Shareholders tell Sysco to reduce plastic packaging

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HOUSTON – Ninety-two percent of Sysco shareholders voted on November 18 in favor of a shareholder proposal (item 6) that asked the company to report back on a plan to reduce its “absolute plastic packaging use.” Sysco’s board did not issue a recommendation on the proposal. 

The shareholder vote followed a similar vote at General Mills in September, when shareholders urged the food company to also reduce its use of plastics. Unlike Sysco, the General Mills board opposed the shareholder resolution.

Environment America and PIRG supported both resolutions, which were filed by Green Century Capital Management°, a socially responsible mutual fund company affiliated with Environment America and PIRG. 

In response, Steve Blackledge, Environment America’s senior director of conservation campaigns, made the following statement: 

“This is nothing but good news. Plastics, used for only a few minutes and then tossed, are polluting our oceans, rivers and lands. This waste is harming birds, whales, turtles and many other species. We need cities, states and, yes, corporations to act in meaningful ways to reduce plastic use: Sysco shareholders got it right with this vote.” 

Matt Casale, PIRG Environment Campaigns director, said:

“America has an enormous waste problem. Every day, we extract natural resources to produce goods that are often used for just a few minutes before ending up in landfills, incinerators or littering our environment. We need to reduce single-use plastics, and we’re pleased that Sysco shareholders voted to support this proposal.”

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Environment America is a national network of 30 state environmental groups. Our staff work together for clean air, clean water, clean energy, wildlife and open spaces, and a livable climate. Our members across the United States put grassroots support behind our research and advocacy. Environment America is part of The Public Interest Network, which runs organizations committed to a shared vision of a better world, a set of core values, and a strategic approach to getting things done.

PIRG is an advocate for the public interest. The organization speaks out for a healthier, safer world in which we’re freer to pursue our own individual well-being and the common good. All Americans want a healthier, safer, more secure future. PIRG works to find common ground around common sense solutions that will help make that future a reality. 

About Green Century Capital Management

°Green Century Capital Management, Inc. (Green Century) is the investment advisor to the Green Century Funds (The Funds). The Green Century Funds are one of the first families of fossil fuel free, responsible, and diversified mutual funds in the United States. Green Century Capital Management hosts an award-winning and in-house shareholder advocacy program and is the only mutual fund company in the U.S. wholly owned by environmental and public health nonprofit organizations.

*As of September 30, 2023, no securities mentioned were held in the portfolios of any of the Green Century Funds. References to specific securities, which will change due to ongoing management of the Funds, should not be construed as a recommendation by the Funds, their administrator, or their distributor.

You should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. To obtain a Prospectus that contains this and other information about the Funds please visit www.greencentury.com, email [email protected], or call 1-800-934-7336. Please read the Prospectus carefully before investing.

A sustainable investment strategy which incorporates environmental, social and governance criteria may result in lower or higher returns than an investment strategy that does not include such criteria.

Stocks will fluctuate in response to factors that may affect a single company, industry, sector, country, region or the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market. Foreign securities are subject to additional risks such as currency fluctuations, regional economic and political conditions, differences in accounting methods, and other unique risks compared to investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Bonds are subject to a variety of risks including interest rate, credit, and inflation risk. 

This information has been prepared from sources believed reliable. The views expressed are as the date of this writing and are those of the Advisor to the Funds.

The Green Century Funds are distributed by UMB Distribution Services, LLC. 235 W Galena Street, Milwaukee, WI 53212. 11/22

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