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John,

Every 45 seconds, a garbage truck's worth of plastic waste floods into our oceans, harming marine wildlife and damaging delicate ecosystems.[1]

Much of this waste originates from single-use plastic packaging, items designed for brief convenience, like bottles, bags, wrappers and foam containers. After being used for mere moments, they're discarded, lingering in our waterways for centuries.

The food industry wraps and packages countless goods in plastic. We're asking Sysco, one of the world's largest food distributors, to take meaningful steps to reduce its plastic footprint.

Tell Sysco to reduce its plastic usage and help create cleaner water for all marine life.
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The impact of this plastic pollution on wildlife is catastrophic. Plastic fragments have been found in every single species of sea turtle and in at least 43% of seabirds and marine mammals.[2]

More than 1 million marine animals die each year from plastic waste and debris, choking on bags or getting tangled in debris.[3] From whales to gulls, sharks to swordfish, plastic waste is causing an ecological disaster.

These tragic outcomes underscore a growing global issue, one largely fueled by our continued dependence on single-use plastics.

Nearly half of all plastic produced is intended for just a single use. Much of this waste accumulates in landfills and waterways, where it's mistakenly consumed by wildlife, or breaks down into harmful microplastics that ultimately contaminate water, soil and habitat.[4]

By working together, we can address plastic production at its source.

Sysco significantly contributes to plastic waste by using single-use plastic packaging in some of its products.[5] Serving thousands of institutions -- including restaurants, hospitals, hotels and schools -- Sysco's packaging choices can have a widespread impact.

Urge Sysco to reduce its reliance on wasteful and harmful single-use packaging.
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In 2023, Sysco's shareholders overwhelmingly voted in favor of reducing the company's plastic packaging and improving transparency regarding its plastic footprint.[6] Now, Sysco should listen to its shareholders and make a commitment for concrete and measurable reductions in its plastic usage.

Thanks in part to our campaigns, other major corporations, such as Amazon and Costco, have already successfully adopted significant plastic reduction initiatives.[7] Sysco should too.

We've seen it time and again: When a major corporation (especially one near the top of its industry) starts to change its policies to prioritize health, sustainability and the public interest, other companies will follow suit.

Now, it is Sysco's turn to step up and become part of the solution.

Public support is vital. Take action today and urge Sysco to fulfill its shareholders' demands and commit to taking real, impactful action against plastic waste.
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Together, we can protect marine life, preserve our environment, and leave a cleaner, healthier planet for future generations.

Thank you,

Ellen Montgomery

1. Margaret Spring and Rashid Sumaila, "US needs a national action plan to stem the aid of plastic pollution," The Hill, July 27, 2022.
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2. Steve Blackledge, "Sysco, the world's largest food distributor, should stop using harmful single-use plastic," Environment America, January 23, 2023.
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3. Steve Blackledge, "Sysco, the world's largest food distributor, should stop using harmful single-use plastic," Environment America, January 23, 2023.
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4. Margaret Spring and Rashid Sumaila, "US needs a national action plan to stem the aid of plastic pollution," The Hill, July 27, 2022.
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5. Steve Blackledge, "Sysco, the world's largest food distributor, should stop using harmful single-use plastic," Environment America, January 23, 2023.
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6. Steve Blackledge, "Sysco, the world's largest food distributor, should stop using harmful single-use plastic," Environment America, January 23, 2023.
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7. "How to reduce plastic waste this Earth Day," PIRG, April 21, 2025.
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