News release: Disney’s plastic pledge could lead to fairy-tale ending

LOS ANGELES — The Walt Disney Company* has agreed, starting in 2025, to disclose how much plastic it’s using in certain areas of its business and, in 2026, to set new goals for reducing plastic usage in its various properties.

“People want less plastic in their lives and the world around them. It’s good to see big companies such as Disney responding to customer demand,” said Celeste Meiffren-Swango, who runs Environment America’s Beyond Plastic campaign. “We’re excited to see Disney taking steps to reduce its impact on plastic pollution.“

Shareholder advocates at Green Century°, Environment America and PIRG’s affiliated mutual fund partner, brokered the new agreement with Disney. 

“The green bottom line is that reducing plastic waste is a win for businesses and for the planet,” said Douglass Guernsey, shareholder advocate with Green Century. “Green Century is excited that the company is committed to these transparency measures that investors will value.” 

Disney had previously committed to eliminate single-use plastic on its cruise ships by 2025, introduce plastic-free packaging and cut down litter from its wholly owned and operated parks and resorts so much that by 2030, it would send zero waste to landfills.

“Disney does not need magic to make plastic disappear from the Magic Kingdom and beyond,” said MASSPIRG’s Executive Director Janet Domenitz. “They just need to make the commitment. Given all we know about the adverse effects of plastic waste on the environment and public health, reducing that waste would be a fairy-tale ending.”

U.S. PIRG is not a registered investment adviser. U.S. PIRG is not providing any investment advice to any recipient of this communication.

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About The Green Century Funds

°Green Century Capital Management, Inc. (Green Century) is the investment advisor to the Green Century Funds (The Funds). The Green Century Funds are one of the first families of fossil fuel-free, environmentally responsible mutual funds. Green Century hosts an award-winning and in-house shareholder advocacy program and is the only mutual fund company in the U.S. wholly owned by environmental and public health nonprofit organizations.

 *As of December 31, 2023, The Walt Disney Company comprised 0.00%, 0.79%, and 0.00% of the Green Century Balanced Fund, the Green Century Equity Fund, and the Green Century International Index Fund, respectively. As of the same date, other securities mentioned were not held in the portfolios of any of the Green Century Funds. References to specific securities, which will change due to ongoing management of the Funds, should not be construed as a recommendation by the Funds, their administrator, or their distributor.

You should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. To obtain a Prospectus that contains this and other information about the Funds please visit www.greencentury.com, email [email protected], or call 1-800-934-7336. Please read the Prospectus carefully before investing. 

Stocks will fluctuate in response to factors that may affect a single company, industry, sector, country, region or the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market. Foreign securities are subject to additional risks such as currency fluctuations, regional economic and political conditions, differences in accounting methods, and other unique risks compared to investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Bonds are subject to a variety of risks including interest rate, credit, and inflation risk.

This information has been prepared from sources believed reliable. The views expressed are as the date of this writing and are those of the Advisor to the Funds.

The Green Century Funds are distributed by UMB Distribution Services, LLC. 235 W Galena Street, Milwaukee, WI 53212. 02/2024