But First, Write.
Before you boycott a business/company because of unsustainable practices, you might try to contact them and give them a chance to switch to more sustainable practices. Some time around 2010, I read an article about Stonyfield Organic, a food company that specializes in organic dairy foods. Unlike many organic companies at that time, who were boycotting companies that were not following an organic model, Stonyfield Organic decided to work with companies like WalMart to increase their organic inventory. It was an unconventional way to make organic food more mainstream. Ever since reading that article, I believe that more changes can be made within the system than outside the system. If I want Amazon to be more sustainable, rather than boycotting them, I need to assert my influence as a consumer by letting them know, or I need to get a job in the sustainability division of Amazon.
But who's got time to write a letter? Well, because I kind of work, I present you a template that you can use a la Mad Lib style. The next time you disagree with a business and its sustainability practices, try asserting your power as a consumer and write the company.
[copy & paste]
Howdy!
I am writing to say that I am a huge fan of your product, but I am also a huge fan of doing my part to mitigate climate change, reducing plastic pollution, and reducing single-use waste. I want to continue to use ____________________ [noun, name of product e.g. Purely Elizabeth Granola] because it is apparent that you have put a lot of thought and work into creating a well-made ____________________ [noun, product type e.g. granola]; ____________________ [sentence, add a specific example e.g. I especially love that you use ancient grains and coconut oil instead of seed oils and palm oil]. But there are aspects of your product that go against my values of mitigating climate change and reducing plastic waste. Plastic is a petroleum-based product, and plastic production contributes to both climate change and pollution. Recently, microplastics were found in human blood for the first time, and in water as deep as 400 feet below ground. I hope you might consider adopting more sustainable practices, like using paper or bamboo instead of plastic packaging—even compostable packaging would be more sustainable.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, released its most recent climate change report on March 1, 2022, and declared every second counts, and every step towards climate mitigation is necessary. We need to accelerate our transition to clean energy, large-scale ecosystem restoration, and nature-based solutions immediately. Companies have the power of choice when it comes to sustainability. During the Sustainability Summit, Dr. Leonardo Trasande, an MD with a Master in Public Policy and specializes in protecting people from chemical hazards, encouraged companies “to go against conventions and be brave in their efforts to avoid plastic—our health and children’s health depend on it”. I am asking ____________________ [noun, name of product e.g. Purely Elizabeth Granola] to be brave.
You might consider reaching out to a company called Footprint [footprintus.com]. The company specializes in packaging solutions that are free of plastic, and is leading the way in reducing plastic pollution. I would love to continue to support and purchase ____________________ [noun, name of product e.g. Purely Elizabeth Granola], but only if you adopt plastic-free packaging. Thank you for your consideration! I look forward to hearing back from you, or seeing future ____________________ [noun, name of product e.g. Purely Elizabeth Granola] in packaging void of plastic and single-use waste.
Yours Truly,
Name
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