023 report from the National Academy of Sciences. While companies frequently tout pilot projects for plant-based plastics or paper bottles, the problem is expected to get worse in the future. Recent projections have found that plastic waste could triple by 2060, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development."
Take care
David
David Chandler
© Sage Publications, 2023
Strategic CSR Simulation: http://www.strategiccsrsim.com/
The library of CSR Newsletters are archived at: https://strategiccsr-sage.blogspot.com/
Companies Push Back Plastic-Waste Goals
By H. Claire Brown
June 11, 2024
The Wall Street Journal
Late Edition – Final
B10
