Below are just some of the positive environmental changes that Greenpeace has directly helped to bring about since we began campaigning in 1971.
2015
Exposing over 30 years of IUU fishing in West Africa
In May 2015, Greenpeace East Asia and Greenpeace Africa released a report exposing over 30 yearsof illegal fishing by Chinese companies in West Africa. Campaigners aboard the Esperanza discovered incidences of IUU fishing by Chinese fishing trawlers, operated by state-owned companies, on average every 2 days. Moreover, the China National Fisheries Corporation were falsifying the tonnage of most of their boats. Greenpeace called on the authorities in China and the The report received widespread international attention and in June, our campaigners were invited to the Ministry of Agriculture to discuss the issue.
In July, the National Fishing Inspection Agency released new regulations requiring newly built distant fishing vessels to adhere to provide proof of adhering to international tonnage standards.
December 16th 2015, Greenpeace and the West African Regional Fisheries Committee jointly hosted a seminar, offering discussion and training on regulating fishing vessel tonnage.
2014
December 2014: Lidl, the world's second largest discount supermarket, made a commitment to eliminate all hazardous chemicals from its textile production by 1 January, 2020. More
November 2014: The world's largest electronics retailer, Best Buy, announced major improvements to its paper supply chain to better protect Canada's Boreal Forest, one of the lungs of our planet and a vital buffer against climate change. During the busiest shopping time of the year Best Buy committed to stronger purchasing standards, paying particular attention to endangered forests and human rights. The move comes less than two weeks into a Greenpeace campaign that mobilized over 52,000 supporters across North America. More
October 2014: Just 48 hours after we revealed the toxic-truth behind their products, German retailer Tchibo has joined the ranks of companies committed to Detox. Tchibo has promised to make sure its products are toxic-free, beginning with clothes and shoes, but eventually extending to cover everything from frying pans to electronics! What's more, alongside committing to transform itself into a toxic-free champion, Tchibo has agreed to start developing 'closed-loop' production -tackling the very way its products are made. More
October 2014: After more than one million people respond to Greenpeace's Save the Arctic campaign LEGO ends its 50 year link with Shell. On it's website, LEGO published a statement committing to 'not renew the co-promotion contract with Shell'.
During Greenpeace's three month campaign, over a million people signed a petition calling on LEGO to stop promoting Shell's brand because of its plans to drill for oil in the pristine Arctic. In stark contrast to Shell, LEGO's policies include a commitment to produce more renewable energy than they use, phase out oil in their products and, in cooperation with its partners, leave a better world for future generations. And that's kind of a big deal. More
February 2014: Budget giant Primark becomes the 20th major clothing company to commit to Detox - agreeing to eliminate hazardous chemicals from its supply chain by 1 January 2020. From luxury houses like Burberry and Valentino to retailers like Primark, this latest victory shows how big brands are listening to the global calls for fashion without pollution and taking steps to create a toxic-free future. More
January 2014: British luxury brand Burberry made a commitment to eliminate the use of hazardous chemicals from its supply chain by 1 January 2020. Burberry's move comes after just two weeks of people-powered campaigning on the brand's social media channels, reaching an audience of millions, while Greenpeace volunteers held protests at stores from Beijing to Mexico City. Burberry joins 18 big brands like Zara, Valentino and H&M who have committed to Detox their clothes and manufacturing processes. More
2013
May 2013: Greenpeace applauds a decision from New Zealand fishing brand Sealord to remove a destructing fishing method from its supply chain of canned skipjack tuna by early 2014 and urges the wider industry to follow suit. Sealord's announcement is of great significance to the international Greenpeace campaign for sustainable tuna fishing and means all the big Australasian tuna brands have committed to phase out FAD-caught tuna. More
March 2013: The Supreme Court in Scotland denied Cairn Energy a permanent injunction against Greenpeace International following a Greenpeace UK protest at Cairn's headquarters in July 2011. More
March 2013: VW have caved in to pressure from across the globe and announced they will meet and support climate targets. VW has now publicly agreed to live up to its promises to be the world's greenest car company, setting an example for the rest of the industry. More
January 2013: The biggest global fashion brand based in Asia, Uniqlo, and its parent company Fast Retailing Group, today committed to eliminate all releases of hazardous chemicals throughout its entire global supply chain and products by 2020, in response to Greenpeace’s global Detox campaign. More
2012
December 2012: The world’s largest denim brand, Levi’s, committed to eliminate all releases of hazardous chemicals throughout its entire supply chain and products by 2020, following public pressure in response to Greenpeace’s global Detox campaign. More
December 2012: One of Australia’s leading canned fish manufacturer, John West (Simplot) has pledged to stop using destructive fishing methods that needlessly kill sharks, rays, baby tuna and turtles. The commitment means that John West will phase out the use of highly destructive and wasteful Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) used with purse seine nets by 2015. More
December 2012: The government of South Korea has abandoned its plans to begin a ‘scientific’ whaling operation, a significant step forward in global efforts to protect whale populations. The proposed hunt would have caught minke whales for commercial purposes under the thin veil of scientific research. More than 100,000 people from around the world sent messages in the last month to the South Korean prime minister, asking him to call off the hunt. More
December 2012: Brazilian oil giant Petrobras has abandoned its plans for deep sea oil drilling off the coast of New Zealand. The world's third largest oil company has decided to return its exploration licenses for deep sea oil and gas prospects to the government, effectively abandoning its plans for deep sea drilling in New Zealand. More
November 2012: The world’s largest fashion retailer Zara – and parent company Inditex – today committed to eliminate all releases of hazardous chemicals throughout its entire supply chain and products by 2020, following public pressure in response to Greenpeace’s Detox campaign. Zara becomes the eighth brand to commit to eliminate releases of all hazardous chemicals throughout its supply chains and products since Greenpeace launched its Detox campaign in 2011. As a part of the commitment Zara is reinforcing the ban on APEOs, and pledges to set further short-term elimination timelines for other priority hazardous chemicals, including PFCs. Most notably, Zara will now require at least 20 suppliers to start releasing pollution discharge data by the end of March 2013, and at least 100 suppliers by the end of 2013. More
October 2012: M&S becomes the seventh brand to make a credible commitment to clean up its supply chain and products and eliminate all releases of hazardous chemicals, joining Puma, Nike, Adidas, H&M, C&A and Li-Ning. More brands need to respond to the urgency of the situation and take ambitious action to rid the fashion world and our precious water supplies of toxic chemicals. More
September 2012: Australian Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke has announced a ban on the Margiris super trawler for up to two years and further scientific investigations before boats like this are approved. Burke acknowledged overwhelming public concern in reaching this significant decision. Congratulations to the thousands of passionate Australians, community and environmental groups and fishing groups who stopped the Margiris from destroying Australia‘s oceans. More
Greenpeace also congratulated the Gillard government for showing the courage to prevent the Abel Tasman super trawler fishing in Australia's waters. Greenpeace hailed it as a victory for the Australian community which has united to reject this monster ship. The decision also sends a message to the global super-sized fishing fleets that world community opposition is growing to their unsustainable business model.