Big Food and the rise of plastic-related risk

The document argues that 'Big Food' companies face escalating risks across waste, climate, and health dimensions due to their 'addiction to single-use plastics'. It highlights a wave of new legislation in Europe, increasing public backlash, and emerging legal precedents in the US and EU that could lead to significant financial and legal liabilities. The brief warns investors that many companies are failing to disclose these material risks or are relying on 'false solutions' rather than reducing their plastic footprints.

• Big Food companies face significant regulatory risks from a 'wave of new legislation' in Europe that introduces bans, restrictions, and additional costs for plastic packaging. This includes tougher recycling targets for Member States and a 'plastic levy on unrecycled plastic waste'.
• The carbon intensity of plastic production and its reliance on oil and gas create climate-related financial risks. The removal of regulatory protections shielding EU plastic producers from carbon pricing, combined with volatile fossil fuel markets, may increase costs for companies using single-use packaging.
• Reputational risk is high for Big Food due to public outrage and a shift in purchasing power toward millennials who prioritize sustainability. There is growing concern regarding the health impacts of microplastics and hazardous chemicals in packaging.
• Legal liability is increasing, evidenced by a 'first-of-its-kind' case in the US holding food companies responsible for marine plastic pollution. There is a risk of class actions regarding health impacts of chemicals, drawing comparisons to asbestos litigation.
• ClientEarth identifies several 'false solutions' that companies use instead of reducing their plastic footprint, including unproven technologies, 'plastic offsetting' schemes, 'downcycling', and substituting one single-use material for another.

APA

ClientEarth (2021). Big Food and the rise of plastic-related risk. https://www.clientearth.org/media/vuvnsvsg/material-issues-executive-summary.pdf

Chicago

ClientEarth. Big Food and the rise of plastic-related risk. 2021. https://www.clientearth.org/media/vuvnsvsg/material-issues-executive-summary.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=ClientEarth |title=Big Food and the rise of plastic-related risk |date=September 2021 |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/vuvnsvsg/material-issues-executive-summary.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{clientearth2021big, author = {{ClientEarth}}, title = {{Big Food and the rise of plastic-related risk}}, institution = {ClientEarth}, year = {2021}, month = sep, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/vuvnsvsg/material-issues-executive-summary.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }