Earth Day II: Beachkeepers

This week Thursday the United States celebrates the 50^th anniversary of Earth Day, the well managed but still unofficial day of protest against environmental degradation.  It is a day to honor the bounty of Earth and publicize ways to live in harmony with nature.  As the years have gone by the day has stretched into a week and the mass mobilization has remained active throughout the years.  The previous post “Earth Day I:  WaterKeepers” on April 20th described the year-round efforts of community groups around the world to clean up water ways large and small.

Coastal waters experience particular stress as rivers and streams carry pollution to the ultimate destination, the ocean.  Yet here, where water and land meet, is where numerous animals and birds live out their life cycles from birth to death. Humans have also been drawn to the coast as they look to the horizon for the next exciting opportunity. 

There are numerous local groups that have been the dramatic ecology of the beach their focus.  While they do not have a worldwide umbrella organization like the Waterkeepers Alliance, the work of beach groups is not less vital in the fight to improve the world’s environment.

Beach Keepers, Inc. of Florida is a non-profit organization dedicated to removing li the beaches of South Florida.  Besides spearheading litter removal projects, the group also works to support tourism.  Beach trash that ends up in the ocean is often mistaken for food by marine animals, especially turtles that love a tasty jellyfish.  Plastic is entering the food chain through fish and could ultimately harm humans that stand at the end of the food chain.

The International SeaKeepers Society supports marine science and conservation by marshalling privately-owned yachts for oceanographic research and marine conservation.  The group claims over two hundred projects since the group was founded in 2014.  It has helped organize over thirty beach clean-up vents, collecting 4,660 pounds of trash.  Trash on the beach and in waterways is not only an eyesore, it results in damage to reproductive habitat, entangles and kills marine and land animals and damages recreational and commercial vessels.

The California Coastal Alliance is as proactive as any group of politically active Californians.  The group promotes tough water legislation and helps enforce the Clean Water Act passed in 1972, through the court action.  For example, in February 2021, the Alliance endorsed California Assembly Bill 622 to require filtration devices in all new washing machines sold in California by 2024.  Such filtration devises would prevent at least 90% of the microfibers in clothing from entering waterways with washing machine discharges.  Microfibers from clothing are a primary source of potentially harmful microplastics entering the food chain.  Indeed, studies have found that the plastic bits ingested by fish are primarily microfibers from clothing.

These are just three of the many organizations focused on recovering beaches and coastal areas.  Count on each one of them to make the most of the Earth Day spirit this week and throughout the year.

It would be encouraging if we had more business and industry to count on for clean beaches.  Indeed, there are some businesses that appear to be less than inactive  -  they are actually “environmentally unconscious.’  An example, is Dunkin’ Donuts, a purveyor of coffee and breakfast pastries.  One order from Dunkin’ Donuts is handed to customers in a collection of paper bags (one for cold pastries and one for hot food), wax papers, paper sheathes, and coffee cups. 

In May 2020, Dunkin’ Donuts claimed to have successfully transitioned from foam to paper cups with a recyclable lid.  It would be a reason to cheer, expect that Dunkin’ insists on topping the cup with a small, non-recyclable plastic plug for the hot coffee cup lid.  What is more, the new Dunkin’ cup may not be recyclable without separation of the inside polyethylene lining that keeps the paper cup from leaking.

Dunkin’ Donuts was recently acquired by Inspire Brands, a subsidiary of private equity firm Roark Capital Group.  The $11.3 billion price tag included Baskin-Robbins ice cream as a bonus.  Inspire Brands also owns Buffalo Wild Winds, Arby’s, Sonic, Jimmy Johns and Rusty Taco, none of which appear to have a clue about water shortages or threats to wild life from consumer product packaging.  Nor is there likely much environmental awareness in the sister companies owned directly by Inspire’s parent, Roark Capital:  Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Cinnabon, Carl’s Jr., and Hardee’s. 

Inspire Brands and its parent Roark Capital are not solely responsible for beach trash.  However, recalcitrant management teams need to be nudged and otherwise pushed into action.  Fast food packaging accounts for as much as 40% of all litter and uses as much as 10% of global water supplies.      

 

Neither the author of the Small Cap Strategist web log, Crystal Equity Research nor its affiliates have a beneficial interest in the companies mentioned herein.