Five Companies – Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestlé, Danone and Altria – Responsible for 24% of Traced Origin Polluting Plastics

An analysis of nearly two million pieces of plastic pollution found that half of them did not have any recognizable brand identification. The other half could be linked to five major food and beverage companies: Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestlé, Danone, and Altria. Research led by the Moore Plastic Pollution Research Institute revealed that a 1% increase in plastic production leads to a corresponding increase in plastic pollution in the environment. Global plastic production has doubled from 2000 to 2019, resulting in over 400 million tons of plastic waste.

Researchers and volunteers from 84 countries conducted audits between 2018 and 2022 on abandoned plastic debris in an attempt to identify brand names and their origin. Over half of the items examined (52%) were unbranded and untraceable. Among the branded items (24%), the majority could be traced back to multinational corporations, with Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestle, Danone, and Altria accounting for the most waste.

The study, involving scientists from various countries, identified 56 companies responsible for a significant portion of plastic pollution from branded products. The findings emphasize the need for mandatory labeling of plastic products to ensure corporate responsibility. The research suggests that FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods) companies play a major role in plastic pollution, and reducing plastic production in this sector could help address the crisis.

The results of this study align with a previous report by Greenpeace and highlight the importance of corporate responsibility in addressing plastic pollution. The researchers recommend reducing plastic production by FMCG companies as a key solution to mitigating global plastic pollution. This shift in production could help reduce the impact of plastic waste on the environment and hold companies accountable for their contributions to the crisis.