Fame and Shame

Retailers Need to Clean Up Their Act!

The plastic pollution crisis is the result of a broken system of overproduction and single-use, linear business models. We think it's about time this changed - and retailers have a big part to play.

Why retailers are part of the solution 

If we want to truly solve the plastic pollution problem, we must clean up the places where people are most often confronted with plastic. For most of us, those places are retailers: companies that buy products (such as food, consumer goods, etc) from a manufacturer or wholesaler and sell them to customers, either in a physical shop and/or online.

This World Cleanup Day, we are calling on retailers to clean up their act and break free from plastic. Join us to celebrate the retailer leaders and shame the laggards!

CLICK TO ENLARGE

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Fame and Shame

  • Fame: we invite you to nominate the retailer that you believe is leading the way in providing solutions to the plastic problem.

  • Shame: we would also like you to name the retailer that, in your eyes, is not doing enough to offer resolutions to the growing amount of plastic waste that is produced.

Tell us why you nominate these companies and if you feel able, please take a photo for either/both submission.

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CLICK TO ENLARGE

Background

Everyday Plastic joined a group of organisations from the global Break Free From Plastic movement to determine what kinds of changes retailers must make in order to address plastic pollution. Here’s what we concluded:

Break Free From Plastic Demands to Retailers:

  • Retailers must transition toward 30% reusable packaging and reuse models, across categories, by 2030.

  • Reusable packaging and/or reuse models must replace existing single-use plastic packaging and products.

  • This transition must be enabled and supported by law and policies, and it must be prioritized by a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty.

  • Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies and other parts of the supply chain will need to work collaboratively to adapt accordingly to new retailer models.

In order to achieve this target, retailers must act now to redesign systems, reveal plastics, and remove toxics:

  • Redesign: Retailers must invest in business-wide systemic solutions such as reuse and refill models, deposit return schemes, package-free designs, and alternative delivery systems. This includes supporting policy and legislation that can enable this transition, and ending regressive greenwashing that stalls real progress.

  • Reveal: Retailers must reveal their total plastic footprint across supply chains. This includes: 

    • Plastic used in products, packaging, transportation, and carrier bags

    • Both own and other brands, across product categories

    • A disclosure in units, weight, format, and types of plastic

  • Remove: Retailers must set specific, measurable, and time-bound plastic targets that eliminate toxic chemical additives and single-use packaging. These targets must be applied consistently across all categories, products sold and markets, including both own brand and other branded plastic products. Retailers must ensure that removing single-use plastic packaging is not replaced with other single-use packaging materials.

  • Reimagine: Retailers must support a just transition by investing in new business models that are as fair and inclusive as possible to workers and customers alike, creating sustainable job opportunities and leaving no one behind. New retailer business models should ensure goods are sold in a manner that is both accessible and affordable to the communities that rely on them. Retailers should find opportunities for cross-sector collaboration and innovation on reuse-based and package-free solutions.

Agree with our demands? Join us in taking action for World Cleanup Day!

The visual references to Tesco, Fanta, and The Coca-Cola Company are intended to educate and were selected as common examples of well-known retailers, brands, and parent companies.