Delicious French’s Fried Onions (and their horrible packaging and palm oil ingredient)

I love French’s Fried Onions, but when I just now put another plastic box in the recycle bin, I decided to write them (via the contact form on their website) about their packaging:

Friends, I love French’s Fried onions. They are good on so many things. But I’m conflicted! The packaging is HORRIBLE! WHY A PLASTIC BOX? We use the box for such a short time and then FOREVER it sits in a landfill or degrades in a body of water to give us all cancer when it becomes micro-plastic and we eat it or drink it. Humans lived for millennia without plastic boxes. Couldn’t you package these delicious onions in a paper box with a wax paper liner? Come on! Let’s be good citizens of the earth. And, while you’re at it, how about NOT making them with palm oil. Is it really necessary to decimate rain forests to get that oil? You REALLY can’t use some other kind? Please. Do the right thing. You can still make delicious fried onions that everyone will love. But please, use packaging and ingredients that won’t ruin the planet. I want to enjoy the fried onions, but I don’t want to contribute to ruining the earth to enjoy them.

I run an effort called Project PUT: Pick Up Trash. I look forward to your response.

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Related Posts and Info

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Writing and Calling Companies About Their Packaging
https://projectput.wordpress.com/2017/03/24/writing-and-calling-companies-about-their-packaging/

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Project PUT: Pick Up Trash on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ProjectPUT/
@ProjectPUT

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Project PUT: Pick Up Trash on Pinterest:

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Project PUT: Pick Up Trash Blog:
https://projectput.wordpress.com/

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Project PUT: Pick Up Trash Online:
ProjectPUT.org

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Project PUT: Pick Up Trash on Twitter

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Kudos! Mother Earth Organic Mushrooms Uses Terrific Paper Packaging

I just wrote Mother Earth Organic Mushrooms about the excellent mushrooms I purchased at Whole Foods the other day and their terrific paper packaging. I’d love to find out more about it.

Mother Earth Organic Mushrooms
https://organicmushrooms.com/
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10/30/2018

Dear Mother Earth Organic Mushrooms,

I purchased a package of your mushrooms from Whole Foods in Arlington (Clarendon), VA a few days ago. I really appreciate the paper boat that your mushrooms come in. I wish there was an alternative to the plastic wrap that holds them in, but I REALLY appreciate that paper container that is the primary component of your packaging. And the mushrooms were delicious.

I run a little effort called PROJECT PUT: PICK UP TRASH. This was my daughter’s idea a few years ago and, as she’s a teen now, she’s moved on from it. But I’m keeping it up because it was a wonderful idea. We pick up trash and put it where it belongs, encourage others to do the same, push anti-litter language, and support environmentalism and progressive politics (which supports environmentalism). We also promote responsible packaging (by writing companies about how they contain their products) and trying to suggest alternatives to single use plastic packaging.

I’d love to feature your mushrooms and packaging on our website and social media. Could you give me a link to the company that makes your paper containers? I’d love to share that company with other food producers as a viable alternative to single use plastics.

Project PUT: Pick Up Trash
Every little PUT counts
http://ProjectPUT.org
@ProjectPUT (Facebook & Twitter)
#ProjectPUTPickUpTrash
#DontLitter
#AmericaTheBeautiful
#LoveMotherNature
#ThereIsNoPlanetB

 

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Related Posts

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Related Posts and Info

*
Writing and Calling Companies About Their Packaging
https://projectput.wordpress.com/2017/03/24/writing-and-calling-companies-about-their-packaging/

*
Project PUT: Pick Up Trash on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ProjectPUT/
@ProjectPUT

*
Project PUT: Pick Up Trash on Pinterest:

*
Project PUT: Pick Up Trash Blog:
https://projectput.wordpress.com/

*
Project PUT: Pick Up Trash Online:
ProjectPUT.org

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Project PUT: Pick Up Trash on Twitter

Tweets by ProjectPUT

10/6/2018 Packaging Note to Cherub Tomatoes

Comment made to Cherub Tomatoes via Their Contact Form,
10/6/2018

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Hello, I like your tomatoes. I’m roasting some right now.

I’m writing to register my concern about your plastic packages. Single use plastics are one of the worst things for this beautiful planet we live on. Single use plastics don’t biodegrade, last for hundreds of years, pollute our waterways and lands.

RECYCLING is not an effective solution. The problem is single use plastic pollution is easy to solve. For millennia, up until just the last few debates food was distributed without plastic.

Your tomatoes are terrific. Your packaging, though real cute, is vile.

Does the earth really have to suffer this decades long piece of pollution for the convenience of a few weeks container when a biodegradable/compostable option would have worked just as well?

I understand companies want quick convenience. But at some point, we are going to have to seriously reckon with convenience in conjunction with being responsible.

Thank you,

Emily Gleichenhaus
Project PUT: Pick Up Trash
Every little PUT counts
ProjectPUT.org
@ProjectPUT (Facebook & Twitter)

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Related Posts and Info

*
Writing and Calling Companies About Their Packaging
https://projectput.wordpress.com/2017/03/24/writing-and-calling-companies-about-their-packaging/

*
Project PUT: Pick Up Trash on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ProjectPUT/
@ProjectPUT

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Project PUT: Pick Up Trash on Pinterest:

*
Project PUT: Pick Up Trash Blog:
https://projectput.wordpress.com/

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Project PUT: Pick Up Trash Online:
ProjectPUT.org

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Project PUT: Pick Up Trash on Twitter

Tweets by ProjectPUT

Tweets by ProjectPUT

VOTE (and Pick Up Trash to Protect America’s Health and Beauty)

Vote (and sing for America)
Collage by Emily Leatha Everson Gleichenhaus
Sing Books with Emily

I heard a motivational speaker say, “If it is to be, its up to me.” Don’t leave your well being up to others. Apathy facilitates corruption. It is true that God helps those who help themselves. Do all the good you can. VOTE.

Sing patriotic songs with your kids:
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/06/22/a-patriotic-list-of-singable-books-for-july-4th/

SING BOOKS WITH EMILY

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Related Posts

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Patriotic Illustrated Songs
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/06/22/a-patriotic-list-of-singable-books-for-july-4th/

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ALL ELEG POSTERS IN ONE PLACE
https://wisdominspirationgoodadvice.wordpress.com/all-poster-in-one-place/

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List of Organizations that Support and Facilitate Voting:
https://projectput.wordpress.com/2018/09/07/the-vote-is-the-antidote-elect-candidates-who-will-protect-the-environment/

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Wisdom, Inspiration, and Good Advice Blog (WIGA)
A collection of ideas, quotes, and poems to help guide my children to thrive, actualize their best selves, and become honorable citizens of the community and the world.
https://wisdominspirationgoodadvice.wordpress.com/

VOTE! The Vote is the Antidote

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VOTE: The Vote is the Antidote
Collage Art by Emily Leatha Everson Gleichenhaus

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Related Posts

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Patriotic Illustrated Songs
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/06/22/a-patriotic-list-of-singable-books-for-july-4th/

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ALL ELEG POSTERS IN ONE PLACE
https://wisdominspirationgoodadvice.wordpress.com/all-poster-in-one-place/

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List of Organizations that Support and Facilitate Voting:
https://projectput.wordpress.com/2018/09/07/the-vote-is-the-antidote-elect-candidates-who-will-protect-the-environment/

Nature Speaks, Conservation International. People need Nature (not the other way around)

Conservation International’s #NatureSpeaks Playlist:

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9/17/2018 Project PUT Packaging Note to Chobani Yogurt

I wrote Chobani Yogurt a second time, 9/18/2018:

9/19/2018

Chobani Yogurt Customer Care Contact Form
https://www.chobani.com/customer-care/…

Dear Chobani,

My children and I very much enjoy your yogurt products. I feel good about the quality of the yogurt you make.

I am also, however, very concerned about your plastic packaging. I feel just awful about it. My kids love your yogurt smoothies and yogurt cups, but they consume one and then the plastic bottle or cup it came it could last for hundreds of years polluting a landfill or end up in our water for us to consume or to choke or poison wildlife.

Milk comes on paper cartons. Chinese food, too. Can’t a company like yours, that professes a mission to provide healthy nutrition to your customers then find a way to package products so that the packaging does not poison and pollute our beautiful planet? When it comes to your yogurt, cannot your customers have the cake and eat it, too?

I really like your yogurt, but for me, buying and consuming it with my family also comes with a huge dose of guilt for enabling/supporting Chonani to package products in such an environmentally irresponsible fashion.

Can you please find a better way to package your products than in plastic? You could become heros in this story and real leaders. Please do. And please do it quickly. There is no time to waste.

Thank you,
Emily Gleichenhaus
Arlington, VA

Project PUT: Pick Up Trash
Project PUT: Pick Up Trash
Every little PUT counts
ProjectPUT.org
@ProjectPUT (Facebook & Twitter)

 

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Response I received from Chobani 9/18/2018:

Hello Emily,

Thanks so much for reaching out to us. We’ve been on a mission since day one to provide better food for more people. Sustainability is not just a word to us; it’s a core value. From cow, to cup, to consumer, we’re bringing Chobani’s universal wellness mission to life through a holistic sustainability program. We’re always exploring new ideas and approaches that support the economic, environmental, and social impacts of our business.

When it comes to our packaging, we’re constantly seeking new ways to minimize our impact on the environment, using less plastic per cup, less paperboard for our packaging overwraps, and less corrugate cardboard for our case shippers. Our sustainable packaging efforts have real impacts on the yogurt category and the planet. Since August 2015, we’ve reduced our packaging weight by 7.4% by redesigning our cups, saving over 2.1 million lbs. of plastic resin – the weight of eight adult blue whales.

We know that many of our fans are having important conversations about sustainability, recycling, and protecting the planet we all share. Here at Chobani, we’re having these conversations, too. Your passionate comments will be shared with our Packaging Innovation Team for review.

Thanks again for reaching out.

JodiLyn Livingston
Community Loyalty Team

 

 

 

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Related Posts and Info

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7//20/2018 Project PUT Comment to Chobani Yogurt
https://projectput.wordpress.com/2018/07/20/comment-to-chobani-yogurt/
(as of 9/18/2018, this comment went unanswered)

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Writing and Calling Companies About Their Packaging
https://projectput.wordpress.com/2017/03/24/writing-and-calling-companies-about-their-packaging/

*
Project PUT: Pick Up Trash on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ProjectPUT/
@ProjectPUT

*
Project PUT: Pick Up Trash on Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/singbooksemily/project-put-pick-up-trash/

*
Project PUT: Pick Up Trash Blog:
https://projectput.wordpress.com/

*
Project PUT: Pick Up Trash Online:
ProjectPUT.org

*
Project PUT: Pick Up Trash on Twitter
https://twitter.com/ProjectPUT