35.5% of Amazon Shareholders Call on Company to Report on Plastic Footprint
Press Release Date: June 1, 2021
Location: Washington, DC
Contact:
Anna Baxter | email: abaxter@oceana.org
Anna Baxter
Last week, at Amazon’s annual general meeting (AGM), 35.5% of the company’s shareholders voted for a resolution to require the e-commerce giant to issue by year end a report quantifying its use of single-use plastics. The resolution was presented by Conrad MacKerron, Senior Vice President of As You Sow. As You Sow, along with Green Century, filed the resolution. Support for the resolution, which was expected to be defeated at this initial meeting, exceeded expectations. It received the second most “yes” votes of any of the 14 shareholder resolutions considered at the company’s AGM. Oceana, which issued a report in December 2020 exposing the scale of Amazon’s plastic problem and its impact on the oceans, previously called on shareholders to support this resolution. Oceana Senior Vice President Matt Littlejohn issued the following statement after Amazon shareholders rejected the resolution:
“Getting the plastics issue on the company’s agenda and having over 35% of shareholders support the resolution is a win for our oceans. Pressure will mount as more investors learn about the company’s plastic problem, as more customers call for plastic-free alternatives, as more legislators urge the company to reduce single-use plastics, and as more environmental and other groups push Amazon to act. Amazon’s plastic packaging generates a massive amount of waste and plastic pollution is devastating the world’s oceans. Sea turtles and other ocean animals often mistake plastic for food, which can ultimately prove fatal. Amazon is a data-driven company. It can and should measure its plastic footprint and take meaningful steps to reduce the use of single-use plastic, including offering plastic-free options at checkout to every customer around the world.”
To learn more about Oceana’s campaign urging Amazon to address its plastic footprint, reduce plastics, and offer plastic-free alternatives to customers, please visit oceana.org/PlasticFreeAmazon. To find out about Oceana’s campaigns to end the ocean plastic pollution crisis, go to oceana.org/plastics.
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Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in countries that control one-third of the world’s wild fish catch. With more than 225 victories that stop overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution, and the killing of threatened species like turtles and sharks, Oceana’s campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means that 1 billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal, every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and help feed the world. Visit www.oceana.org to learn more.
