John,

From shrink-wrapped peppers to plastic bags full of pasta, it seems like every trip to the supermarket results in more of one thing -- garbage.

Grocery stores are increasingly stocking their shelves with produce and pantry staples swaddled in single-use plastics, contributing to our country's ongoing plastic waste crisis.

Nearly 30% of all waste in the United States comes from plastic packaging, creating 82 million tons of man-made garbage. This waste winds up in landfills, litters our public spaces and contaminates our waterways.1

Now, more than ever, food retailers like Walmart have a responsibility to curb this copious waste by getting rid of unnecessary plastic packaging.

Tell Walmart: It's time to slash single-use plastics.

As the largest retailer in the world, Walmart reported $648 billion in sales last year, with more than 255 million customers visiting one of its 10,500 stores every week.2

While the industry giant previously said it would implement more sustainable practices, Walmart continues to wrap fresh fruits and vegetables in bulky clamshells and wasteful shrink-wrap.

More recently, the retailer has even started stocking pasta in single-use plastic bags in lieu of recyclable cardboard.3

Considering that 91% of plastic isn't recycled, just imagine how much waste every visit to Walmart creates.

Make your voice heard: Ask Walmart to reduce wasteful plastic packaging.

Given its influence in the food retail industry, by stepping up, Walmart could truly change the way the industry packages consumables.

We've already been successful in calling on Amazon to phase out single-use plastics in its U.S. shipping bags.4

And we're continuing to convince retail giants like Costco to phase out their plastic packaging. Last fall, PIRG and our national network delivered 80,000 petition signatures from supporters like you urging Costco to reduce single-use plastics. Costco has since committed to developing a 5-year action plan to reduce the amount of plastic it uses.5

If we can persuade a superstore like Walmart to step away from plastic packaging, it's only a matter of time before other retailers follow their lead.

Add your name: It's time for Walmart to dump single-use plastics.

Thank you,

Faye Park
President

1. "Trash in America," U.S. PIRG Education Fund, September 30, 2021.
2. Dominick Reuter, "Walmart's average customer is a suburban baby boomer who spent $3,578 there last year," Business Insider, February 23, 2024.
3. Jill Ettinger, "Grocery shopper slams Walmart over concerning new product change: 'We are heading in the wrong direction'," The Cool Down, December 29, 2023.
4. "Statement: Amazon to phase out single-use plastic shipping bags," CALPIRG, July 19, 2023.
5. "Costco makes new commitments to reduce plastic use," PIRG, October 12, 2023.

Support U.S. PIRG. Contributions by people just like you make our advocacy possible. Your contribution supports a staff of organizers, attorneys, scientists and other professionals who monitor government and corporate decisions and advocate on the public's behalf.

Join us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter

U.S. PIRG, Main Office: 1543 Wazee St., Suite 460, Denver, CO 80202, (303) 801-0582
Federal Advocacy Office: 600 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, 4th Fl., Washington, DC 20003, (202) 546-9707
Member Questions or Requests: 1-800-838-6554.

If you want us to stop sending you email then follow this link -- unsubscribe.