Greenpeace has put pressure on brand owners to quit their membership in the Plastics Industry Association. | John Gomez/Shutterstock
The Plastics Industry Association’s newly hired president and CEO is pushing back against environmental group Greenpeace following news that another brand owner left the association over product-ban policy.
Hired this summer, Tony Radoszewski sent a message to members asking them to submit their sustainability stories so the association can use them to tell the industry’s story and counter messaging from Greenpeace.
Greenpeace has put pressure on brand owners to quit their membership in the Plastics Industry Association because of its affiliation with the American Progressive Bag Alliance, which lobbies for statewide laws that prohibit local bans on plastic bags. This summer, Greenpeace claimed a victory when The Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo left the association, according to Plastics News. Clorox Co. also indicated last year it would leave.
More recently, SC Johnson announced it was leaving, citing differences over environmental policies, Plastics News reported.
Radoszewski said Greenpeace’s targeting its members is inhibiting its efforts “to unite representatives from the full supply chain, advancing meaningful work around design for recycling, recycling innovations and recycling infrastructure development.”
He also wrote the Plastics Industry Association is working toward a resolution that will allow the brand owners that left the group to continue participating.
“While a few brand owners have had to succumb to the pressure of shareholder activism, the majority of our members are standing with us and are confident we will reach a resolution on the issue,” he wrote.
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