Hello, Petition Family,
I'd like to update you on the conversation the folks at change.org and I had with Loblaw last Friday.
But first, I'd like to address many of the comments on Monday's update post. It seems that a lot of folks saw little victory in Loblaw's announcement to eliminate single-use plastic bags from stores by early 2023 due to the fact that on Monday the Canadian government also announced a ban on the sale of single-use plastics by the end of 2023.
A few thoughts. Our petition does not address the use of plastic shopping bags. Its focus is entirely on encouraging Loblaw to use its considerable leverage to demand that its suppliers begin using more sustainable packaging methods for fruits and vegetables and in-store prepared foods as well.
It was pure coincidence that the announcement about shopping bags came out the Monday following our conversation... so I decided to mention the news and celebrate it.
Yes, I see the announcement as a victory. Perhaps a small one in the scheme of things, but after three and a half years of promoting our petition, I am more than happy to take whatever good news comes our way and see it as a positive.
Of course there is much more to be done. Rest assured that that was what our conversation was all about.
Here's a summary of what we discussed.
* The company acknowledges it needs to be doing better when it comes to the issue of plastic.
* Loblaw welcomes our petition and the public pressure we're putting on it, saying we are keeping them honest and holding their feet to the fire.
* Officials are now and have been talking with their suppliers to encourage them to be more sustainable when it comes to packaging.
* Loblaw is involved with a number of experimental projects. For example, the company has gotten rid of triple-plastic-wrapped cucumbers and is piloting an "edible film" plant-based wrap.
* Some of the initiatives taken re: plant-based compostables - for example, PC coffee pods - have run into difficulty because they are not compatible with the green bin system. Other plant-based packaging has proven incompatible with the recycling system. I suggested that Loblaw has the financial resources to change the recycling system to BE compatible with plant-based packaging. Q1 profits announced in May - indicated a 40% increase in profits over the same quarter last year.
* When it comes to products on store shelves, Loblaw has committed to reducing plastic waste by making all control brand (PC, No Name, etc.) packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025. It has no such commitment in place when it comes to fruit and vegetable packaging in the produce section.
* I asked why plastic clamshell packaging is still being used when there seem to be viable alternatives out there. In fact, I sent Alain a video posted on the petition site a few weeks ago about a farmer in Kentucky who has developed a paper package to replace plastic clamshells.
* I was assured that there is an "internal desire" within the company to solve sustainable packaging problems.
* The company is one of 21 Canadian retail and consumer packaged goods companies supporting something called "The Golden Design Rules". These are 9 design rules for plastic packaging that aim to result in a reduction in plastic packaging overall.
That's a summary of what we discussed.
I'm looking forward to Loblaw's official response to our petition, which should be coming soon.
For now, let's continue to celebrate every bit of progress - big and small... and continue to hold Loblaw's feet to the fire.
Continued thanks for your support, everyone!
Karen