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<h4>Resolution Details</h4>
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<strong>Company:</strong>
<p>Tyson Foods, Inc.</p>
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<strong>Year:</strong>
<p>2026 </p>
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<strong>Issue Area:</strong>
<p>Environment, Food Justice, Health, Water </p>
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<strong>Focus Area:</strong>
<p>Antibiotics, Garbage/Sewage/Sludge, Sustainable Agriculture </p>
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<strong>Status:</strong>
<p>Filed</p>
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<h2>Resolution Text</h2>
<p><strong>WHEREAS:</strong>&nbsp; Use of waste lagoons in industrial livestock production contributes to adverse human and environmental health impacts, raising reputational, litigation, and long-term financial viability risks.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>
<p>Waste lagoons are open pits that hold wastewater containing urine, feces, and other waste materials from concentrated animal feeding operations. Problems with these lagoons are a source of material litigation, regulatory, and reputational risk to Tyson’s business.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Waste lagoons:</p>

<strong>Make Workers and Communities Sick. </strong>The noxious gases and pollutants released into the air[1] from waste lagoons, and especially from spraying their contents onto surrounding fields,[2] can cause asthma, cancer, lung inflammation, and other harms to workers and nearby communities.[3], [4]&nbsp;

<p><strong>Contaminate Drinking Water. </strong>Waste lagoons often overflow or leak into groundwater, releasing pollution into nearby drinking wells. Ingesting water contaminated by waste lagoons can cause cancer, endocrine disruption, blue-baby syndrome, and antibiotic resistance.[5]&nbsp;</p>
<p>Waste lagoon pollution also drains into surrounding rivers, lakes, and wetlands, creating algal blooms that can cause fish fatalities and harm local economies.[6] Such harms are worsened by climate change, which increases heavy precipitation, superstorms, and hurricane frequency, making waste lagoon overflows more likely.&nbsp;<strong> Cause Reputational, Litigation, &amp; Regulatory Risk.</strong>[7]<strong> </strong>Tyson has also been under intense public scrutiny and has been sued for different types of wastewater pollution, creating significant reputational damage and costly litigation. In 2019, a Tyson facility spilled 220,000 gallons of wastewater into the Black Warrior River, releasing high levels of E.Coli, killing nearly 200,000 fish and creating unusable drinking water for at least six cities.[8] Tyson agreed to pay $3,025,000 to affected communities.[9] Tyson has acknowledged material risk related to “environmental liabilities, such as costs related to the disposal of wastes.”[10]</p>

<p>Tyson reports that it is developing “Contextual Water Plans at 11… high-risk locations” to improve water quality.[11] In the company’s Water Position Statement, it declares that, by the end of 2020, it seeks to have “reduced the water quality impacts associated with key agricultural commodities” and will “set contextual targets to respond to issues in the surrounding watersheds for its priority facilities.”[12] To date, Tyson has not publicly identified all its high-priority facilities, reported targets, stated whether waste lagoons are included, or reported progress toward goals.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In a competitive marketplace that increasingly demands safe food and reduced harm to stakeholders and the environment, understanding, assessing, and reporting on progress in reducing waste lagoon impacts reduces risk for shareholders and our Company.</p>
<p><strong>BE IT RESOLVED:&nbsp;</strong> Shareholders request that Tyson issue a report, at reasonable expense and omitting proprietary information, disclosing any steps the Company is taking to address environmental and human health harms from waste lagoons in its owned facilities and its pork supply chain.</p>
<p>[1] https://www.undrr.org/understanding-disaster-risk/terminology/hips/tl0045#:~:text=Effluents%20from%20livestock%20industrial%20production,nearby%20streams%20and%20groundwater%20supplies&nbsp;</p>
<p>[2] https://environmentamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/AccidentsFactsheet-ManureLagoons-1.pdf&nbsp;</p>
<p>[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4517575/</p>
<p>[4] https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/citizen_engagement/Reports/2011_DEQ_Dairy%20Air%20Quality%20Task%20Force%20Appendix%20L%20Iowa%20CAFO%20study.pdf&nbsp;</p>
<p>[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1817674/&nbsp;</p>
<p>[6] https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/problem#:~:text=Nitrogen%20and%20phosphorus%20are%20nutrients,in%20the%20air%20we%20breathe&nbsp;</p>
<p>[7] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qYiDKkV5Dg&nbsp;</p>
<p>[8] https://www.environmentandsociety.org/arcadia/tyson-kills-mulberry-fork&nbsp;</p>
<p>[9] https://www.wvtm13.com/article/tyson-farms-alabama-settle-lawsuit-over-wastewater-spill-in-black-warrior-rivers-mulberry-fork/37284282&nbsp;</p>
<p>[10] https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0000100493/000010049324000119/tsn-20240928.htm&nbsp;</p>
<p>[11] https://www.tysonπfoods.com/sites/default/files/2023-10/Tyson%20Foods%20Sustainability%20Report%20FY2022%20%281%29.pdf, pg. 12</p>
<p>[12] https://www.tysonfoods.com/sites/default/files/2023-04/Water_Position_Statement.pdf&nbsp;</p>

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<div class=”views-field views-field-nothing”><span class=”field-content”> Cailin Dendas</span></div><div class=”views-field views-field-title views-field-field-shareholder”><span class=”field-content”>As You Sow</span></div>
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<h4>Resolution Details</h4>
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<strong>Company:</strong>
<p>Tyson Foods, Inc.</p>
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<strong>Year:</strong>
<p>2026 </p>
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<strong>Issue Area:</strong>
<p>Human Rights &amp; Worker Rights </p>
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<strong>Focus Area:</strong>
<p>Immigration </p>
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<strong>Status:</strong>
<p>Challenged</p>
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<h2>Resolution Text</h2>
<p><strong>RESOLVED</strong>: Shareholders request that Tyson Foods, Inc. (Tyson) issue a report, at reasonable cost and excluding proprietary information, providing the board and management’s assessment of the anticipated impact of recent changes in United States (US) immigration law, policies, and enforcement priorities on the company’s finances and operations.&nbsp;<br><br><strong>Supporting Statement</strong>: In the discretion of board and management, such report could also be verified by an independent auditor and indicate:&nbsp;</p>
<p>● how estimates and assumptions in the financial statements are affected by recent changes in US immigration law, policies, and enforcement priorities;<br>● any risk mitigation measures the Company has taken or plans to take.</p>
<p><br><strong>Whereas</strong>: &nbsp;Immigrants represent 33% of US meatpacking industry workers.1 As of 2024, Tyson employs around 120,000 team members in the US,2 42,000 (35%) of whom are immigrants.3 All Tyson team members are required to have US work authorization,4 but, in a sector already experiencing a severe labor shortage, the unpredictable elimination of work authorizations under new US immigration policy may exacerbate the labor shortage and already-existing labor problems.5 The meat industry’s lobbying group, the Meat Institute, estimates the shutdown of programs like humanitarian parole will result in 20% of the meat processing workforce losing their jobs.6 While Tyson has not provided information on the number of team members it has lost as a result of changes to immigration laws, at just one Tyson site, 100 workers were likely to lose their work authorization and face deportation, as a result of the cancellation of a humanitarian parole program.7</p>
<p>The rapidly changing immigration legal landscape presents additional challenges. Understanding and complying with rapidly changing laws places an increased burden and risk of violating the law on Tyson. Additional concerns regarding E-Verify’s accuracy in determining work authorization present compliance risks to Tyson. At a peer company’s plant, the government arrested 76 workers due to E-verify errors, scaring other workers from showing up to work, and ultimately reducing production by 70%.8 Unpredictability in the changing immigration landscape and the potential for work authorization revocations also hinder Tyson’s ability to effectively forecast and plan for long-term success.9</p>
<p>The increased labor shortage resulting from immigration policy changes may also exacerbate the already-existing illegal child labor problem in the meatpacking industry, as vulnerable children are exploited to fill these gaps in very dangerous jobs with few or no protections.10 Tyson already faces risks related to illegal child labor, as a 2023 Department of Labor (DOL) investigation found 7 children illegally working in Tyson’s plant.11 The DOL launched a separate investigation into whether Tyson had relied on migrant child labor to clean its slaughterhouses, which is ongoing.12</p>
<p><br>Despite the risks Tyson faces as a result of recent changes in immigration policy, it provides no disclosure of such risks; several of its competitors have done so.13</p>
<p>1 https://www.migrationpolicy.org/content/essential-role-immigrants-us-food-supply-chain<br>https://s203.q4cdn.com/483587180/files/doc_financials/2024/ar/TSN-FY2024-10K.pdf<br>3 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-11/tyson-is-hiring-new-york-immigrants-for-jobs-no-one-else-wants<br>4 https://www.tysonfoods.com/news/viewpoints/immigration<br>5 https://www.fairr.org/news-events/insights/labour-risk-in-meatpacking-is-on-the-rise-3-key-findings<br>6 https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/agriculture/2025/08/11/trump-crackdown-on-immigrants-could-cost-meatpackers-20-of-workers-ice/85441314007/<br>7 https://www.postcrescent.com/story/money/companies/2025/04/10/tyson-foods-to-terminate-immigrant-chnv-program-workers-in-new-london/83018723007/<br>8 https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/27/us/ice-glenn-valley-foods.html<br>9 https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/trump-administration-brings-uncertainty-to-employment</p>
<p>10 https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/child-labor-investigation-reveals-immigration-policy-changes-we-need-now; https://www.law.columbia.edu/news/archive/qa-crisis-child-labor-professors-kate-andrias-and-elora-mukherjee<br>11 https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20230217-1<br>12 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/23/us/tyson-perdue-child-labor.html<br>13 https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/802481/000080248125000011/ppc-20241229.htm; https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/88121/000008812125000017/seb-20241231x10k.htm?utm_ 2<br>&nbsp;</p>

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<div class=”views-field views-field-nothing”><span class=”field-content”> Marie Cigrand</span></div><div class=”views-field views-field-title views-field-field-shareholder”><span class=”field-content”>Sisters of St. Francis Charitable Trust</span></div>
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<div class=”views-field views-field-nothing”><span class=”field-content”> Tom McCaney</span></div><div class=”views-field views-field-title views-field-field-shareholder”><span class=”field-content”>Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia</span></div>
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<div class=”views-field views-field-nothing”><span class=”field-content”> Laura Krausa</span></div><div class=”views-field views-field-title views-field-field-shareholder”><span class=”field-content”>CommonSpirit Health</span></div>
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<div class=”views-field views-field-nothing”><span class=”field-content”> Lydia Kuykendal</span></div><div class=”views-field views-field-title views-field-field-shareholder”><span class=”field-content”>Mercy Investment Services</span></div>
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<div class=”views-field views-field-nothing”><span class=”field-content”> Karen Watson</span></div><div class=”views-field views-field-title views-field-field-shareholder”><span class=”field-content”>Congregation of St. Joseph, OH*</span></div>
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<div class=”views-field views-field-nothing”><span class=”field-content”> Lydia Kuykendal</span></div><div class=”views-field views-field-title views-field-field-shareholder”><span class=”field-content”>Daughters of Charity, Province of St Louise</span></div>
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<div class=”views-field views-field-nothing”><span class=”field-content”> Lydia Kuykendal</span></div><div class=”views-field views-field-title views-field-field-shareholder”><span class=”field-content”>Adrian Dominican Sisters</span></div>
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<h4>Resolution Details</h4>
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<strong>Company:</strong>
<p>Tyson Foods, Inc.</p>
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<strong>Year:</strong>
<p>2025 </p>
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<strong>Issue Area:</strong>
<p>Corporate Governance, Human Rights &amp; Worker Rights </p>
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<strong>Focus Area:</strong>
<p>Child Labor, Proxy Voting Disclosure </p>
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<strong>Status:</strong>
<p>Filed</p>
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<h2>Resolution Text</h2>
<p class=”p1″><strong>RESOLVED</strong>: Shareholders request that Tyson Foods, Inc. disclose the voting results on matters subject to a shareholder vote according to the class of shares, namely differentiating between those shares carrying one voting right and those carrying multiple voting rights, effective beginning at the Company’s 2026 annual meeting of shareholders.</p>
<p class=”p3″>WHEREAS<strong>:</strong></p>
<p class=”p4″>Tyson maintains a dual class structure for its common stock. Its Class B common stock has ten votes per share while its Class A common stock has one vote per share. Currently, voting results are disclosed by the Company without any distinction by share class. It is important for those results to be disclosed separately by share class to determine whether the concerns of each type of shareholder are aligned.</p>
<p class=”p6″>Due to the company’s dual class share structure, a small minority of shareholders control a majority of the voting rights. As of September 2023, Tyson Limited Partnership (TLP) controlled nearly 100% of the outstanding Class B stock, giving it 71.74% of the total voting power of the Company’s outstanding voting stock.1 As Tyson notes in its 10-K, <strong>this outsized voting power gives TLP the ability “to exert substantial influence or actual control over our management and affairs and over substantially all matters requiring action by our stockholders…This concentration of ownership may also delay or prevent a change in control otherwise favored by our other stockholders…”</strong>2 Given that Class B stockholders can disproportionately impact voting decisions that do not reflect the desires of the majority of shareholders, it would benefit these shareholders to clearly see when this has occurred.3</p>
<p class=”p8″>It is evident in recent years that holders of both types of shares may not have the same concerns on significant corporate governance and risk oversight matters put to a vote before shareholders.</p>
<p class=”p8″>Specifically, the disproportionate influence insider shares4 have exerted in recent years includes the following, which received majority independent support:</p>

A 2024 child labor proposal that received <strong>12.1% </strong>support, but <strong>54.5% </strong>when insider shares were excluded;5
A 2021 “one vote per share” proposal that received <strong>20%</strong>, but <strong>88.1% </strong>when insider shares were excluded;6
A 2021 human rights due diligence proposal that received <strong>18.4%</strong>, but <strong>81.2% </strong>when insider shares were excluded.7

<p class=”p12″>The disaggregation of voting results by share class would enable Class A shareholders to better monitor how responsive Tyson is to issues that a majority of non-insider shareholders raise. This enhanced understanding could result in greater minority shareholder loyalty, thereby building the type of consensus and mutual trust that can prove useful when companies experience periods of below-market performance or significant market blowbacks.</p>
<p class=”p3″>The disaggregation of voting results is also a non-onerous practice that Tyson could adopt without undue burden, as evidenced by multiple US companies already having adopted this disclosure as a governance best-practice.8</p>
<p class=”p1″>1 https://s203.q4cdn.com/483587180/files/doc_financials/annual/2023/tsn-2023-10k-final.pdf; TLP also owns a portion of Class A shares.</p>
<p class=”p2″>2 https://s203.q4cdn.com/483587180/files/doc_financials/annual/2023/tsn-2023-10k-final.pdf</p>
<p class=”p2″>3 https://www.railpen.com/media/pmcil2eb/icev-report-2023-undermining-the-shareholder-voice.pdf</p>
<p class=”p2″>4 These include management-owned Class A shares and TLP-owned Class A and B shares.</p>
<p class=”p2″>5 https://d18rn0p25nwr6d.cloudfront.net/CIK-0000100493/dba543fa-eebf-4b2b-863c-6538237a86f8.pdf</p>
<p class=”p2″>6 https://d18rn0p25nwr6d.cloudfront.net/CIK-0000100493/03b3fe0d-9abb-44aa-a6b9-e0646aba8a28.pdf</p>
<p class=”p2″>7 https://d18rn0p25nwr6d.cloudfront.net/CIK-0000100493/03b3fe0d-9abb-44aa-a6b9-e0646aba8a28.pdf</p>
<p class=”p1″>8 https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1649744/000119312524146033/d736999d8k.htm; https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001050606/000119312523149534/d650502d8k.htm</p>

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<div class=”views-field views-field-nothing”><span class=”field-content”> Gina Haas</span></div><div class=”views-field views-field-title views-field-field-shareholder”><span class=”field-content”>American Baptist Home Mission Society</span></div>
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<h4>Resolution Details</h4>
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<strong>Company:</strong>
<p>Tyson Foods, Inc.</p>
</div>
<div class=”row-info”>
<strong>Year:</strong>
<p>2025 </p>
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<div class=”row-info”>
<strong>Issue Area:</strong>
<p>Corporate Governance, Human Rights &amp; Worker Rights </p>
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<strong>Focus Area:</strong>
<p>Child Labor, Human Rights Due Diligence, One Vote Per Share </p>
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<strong>Status:</strong>
<p>Filed</p>
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<h2>Resolution Text</h2>
<p><strong>RESOLVED: </strong>Shareholders request that Tyson Foods, Inc. disclose the voting results on matters subject to a shareholder vote according to the class of shares, namely differentiating between those shares carrying one voting right and those carrying multiple voting rights, effective beginning at the Company’s 2026 annual meeting of shareholders.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>WHEREAS:</strong></p>
<p>Tyson maintains a dual class structure for its common stock. Its Class B common stock has ten votes per share while its Class A common stock has one vote per share. Currently, voting results are disclosed by the Company without any distinction by share class. It is important for those results to be disclosed separately by share class to determine whether the concerns of each type of shareholder are aligned.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Due to the company’s dual class share structure, a small minority of shareholders control a majority of the voting rights. As of September 2023, Tyson Limited Partnership (TLP) controlled nearly 100% of the outstanding Class B stock, giving it 71.74% of the total voting power of the Company’s outstanding voting stock.1 As Tyson notes in its 10-K, this outsized voting power gives TLP the ability “to exert substantial influence or actual control over our management and affairs and over substantially all matters requiring action by our stockholders…This concentration of ownership may also delay or prevent a change in control otherwise favored by our other stockholders…”2 Given that Class B stockholders can disproportionately impact voting decisions that do not reflect the desires of the majority of shareholders, it would benefit these shareholders to clearly see when this has occurred.3</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>It is evident in recent years that holders of both types of shares may not have the same concerns on significant corporate governance and risk oversight matters put to a vote before shareholders. Specifically, the disproportionate influence insider shares4 have exerted in recent years includes the following, which received majority independent support:</p>

A 2024 child labor proposal that received 12.1% support, but 54.5% when insider shares were excluded;5
A 2021 “one vote per share” proposal that received 20%, but 88.1% when insider shares were excluded;6
A 2021 human rights due diligence proposal that received 18.4%, but 81.2% when insider shares were excluded.7

<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The disaggregation of voting results by share class would enable Class A shareholders to better monitor how responsive Tyson is to issues that a majority of non-insider shareholders raise. This enhanced understanding could result in greater minority shareholder loyalty, thereby building the type of consensus and mutual trust that can prove useful when companies experience periods of below-market performance or significant market blowbacks.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The disaggregation of voting results is also a non-onerous practice that Tyson could adopt without undue burden, as evidenced by multiple US companies already having adopted this disclosure as a governance best-practice.8</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>______________________________</p>
<p>1&nbsp;https://s203.q4cdn.com/483587180/files/doc_financials/annual/2023/tsn-2…; TLP also&nbsp;</p>
<p>owns a portion of Class A shares.&nbsp;</p>
<p>2&nbsp;https://s203.q4cdn.com/483587180/files/doc_financials/annual/2023/tsn-2…</p>
<p>3&nbsp;https://www.railpen.com/media/pmcil2eb/icev-report-2023-undermining-the…</p>
<p>4&nbsp;These include management-owned Class A shares and TLP-owned Class A and B shares.&nbsp;</p>
<p>5&nbsp;https://d18rn0p25nwr6d.cloudfront.net/CIK-0000100493/dba543fa-eebf-4b2b…</p>
<p>6&nbsp;https://d18rn0p25nwr6d.cloudfront.net/CIK-0000100493/03b3fe0d-9abb-44aa…</p>
<p>7&nbsp;https://d18rn0p25nwr6d.cloudfront.net/CIK-0000100493/03b3fe0d-9abb-44aa…</p>
<p>8&nbsp;https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1649744/000119312524146033/d736…;</p>
<p>https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001050606/000119312523…</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class=”middle-content editor-block”>
<div class=”content-block”>
<div class=”main-content”>

</div>
</div>
</div>

</section>
</div>
<aside class=”col-xl-3 right-side”>
<div class=”column-contain”>

<div class=”position-groups”>
<div class=”row bs-1col node node–type-resolution node–view-mode-resolution-filers-only”>

<div class=”col-sm-12 col-md-8 bs-region bs-region–main”>
<div class=”views-element-container form-group”>
<div class=”view view-eva view-filers view-id-filers view-display-id-entity_view_3 js-view-dom-id-045aa431ade681bb1559ca7c9c5355e5fcc44d6c010c0d576f5bb0e6b75be269″>

<div class=”view-content”>

<h3>Lead Filer</h3>
<div class=”views-row”>
<div class=”views-field views-field-nothing”><span class=”field-content”> Aaron Acosta</span></div><div class=”views-field views-field-title views-field-field-shareholder”><span class=”field-content”>American Baptist Home Mission Society</span></div>
</div>

<h3>Co-filer</h3>
<div class=”views-row”>
<div class=”views-field views-field-nothing”><span class=”field-content”> Tom McCaney</span></div><div class=”views-field views-field-title views-field-field-shareholder”><span class=”field-content”>Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia</span></div>
</div>
<div class=”views-row”>
<div class=”views-field views-field-nothing”><span class=”field-content”> Lydia Kuykendal</span></div><div class=”views-field views-field-title views-field-field-shareholder”><span class=”field-content”>Adrian Dominican Sisters</span></div>
</div>
<div class=”views-row”>
<div class=”views-field views-field-nothing”><span class=”field-content”> Lydia Kuykendal</span></div><div class=”views-field views-field-title views-field-field-shareholder”><span class=”field-content”>CommonSpirit Health</span></div>
</div>
<div class=”views-row”>
<div class=”views-field views-field-nothing”><span class=”field-content”> Lydia Kuykendal</span></div><div class=”views-field views-field-title views-field-field-shareholder”><span class=”field-content”>Congregation of St. Joseph, OH</span></div>
</div>
<div class=”views-row”>
<div class=”views-field views-field-nothing”><span class=”field-content”> Lydia Kuykendal</span></div><div class=”views-field views-field-title views-field-field-shareholder”><span class=”field-content”>Daughters of Charity, Province of St Louise</span></div>
</div>
<div class=”views-row”>
<div class=”views-field views-field-nothing”><span class=”field-content”> Lydia Kuykendal</span></div><div class=”views-field views-field-title views-field-field-shareholder”><span class=”field-content”>Mercy Investment Services</span></div>
</div>
<div class=”views-row”>
<div class=”views-field views-field-nothing”><span class=”field-content”> Cathy Rowan</span></div><div class=”views-field views-field-title views-field-field-shareholder”><span class=”field-content”>Trinity Health</span></div>
</div>
<div class=”views-row”>
<div class=”views-field views-field-nothing”><span class=”field-content”> Timnit Ghermay</span></div><div class=”views-field views-field-title views-field-field-shareholder”><span class=”field-content”>Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, WA</span></div>
</div>

</div>

</div>
</div>

</div>
</div>

</div>
</div>
</aside&gt 

 

Resolution Details

Company:

Tyson Foods, Inc.

Year:

2024

Issue Area:

Environment, Sustainability

Focus Area:

Plastics Pollution

Status:

Filed


Tyson Foods, Inc. Producer Responsibility for Packaging – Proxy Memo


Resolution Text

WHEREAS:  The growing plastic pollution and packaging waste crises pose increasing risks to Tyson Foods. Corporations could face an annual financial risk of approximately $100 billion should governments require them to cover the waste management costs of the packaging they produce.[1] Laws to this effect have significant momentum, having been recently adopted in four U.S. states, with additional introduced at the state and federal level.[2] The European Union has already enacted a $1 per kilogram tax on all non-recycled plastic packaging waste.[3] Additionally, consumer demand for sustainable packaging is increasing.[4]

A circular economy for packaging, whereby packaging is designed for reuse or recycling and kept in the economy and out of the environment, is critical to a net-zero emissions world. Tyson states it is committed to emissions reductions,[5] yet lacks commitments to ensure circularity of its product packaging,[6] even though its sold products and packaging contribute significantly to Scope 3 emissions at their end-of-life (“EOL”).[7]

More than 100 leading companies have committed to promoting a circular economy for packaging by acknowledging responsibility for the collection, sorting, and recycling of packaging at EOL, a policy known as Extended Producer Responsibility (“EPR”).[8] Absent legally mandated EPR, companies must voluntarily contribute to improve the collection and recycling of their packaging.

The Recycling Partnership (“TRP”), the leading recycling organization, finds that $17 billion is needed to modernize and expand recycling infrastructure, and that doing so will save the equivalent of 710 million metric tons of CO2 over ten years.[9] To improve plastic recycling infrastructure, TRP recommends that companies contribute at least $88 for every metric ton of plastic used.[10]

Competitors Kraft Heinz, Kellogg’s, Nestlé, Procter & Gamble and at least 25 other companies make voluntary contributions to expand recycling infrastructure, a critical step in embracing EPR.[11] Tyson is not known to voluntarily contribute financial resources to ensure its packaging never becomes waste.[12] 

Tyson received a “D-” grade on a recent report evaluating corporate packaging sustainability for its failure to financially support recycling infrastructure, endorse EPR, reduce plastic use, explore reuse opportunities, and make all packaging recyclable.[13]

Our Company could avoid regulatory, environmental, and competitive risks by adopting a circular economy approach to packaging and financially contributing to recycling infrastructure. 

BE IT RESOLVED:  Shareholders request that the Board issue a report, at reasonable expense and excluding proprietary information, describing opportunities for Tyson to support a circular economy for packaging.

SUPPORTING STATEMENT:  The report should assess, at Board discretion:

The reputational, financial, and operational risks associated with failing to promote a circular economy for packaging; 
The potential to increase packaging recyclability and transition to reusable packaging; and
Opportunities to develop policies or goals to endorse EPR and determine an appropriate level of voluntary financial contributions to recycling infrastructure.

[1] https://www.pewtrusts.org/-/media/assets/2020/07/breakingtheplasticwave_report.pdf, p. 9

[2] https://www.packworld.com/news/business-intelligence/article/22861621/extended-producer-responsibility-legislation-emerging-in-us

[3] https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/eu-budget/long-term-eu-budget/2021-2027/revenue/own-resources/plastics-own-resource_en    

[4] https://www.shorr.com/resources/blog/the-2022-sustainable-packaging-consumer-report/

[5] https://www.tysonsustainability.com/natural-resources/energy-emissions

[6] https://www.asyousow.org/report-page/plastic-pollution-scorecard-2021/data-visualization 

[7] https://ghgprotocol.org/scope-3-technical-calculation-guidance

[8] https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/extended-producer-responsibility/overview?_ga=2.194255722.613184023.1673367048-710010554.1662564816&_gl=1*18c5mjb*_ga*NzEwMDEwNTU0LjE2NjI1NjQ4MTY.*_ga_V32N675KJX*MTY3MzM2NzA0OC4xNC4wLjE2NzMzNjcwNDguNjAuMC4w 

[9] https://recyclingpartnership.org/paying-it-forward/  

[10] https://plasticiq.org/  

[11] https://www.asyousow.org/report-page/plastic-pollution-scorecard-2021/, p. 17

[12] https://www.asyousow.org/report-page/plastic-pollution-scorecard-2021/data-visualization

[13] https://www.asyousow.org/report-page/plastic-pollution-scorecard-2021/, p. 5

 

 

Resolution Details

Company:

Tyson Foods, Inc.

Year:

2024

Issue Area:

Human Rights & Worker Rights

Focus Area:

Child Labor, Worker Rights, Health & Safety

Status:

Filed

Resolution Text

Resolved: Shareholders of Tyson Foods (“Tyson”) request the Board of Directors commission an independent third-party audit assessing the effectiveness of the Company’s policies and practices in preventing illegal child labor throughout its value chain. A report on the audit, prepared at reasonable cost and omitting proprietary information and pending litigation, should be made available on the company’s website.

Supporting Statement: At company discretion, the proponents recommend the audit include:

● Evaluation of Tyson policies and practices regarding, but not limited to, slaughter and processing facilities, third-party contractors, suppliers etc. linked to child labor violations;

● Meaningful consultation with workers, suppliers, and other relevant stakeholders to inform appropriate solutions and ensure compliance with federal child labor requirements; and

● Recommendations for actions and regular reporting with progress on identified actions.

Whereas: Investors remain concerned the illegal use of child labor poses significant financial, reputational, legal, and human rights risks throughout the Company’s value chain. In March 2023, a Department of Labor (“DOL”) investigation found the use of illegal child labor in Tyson’s Arkansas and Tennessee facilities. These children, employed by Tyson contractor Packers Sanitation Services Inc., worked during the night shifts and were exposed to dangerous chemicals and meat processing equipment like back saws and head splitters.1 The investigation found 7 children working in Tyson facilities and assessed the penalty at $105,966, the maximum penalty under federal law.2 DOL investigations into illegal child labor, including 600 ongoing investigations, highlight the systemic nature of the risk.3

Despite Tyson’s no tolerance policy for the use of illegal child labor, the Company does not disclose information on how its commitment is implemented.4 Furthermore, as 10 states have introduced bills to roll back child labor protections during the past 2 years, the majority of which are home to Tyson meatpacking plants, Tyson has not opposed any of the bills.5 Arkansas, where Tyson is headquartered, recently approved one such law.6 Although there is no direct evidence, Tyson’s financial interest and silence may indicate support of these rollbacks.

The findings of child labor in Tyson’s plants may be a symptom of a larger worker rights problem at Tyson, which has a track record for violating its workers’ health and safety.

Among US OSHA-covered companies, Tyson ranks the fifth highest for reported severe worker injuries, including amputations and hospital stays.7 OSHA’s actions in the first 7 months of 2023 uncovered 21 violations at 13 Tyson facilities in five states.8 leading to initial fines exceeding $100,000.9

The company’s resistance to federal and state health safeguards during COVID-19, detailed in two congressional reports, may be contributing to its underperformance.10 Tyson faces lawsuits filed by workers citing the company’s mishandling of the pandemic.11 Investors are uncertain if ongoing safety concerns contribute to labor shortages, financial underperformance, the closure of six plants since March 2023, and child labor risks.12

1 https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20230217-1 

2 https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20230217-1 

3 https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osec/osec20230227 

4 https://tysonsustainability.com/downloads/Tyson_Foods_Global_Human_Rights_Policy.pdf 

5 https://www.epi.org/publication/child-labor-laws-under-attack/ 

6 https://www.epi.org/publication/child-labor-laws-under-attack/

7 https://www.epi.org/blog/an-average-of-27-workers-a-day-suffer-amputation-or-hospitalization-according- to-new-osha-data-from-29-states-meat-and-poultry-companies-remain-among-the-most-dangerous/

8 https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/establishment.search?p_logger=1&establishment=Tyson+Foods&State=all&o fficetype=all&Office=all&sitezip=&p_case=all&p_violations_exist=all&startmonth=08&startday=02&startyea r=2018&endmonth=08&endday=02&endyear=2023; https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/establishment.search?establishment=Tyson&state=all&officetype=all&office=all&sitezip=100000&startmonth=08&startday=02&startyear=2018&endmonth=08&endday=02&endyear= 2023&p_case=all&p_start=20&p_finish=40&p_sort=12&p_desc=DESC&p_direction=Prev&p_show=20&p_v iolations_exist=both

9 Id. 

10 https://coronavirus-democrats-oversight.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/2022.5.12%20- %20SSCC%20report%20Meatpacking%20FINAL.pdf; https://coronavirus-democrats- oversight.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/2021.10.27%20Meatpacking%20Report.Fin al_.pdf 

11 https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca5/22-10171/22-10171-2023-03-27.html ; https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/21/21-11110-CV0.pdf ; https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2023/03/10/711829.htm#  

12 https://www.fairr.org/news-events/press-releases/meat-companies-inaction-on-working-conditions ; https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/tyson-foods-shut-four-more-us-chicken-plants-2023-08-07/ ; https://apnews.com/article/tyson-foods-plant-chicken-e45205f70baece25eda5ec3ba2129170 

 

 

Resolution Details

Company:

Tyson Foods, Inc.

Year:

2024

Issue Area:

Climate Change

Focus Area:

Climate Lobbying, Paris-Aligned Climate Lobbying

Status:

Filed

Resolution Text

RESOLVED: Shareholders request that Tyson Foods (“Tyson”) conduct an evaluation and issue a report annually, beginning within the next year (at reasonable cost, omitting proprietary information) describing if, and how, its lobbying, directly and through the activities of its trade associations and social welfare organizations, aligns with the Company’s science-based targets and long term net zero ambitions. The report should also address the risks presented by any misaligned lobbying and Tyson’s efforts, if any, to mitigate these risks.

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

Rapid reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions are needed by 2030 to limit global warming and meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. If that goal is not met, even more rapid reductions, at greater cost, will be required to compensate for the slow start on the path to global net zero emissions.

Meanwhile, critical gaps remain between existing public policies and actions required to prevent the worst effects of climate change. Companies have an important and constructive role to play in enabling and encouraging policymakers to close these gaps.

Corporate lobbying that is inconsistent with the Paris Agreement and a company’s own climate targets presents material risks to investors, as delays in emissions reductions increase the compounding physical risks of climate change, threaten economic stability, and heighten uncertainty and volatility in investment portfolios.

Of additional concern are trade associations that say they speak for business but too often present forceful obstacles to addressing the climate crisis and to companies meeting their climate goals.

We recognize the industry-leading commitment that Tyson has made to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the company’s global operations and supply chain by 2050 and the certification of its emissions targets by the Science Based Targets initiative. However, achieving this goal will require supportive public policy to promote needed innovations and investments including increased renewable energy, transport electrification and sustainable farming. Climate change is a systemic risk and a global challenge; Tyson and other companies will require the support of sound public policy to make the rapid transition to a low-carbon economy to mitigate this long-term risk.

Dozens of companies in both the U.S. and Europe have produced or agreed to issue reports evaluating their policy advocacy programs in the past two years, enabling investors to better understand how their public policy positions align with their climate ambitions and the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Tyson reports its membership in some trade associations that have taken negative positions on recent climate and energy legislation such as the Inflation Reduction Act, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers. However, the Company provides insufficient information to help investors understand if or how the Company works to ensure that its lobbying activities directly and/or indirectly (through trade and membership organizations) align with its climate goals, and how management and the board address identified misalignments.