Dear John,
There is only word that describes both the change we’ve made this year and the new challenges we’re up against: Unprecedented. Despite the negative narrative promoted in politics and the media – opposing shareholders, climate work, clean energy, workforce protections, and diversity, to name just a few – the good news is that corporate progress continued this year. A majority of the corporate leaders we work with continue to quietly improve ESG policies
that reduce risk and protect long-term growth for all stakeholders. Your support is helping to drive and support these big changes.
Despite this quiet progress, or maybe because of it, our work faces escalating pushback, oppressive proposed rule changes, retaliatory investigations, and threatened legal actions. Our response is to stand tall and respond in productive, reasonable, and innovative ways.
Read on for examples of the work you’re making possible and some of the new pushback we’re facing this year. | | | | | General Motors not using minerals mined from the deep sea
After filing shareholder resolutions with General Motors the last two years, the company has
agreed to publicly state that it does not plan to use minerals sourced from the deep sea. This position aligns with the global moratorium on deep sea mining, despite the administration’s recent executive order promoting deep sea mining. | | | | GM’s position reflects the wide availability of such minerals, the high costs of deep ocean mining, and the potentially irreparable environmental harms associated with it. | | |
| | Travelers Insurance: Shareholders are revealing the
true costs of climate change
| | | | | The homeowner’s insurance market faces a deepening crisis as losses from climate-driven wildfires, hurricanes, and flooding result in mounting catastrophic losses. Major insurers like Travelers have protected profits by dramatically raising rates and dropping policies in
climate-vulnerable areas, leaving homeowners struggling to pay exorbitant rates. Nearly 12% of homeowners are now uninsured and the number is expanding. Despite growing risk, the industry continues to invest hundreds of billions in high-carbon companies. To highlight the dangers of this business model, we filed a resolution asking Travelers to disclose whether it can maintain its profitability as climate impacts grow and high premiums and fewer insurable markets shrink its customer base. | | | | | We’re tackling microplastics at the source
According to the Wall Street
Journal, and a recent webinar hosted by As You Sow, microplastics are in our bodies, the air we breathe, and the water we drink. Even the seafloor has not been spared, with microplastics tripling in the last 20 years. These tiny particles don’t readily biodegrade, instead they just get smaller every year, finally turning into nano-plastics that cross the brain, testicular, and placental barriers — toxifying our environment and our bodies.
As You Sow is working with numerous companies to prevent plastic waste, promote reusable packaging, and dramatically reduce microfiber shedding. Our engagements this year with corporations like Amazon, PepsiCo, Wyndham Hotels, Procter & Gamble, and Kraft Heinz are helping to eliminate plastic waste at the source. Plus, we’re now
working with companies like Nike and Lululemon to prevent microfiber shedding. | | | | |
This year we’ve conducted 137 engagements on a dozen issue areas ranging from biodiversity to circular economy to social justice, with incredible results. But simultaneously, the radical right is wielding political power to stifle free speech and restrict our freedom to invest.
For example, a new Texas law requires investors of companies headquartered in Texas to own at least $1 million in stock, or a 3% stake in a company, before they can file a shareholder resolution, making it impossible for all but the wealthiest investors to have a say at the corporations they own. Another law forces proxy advisors whose advice is not 100% aligned with
management to declare their advice is not provided solely in the financial interest of shareholders and compels a costly and difficult economic analysis for every issue to be voted.
Will you support this work today and help us continue resisting efforts to silence shareholders? Donate now and our board will match your gift 1:1 up to $100,000! | |
| | Together, we’re holding the line against aggressive and determined opposition. Progress persists because of you. Please ensure this work continues in 2026 with a gift today.
For the
future, | | |
Andrew Behar
CEO, As You Sow | | | | As You Sow is the nation’s leading shareholder representative, with a 30+ year track record promoting environmental and social corporate responsibility and advancing values-aligned investing. Its issue areas include climate change, ocean plastics, toxins in the food system, biodiversity loss, racial injustice, and lack of workplace diversity. See As You Sow’s shareholder resolution tracker. | | | As You Sow
11461 San Pablo Avenue, Suite 400
El Cerrito, CA
94530 | | | | DISCLAIMER: As You Sow is not an investment advisor, nor do we provide financial planning, legal or tax advice. The content of our programming, publications and presentations is provided for informational and educational purposes only, and should not be considered as information sufficient upon which to base any decisions on investing, purchases, sales, trades, or any other investment transactions. We do not express an opinion on the future or expected value of any security or other interest and do not explicitly or implicitly recommend or
suggest an investment strategy of any kind.
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