We face an environmental crisis on several fronts, including climate change, plastic pollution, deforestation, and toxic chemicals reaching our waterways and ground soil. The dire state of our terrestrial home has motivated stakeholders like consumers, investors, and legislators to push companies—particularly large international manufacturers—to reduce their environmental impact, leading to sustainability pledges and reducing the use of plastic in packaging.
But while these sustainability promises generate positive attention for a few days and stay online forever, how well do the largest consumer packaged goods (CPG) producers and fast food chains honor their commitments to our planet?
Typically a part of these environmental pledges includes trialing new types of packaging using non-plastic materials or reusable and returnable containers. But in the case of reusable packaging in quick service restaurants (QSR), we generally see these pilots quietly end. Why aren’t these pilot programs further expanded, and what will it take to see broader adoption?
