http://myplasticfreelife.com/2.....-nowadays/

so i left a comment about it and katie contacted the company (the comment and response are towards the bottom of the page).  now that i know they were contacted 2 years ago about paper packaging i see that their response was just a brush-off. 

The response I received informed me that the email will be forward to a supervisor and that there are reasons for packaging produce (freshness, prices, which I realize) and that "with enough demand - you never know" referring to change in their packaging methods.  So I urge others to write to Trader Joe's as well.

I used the general comment/contact us link from their website.

"Rachel" from webRelations@traderjoes.com is who responded to me.

If anyone is interested just for an idea, my original letter is below:

Dear Trader Joe,
First of all, thank you so much for your great products and unique grocery store chains.  I've found Trader Joes to have great food, be a company that stands behind its products and have very friendly, knowledgable staff!!  I have been a big fan, supporter and VERY frequent shopper of Trader Joe's since the Manhattan stores began opening.  At a student at NYU, I visited the union square TJ's when it first opened.  I was a dedicated customer, waiting in the long lines, just to enter!  It was well worth it, because I found a grocery store that I felt was dedicated to its customers and had a bigger picture in mind, than just the end line net profit.  When I graduated from NYU and moved to Williamsburg in Brooklyn, I still made the stop to Trader Joes very often.  In 2009 I moved to northern Manhattan and yearned for a nearer TJ's.  I was beyond excited when the 72nd street location opened!  It is close enough to get to from home and **bonus** two blocks from where I work.
Now, I visit Trader Joes about 2-5 times a week, stopping in for a yogurt or something to eat at lunch and it has become my primary grocer, where I do my weekly shopping on a regular basis.
What I have come to notice and become very disappointed in is the excess packaging that is used.  My particular concern is is the produce area.  Naturally biodegradable foods are wrapped in unnecessary plastic packaging.  I'm sure you're well aware of how hazardous plastics are to our environment, how they pollute our land and oceans and how little they are able to be recycled, and those that can be recycled, rarely are.  I won't go on and on about the plastic problems, but please know it is of a concern for me.
That being said, I would hope Trader Joe's would do all it can to help eliminate such an issue.  They do offer paper over plastic at the check out and encourage customers to bring reusable bags, BUT what is all the excess plastic packaging about!
I understand there may be reasons for doing so.  Perhaps it is necessary for TJ's to sell multiples of produce to keep within their price range.  There are other ways of accomplishing this.  A simple sign, "must buy three", with a small explanation in the witty style of other TJs posters would satisfy most consumers, I believe.  Maybe freshness is of concern and a reason for the packaging.  This is of valid concern - who wants wasted squash or peppers.  However, if we weigh it against plastic pollution, the unbalance is clear to me.  One option the byproduct is extra food.  Which is easily biodegradable and may even be able to be dedicated to soup kitchens or other organizations.  The other option the byproduct is excess plastic, which can be found blowing down the street, floating in our rivers and oceans, in the stomachs of wild life and sprinkled throughout various natural habitats.  The more responsible, healthy option is clear to me. What can we do about this?  How can I help?  I would really appreciate any feedback that someone, anyone, is able to give me about this matter.
Please feel free to contact me anytime.  I'd be more than happy to talk further about my concern and help in any way I can.
Thank you very much for your time in reading this email.
I look forward to hearing from someone soon!

I've been amazed by how few companies I now support, rather unintentionally, due to my choice to reduce my waste - especially with foods.   When I do want to purchase something packaged I always think about it and try to remember to contact the company to give my feedback, positive, negative, or inquisitive, regarding the packaging and it's contents.

I think having a collabrative effort to contact companies is a fabulous idea.  Maybe once a week a different company could be featured with a link for how to contact them??? I think if one week a company received 100+ emails requesting that they improve their packaging that could grab their attention.  Maybe circulate a few of the major offenders so their receiving 100+ emails once a month!! Ooh...the ideas are bubbling!

Could each of you leave a comment with the address/phone number/contact person at the company you are targeting, as well as a one sentence summary of the response?

Thanks!

Beth

http://fakeplasticfish.com/200.....led-water/

Anyway, good for you for pushing them! In addition to the recycling issues, there are also questions about what chemicals could leach out of the plastic bottles. Maybe you could mention that in your follow-up. If Pepsi can claim that their plastic bottle is safe, then they should be willing to disclose the "recipe" for the plastic, including all of the additives.

Thanks for doing this!

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Dear Holly,

Thank you for your follow-up message and for sharing your thoughts.

We do appreciate your thoughtful perspective on this important issue, and I will pass along your comments to Senior Management.

In the meantime, please know that we at PepsiCo are working hard across our businesses to meet the industry-leading sustainability goals we have set for ourselves. You can find out more about our commitment and efforts by visiting http://www.pepsico.com.

Thanks again for writing.

Jackie Parks

Consumer Relations Representative

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Thrilling response, huh?

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Dear Holly,

Thank you for contacting us at SoBe Beverages. From your message, it's clear that our recent changes have disappointed you and for that we're truly sorry. Our purpose for this change is to provide our consumers with more convenient packaging, keeping pace with their on-the-go lifestyles, while also staying in line with our company's sustainability efforts. In order to accommodate our new packaging, slight modifications to specific flavors had to be made. However, we value all consumer feedback, and we'll be sure to share your comments with our SoBe brand team. Thanks again for writing. We hope you'll continue to enjoy SoBe in our new look.

Jackie Parks

Consumer Relations Representative

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I was taken aback by her reply because of this phrase: "while also staying in line with our company's sustainability efforts." Sobe has an option to reply to a reply so my letter back to them was the following:

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Dear Sobe,

Thank you for your reply. However, I am very confused as to how packaging your product in plastic bottles is "staying in line with our company's sustainability efforts".

Once plastic has been collected and sorted, it faces a weak market. Simply collecting plastic does not mean that there will be a buyer willing to pay for the raw

material. It is often cheaper and easier to make plastic containers from new, nonrenewable resources. Plastic resin has limited value as a commodity because its

quality degrades every time it is reheated. Consequently, most plastic is only reprocessed once before it goes to a landfill. “Downcycling” is a more accurate term than “recycling” when it comes to plastic.

Unlike glass or aluminum, plastic recycling does not “close the loop” because most postconsumer bottles are not made into new plastic bottles. Instead, milk

jugs, soda containers and other bottles are turned into lower-grade products such as jacket fill, fleece, carpet, toys or plastic lumber. None of these products

are in turn recyclable (http://www.eurekarecycling.org.....ations.pdf)

Knowing this is the case, can you elaborate on how this is sustainable?

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Hopefully I will hear back from them soon!

Wholesome Sweeteners,

It is great your bags are labeled for recycling, and I understand that Wholesome Sweeteners is doing more than many companies by at least making the package recyclable. Unfortunately much of our recycling is now being shipped to either China or India and causing major environmental damage, and health problems for people who have so little. Not to mention that plastic can only be recycled on a limited basis and more "new" material has to be added to the recycled product.

Obviously Wholesome Sweeteners cares about our planet and about people living in indigenous areas. Please consider switching your packaging to a reused paper product.

Once again, thank you for your consideration.