McDonald’s has pledged to evaluate and report on the benefits and risks associated with a potential switch to reusable packaging, following engagement with shareholder advocacy group As You Sow.
In a March 16 press release, As You Sow stated that it has withdrawn a shareholder proposal seeking enhanced packaging reporting, after McDonald’s committed to report on reusable packaging as part of its broader sustainability report, set to be released in early 2024.
McDonald’s’ report will assess the opportunities and risks a switch to full-scale reusable packaging poses to the industry and environment, and may include possible new actions and potential goal frameworks for the company on reusables
“We anticipate the report will demonstrate reusable packaging to be a critical component of sustainable operations and hope this action signals other quick-service restaurants to follow McDonald’s lead,” said Kelly McBee, As You Sow’s circular economy senior coordinator, in a press release.
In 2022, As You Sow withdrew two similar resolutions with Coca-Cola and Pepsi in exchange for new goals on reusables. The companies have since announced the first- and second-largest corporate goals for reusable packaging, committing to respectively deliver 25% and 20% of beverages by volume in reusables or refillables by 2030.
The advocacy group noted that while McDonald’s currently complies with a French law requiring all on-site dining to utilize reusable packaging, the company has announced no public plans to expand the packaging to the U.S.
Shareholder engagements on plastic pollution rank among the most supported in recent years. The six proposals seeking pollution reporting at U.S.-listed companies in 2022 won 41.9% average support, according to Insightia’s Voting module.