RELEASE: Big brands are reducing their plastic usage

PORTLAND, Ore. — What do the world’s largest hotel chain, an entertainment giant and a big box retailer all have in common? Each recently committed to reducing single-use plastic after signing agreements with Green Century °. 

Green Century used its position as shareholders to win plastic reduction agreements from Costco*, Disney*, Marriott*, Hilton*, Mattel*, Hasbro*, and Choice Hotels*  – and the mutual fund family’s owners at PIRG and partners at Environment America and Environmental Action helped organize the public to pressure some of those companies from another direction. 

To convince companies to act to stem the worldwide plastic pollution crisis, these groups from across the Public Interest Network used a wide array of strategies and tactics, including:

Understanding the problem 

Plastic pollution is growing explosively, and recycling has failed to make a dent in the amount of plastic that pollutes our oceans. 

Promoting a good solution 

Companies, not customers, are behind the rise in wasteful plastic. Companies need to disclose the amount of plastic they use, and then reduce and replace unnecessary plastic with tested alternatives such as refillable bottles and packaging.   

Demanding transparency

Without clear information on how much and what kind(s) of plastic companies are producing, it’s hard to develop a viable solution and then see if it’s working. Increased transparency will force companies to make reasonable commitments about plastic reduction and then uphold them. 

Getting to work 

While Environment America and PIRG organize and exert external pressure on companies to cut back their plastic usage, Green Century works from the inside. Green Century’s award-winning shareholder advocacy team meets directly with companies to convince them that sustainability isn’t just important for the planet, but important for business. 

Recent victories include:

Costco: The world’s third-largest retailer committed to disclose the plastic footprint of its Kirkland Brand products and create a five-year plastic action plan. 

Disney: The entertainment giant with multiple theme parks, cruises and hotels worldwide agreed to disclose its plastic footprint and make additional reduction commitments. 

Marriott: The world’s largest hotel group with over 1.5 million rooms worldwide will share its plastic footprint and make additional reduction pledges.  

Choice Hotels: The parent company of Comfort Inn and Econo Lodge committed to disclose its plastic footprint and make additional plastic reductions.  

Mattel: Toymaker famous for Barbie and Ken will disclose its single-use plastic footprint with CDP, the gold standard in environmental reporting.  

Hasbro: The toy company behind Transformers, Peppa Pig and G.I. Joe will disclose its single-use plastic footprint. 

Hilton: The third-largest hotel brand in the world agreed to disclose its plastic footprint and make additional reduction pledges. 

Environment America’s, PIRG’s and Green Century’s work to stop plastic pollution is only one issue among many where The Public Interest Network’s advocates are making an impact in the corporate world. Green Century also has won commitments from companies to protect biodiversity, address climate warming emissions, reduce e-waste and more. 

A sustainable investment strategy that incorporates environmental, social and governance criteria may result in lower or higher returns than an investment strategy that does not include such criteria. 

About Green Century 

°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 3.31.2024, Costco Wholesale Corporation comprised 1.19%, 0.00%, and 0.00%, Walt Disney Company (The) comprised 0.00%, 0.96%, and 0.00%, Marriott International, Inc. Comprised 0.00%, 0.27%, and 0.00%, Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc. comprised 0.00%, 0.23%, and 0.00%, Mattel, Inc. Comprised 0.00%, 0.03%, and 0.00%, Hasbro, Inc. comprised 0.00%, 0.03%, and 0.00%, Choice Hotels International, Inc. comprised 0.00%, 0.02%, and 0.00%, Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc. comprised 0.00%, 0.14%, and 0.00% of 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. UMB Distribution Services, LLC is not an affiliate of Green Century or any of its affiliates. 4/2024