Targeting the Corporations Responsible for the #PlasticMonster

@plasticfreemermaid for @greenpeace #BreakFreeFromPlastic

Greenpeace’s #PlasticMonster campaign is targeting multinational corporations because of the immensity of scale & diversity of their plastic packaging. These companies have invested billions in creating a range of packaging--so much of which is plastic--for the SAME products across different economic markets around the world.

Close up of this sachet, a NESTLE product.

Nestle was just announced as the next corporate target at the Greenpeace Plastival in Nijmegan, Netherlands. Nestle is the parent company to Cheerios, Haagen-Dazs, Lean Cuisine, Nescafe, Milo, KitKat, Carnation, Maggi, Butterfinger, Drumstick, DiGiorno, Tollhouse chocolate chips, and countless other household brands that we recognise from our weekly shops.

For those in Southeast Asia, a different relationship with Nestle is exposed through the plastic pollution. The Nestle products that are washing up on beaches and flowing down rivers are small, single-use sachets of powdered milk, instant coffee, powdered creamer, powdered juice, and solid cheese.

Unilever, last week’s #PlasticMonster target, may be recognised as the parent company of DOVE, a popular deodorant & soap brand. Unilever packages soap in large bottles for the 'global north,' a market that can afford to spend more on a larger supply. They package their soap in small individual plastic packages, known as sachets, for the 'global south,' who can afford to buy only a single portion of soap at a time.

Close up of the DOVE packet, made by Unilever with the invitation to RECYCLE printed on the packet.

We can track the Unilever products that are popular in places like the Philippines by the brand printed on the packaging. Washing up on beaches are sachets of lotion by DOVE, Knorr food flavoring, Lady’s Choice mayonaise, Creamsilk shampoo of all colours and types.

This is not the fault of consumers. This is the fault of government for not regulated corporations manufacturing this irresponsible plastic. Ir’s the fault of the corporations producing all of this plastic and selling it in places around the world that lack proper disposal systems.

It’s time for extreme system redesign. No more plastics. We need refillable, reusable, repurposable.

Sign the petition: https://act.greenpeace.org/page/40248/action/1

Pea-sized amount of toothpaste, "save water" and "recycle" is printed on this single-use packet.

Sign the petition: https://act.greenpeace.org/page/40248/action/1