Inline Plastics Playbook v2 JUL-21

OBJECTION CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

OBJECTION

BEST ANSWER

Municipalities are passing bans for single-use plastics. Let’s talk about ‘single use’ – PET/PP containers are used to package, store, extend shelf life, protect, transport – and sometimes present food on the table. So – is it really single use? Single use such as a straw which is served with a drink – and disposed of. Or single use such as plastic bag – used to bring product home from the story and then disposed. Or – disposable utensils served with a fast-food meal – used and disposed. We could discuss the many benefits of plastics containers and how much they contribute to keeping food fresh longer (increasing shelf life and reducing food waste!), keeping food safe at shelf, during transit and at home. While municipalities will continue to push bans, some of the bans (especially those that ban recyclable food containers) will not make much sense as there isn’t a good alternative – and – in many – if not all cases, the alternative is worse for the environment. We expect these bans to be limited in time, until the municipalities figure out that they have left food manufacturers, retailers and consumers without a convenient sustainable solution. Hopefully soon municipalities will focus on educating its population on recycling – and work on bringing recycling to their population for those that do not have it widely available. (we are working on a presentation that will describe the above claims in greater detail) We are adding the claim ‘Please Recycle Me’ to all our new products – and legacy products as we refresh them. Furthermore – we are adding the callout ‘Post Consumer Content’ to all our products as well. This will hopefully help show customers and consumers what we are doing for the environment. Our marketing team would be happy to come in and brainstorm with you to find other ways to address this pressure. I am sure that together we can come up with something that will work for you and your customers. Do you have any customers who we can partner with to add in -store messaging around recycling? The effort will be at the industry level, not brand, so the messaging can be broadcast throughout your retail store.

Environmental Sustainability

• In our region, there is a push to ban single-use plastics

S A L E S P L AY B O O K

• I am being pressured from my customers to promote sustainability and your message/solution is not getting down to the consumer level for them to feel comfortable buying plastic

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