A new study revealed on Thursday, April 24, that 56 of leading brands are responsible for more than 50% of the plastic pollution plaguing the Earth. The study showed the Coca-Cola Company is the leading offender. Around 400 million tons of plastic waste are generated annually, with most of it ending up in landfills and oceans, according to the study published in Science Advances.
Researchers claim that the amount of waste is equivalent to 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic dumped into the world’s bodies of water every day. The top five global polluters listed in the study are Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestle, Danone and Altria.
In response to the findings, Coca-Cola issued a statement emphasizing its commitment to sustainability through its “World without Waste” strategy, which aims to make all packaging recyclable globally by 2025. The company also vowed to incorporate at least 50% of recycled material by 2030. However, the vast majority of plastic that people use is not being recycled, according to a study by Greenpeace.
Despite the response by Coca-Cola, researchers stressed that the need for action is now. They advocated for the phase-out of single-use and short-lived plastic products by major polluters to significantly reduce plastic pollution.
Meanwhile, negotiations are underway for a global treaty to combat plastic pollution and curb the environmental impact of plastic waste.
“The message is clear,” Luis Vayas Valdivieso, chairperson of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, said. “The world is counting on us to deliver a new treaty that will catalyze and guide the actions and international cooperation needed to deliver a future free of plastic. Let’s not fail them.”
Negotiators at the United Nations are hopeful parties will finalize a meaningful treaty in South Korea this fall.