Helping honeybees: Eliminating pesticides in retail
One-third of all the food we eat comes from plants pollinated by honeybees—85% of all plants depend on pollinators to exist. This is threatened by massive declines in pollinator populations. Recent evidence points to a class of pesticides known as neonics as a major contributing factor.
We led a coordinated effort to engage with 19 companies at risk for selling plant products with these pesticides. A leading home improvement products retailer was among the few willing to take on the issue. Through months of dialogue, we worked with corporate leaders to educate them about neonics and to advocate specific steps for mitigating the risk these chemicals pose to pollinators.
The company announced it would require suppliers to label all plants treated with neonics and to work with suppliers to eliminate the pesticides from their plants. This effort was a great example of shareholder advocacy improving transparency and reducing environmental risk through a collaborative approach.