INSIGHT by ClientEarth
〉Nine Big Food corporations served notice last year are still failing to tackle plastic pollution.
〉New report analyses how the companies are living up to their duties under the French ‘Duty of Vigilance’ law.
〉None of the companies have a clear ‘deplastification’ trajectory for moving away from the single-use plastic business model.
Nine major European ‘Big Food’ companies are failing to make sufficient efforts to ‘deplastify’ and reduce their use of plastic at source, a new report suggests – one year after environmental organisations put them on notice.
Last year, ClientEarth, Surfrider Foundation Europe and Zero Waste France served legal notice to nine food companies for failing to manage the plastic pollution stemming from their business models.
Today, our partner NGOs Surfrider Europe and Zero Waste France have measured their progress in a new report. Findings suggest that there may have been a shift in industry mindset, as the companies are now more aware of the risks associated with plastic and recognise the need to ‘deplastify’. However, concrete action is still falling far short of what is needed.
The French ‘Duty of Vigilance’ law requires companies to assess and mitigate the impacts their operations have on the environment and human rights by publishing a ‘vigilance plan’. The new report analyses how these companies – including household names like Nestlé and Danone – are managing to live up to their duties under this law.
Among the nine companies we put on notice – Nestlé France, Danone, McDonalds France, Carrefour, Groupe Casino, Les Mousquetaires, Auchan, and Picard, there continues to be a distinct reliance on single-use plastic. There is also a continued focus on strategies with limited impact, such as recycling. None of the companies have published a clear deplastification trajectory that outlines how they will transition their business model away from single-use plastic.
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Some companies – such as Nestlé France and McDonalds France – have not even published a vigilance plan, with the latter arguing that the law does not apply to them.
Throughout its lifecycle, plastic has a seriously negative impact on the environment, human health and human rights – yet production is expected to triple by 2060. Plastic pollution is harming crucial marine ecosystems, contaminating our soils, generating significant greenhouse gas emissions and even putting human health at risk through exposure to microplastics and toxic chemicals– which have even been discovered in human lungs.
“Plastic pollution is showing no signs of slowing and the nine companies we put on notice are at the frontlines of the crisis. Our planet is inundated by plastic, and while it is refreshing to see that some companies are beginning to recognise the gravity of the risks, we need them to take real action to change their business models.
“As it stands, these Big Food corporations seem to continue to rely on recycling as a solution to their plastic waste problem, playing an endless game of catch up that they can never win.
“In reality, only 9% of plastics ever made have been recycled, the process of recycling plastic remains fraught with problems, many of which are not realistically surmountable.
“We want to see these French business leaders show real ambition on tackling plastic pollution, by producing an assessment of their plastic use across the value chain, pulling together a deplastification plan and – most importantly – acting on it.”
-ClientEarth Plastics Lawyer, Rosa Pritchard
ClientEarth – who provided legal expertise to Surfrider Europe and Zero Waste France, the authors this report – will continue to push the companies that we put on notice to take responsibility for the role they play in driving this crisis.
Explore the report
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ClientEarth is a non-profit organisation that uses the law to create systemic change that protects the Earth for – and with – its inhabitants. We are tackling climate change, protecting nature and stopping pollution, with partners and citizens around the globe. We hold industry and governments to account, and defend everyone’s right to a healthy world. From our offices in Europe, Asia and the USA we shape, implement and enforce the law, to build a future for our planet in which people and nature can thrive together.
| All opinions expressed are those of the author and/or quoted sources. investESG.eu is an independent and neutral platform dedicated to generating debate around ESG investing topics.
