“Unilever’s decision to cut its plastic production
may seem like a contrived attempt to connect
with a younger generation. However, it is a
necessary move for a brand trying to maintain
its relevance and reputation,” said Carmen Bryan,
an analyst for the analytics firm GlobalData.
Elvira Jimenez, a plastics campaigner with
Greenpeace, welcomed the announcement,
“in the sense that they are the first ones that
are actually acknowledging that there has to
be a reduction.”
However, she said the environmental
organization would like to see Unilever shift
its focus even further toward packaging and
products that can be reused or refilled.
Experts say that some 9 million tons (8 million
metric tons) of plastic waste, including plastic
bottles, bags, toys and other items, flow annually
into the world’s oceans.