The Kraft Heinz Co., Chicago, Illinois, the third-largest food and beverage company in North America, has agreed to set a goal to reduce total virgin plastic use following the filing of a shareholder proposal and engagement with As You Sow, Berkeley, California, a national non-profit that promotes environmental and social corporate responsibility through shareholder advocacy, coalition building and legal strategies.
The proposal asked Kraft Heinz to report on how the company would reduce plastic packaging, including planned reduction strategies or goals, materials redesign, substitution or reductions in use of virgin plastic.
The company intends to set a substantial virgin plastic packaging reduction goal later this year or in the first quarter of 2023. In response, As You Sow agreed to withdraw its shareholder proposal. Kraft Heinz’s commitment continues a steady stream of major US brands and retailers who have agreed to cut virgin plastic use after interaction with As You Sow.
Five other large companies – Keurig Dr Petter, Mondelez International, PepsiCo, Target Corp. and Walmart – agreed to virgin plastic reductions in 2021 after the filing of shareholder proposals by As You Sow. For more information, visit www.asyousow.org.