As all of us continue to grapple with the ongoing consequences and uncertainty of COVID-19, we at CR are keeping one eye on the hazards that could threaten to similarly disrupt our lives down the road. One of the key lessons of the novel coronavirus is that we must act with urgency and fact-based planning to prepare ourselves for large-scale challenges—including the threat of climate change.
With that in mind, we will be shining an even brighter light on how all of us can factor in sustainability when we make choices in the marketplace, by highlighting products and services that do not harm public health or the environment in their production, use, or disposal. Our story "How to Eat Less Plastic" underscores the health implications of more than 10 billion tons of plastics produced over past decades.
As we ramp up our insights and testing on sustainability, we'll be using the same rigorous, evidence-based testing and reporting that you have come to depend on from CR. Our mission has always been to ensure your well-being and safety by equipping you with the trustworthy information you need to shift the marketplace toward better outcomes for yourself and for the world.
We cannot prevent pandemics or undo all the harm that has been done to the environment, but—working together—there are steps we can take today to shape our world for the better and preserve the planet for future generations.
It took an enormous effort by the CR team while working remotely, full of resilience and dedication, to put together this issue. I hope you find it useful and relevant.
Remember to take good care of yourselves and your loved ones.
Editor's Note: This article also appeared in the June 2020 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
