Background
In most grocery or big-box stores, it is nearly impossible to avoid plastic packaging. Much of this plastic is excessive and unnecessary, and can’t be recycled. We have been conditioned to think that fruits and vegetables, for example, need to be wrapped in plastic to keep it clean — even though nature already thought of that!
Around the country and around the world, people are coming together around a Million Acts of Blue to fight for a plastic-free future and protect our oceans and waterways. We’re asking companies to step up and take responsibility for solving the plastic pollution crisis they helped create. The first step is stopping the production of unnecessary plastic packaging.
Your Action Plan
You can help turn the tide on plastic pollution by taking action the next time you go to the grocery store. Supermarket managers and executives are always listening for feedback from their customers.
With a quick visit to your local supermarket, you can advocate for the change you want to see. Here’s how:
- Print out this sample letter. Write the name of the grocery store on the letter, and sign it.
- Bring the letter to your local grocery store and ask to meet with the manager. If the manager is not available, ask for the assistant manager.
- Tell the manager your concerns about plastic pollution and hand them the letter. If they ask you to send it along to the store’s corporate headquarters, tell them that you’d like them to pass on the message themselves — so that corporate can see that customers all across the U.S. are piling on the pressure.
- Let us know how it went! In order to stop the over-usage of plastic, we need to learn what’s working well and what we can improve — so it’s important that we hear from you. Please fill out this quick survey once you’ve talked to a store manager.
