Kiera Jefferson
Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing issues facing the world today. While it is a global crisis that requires urgent action from governments and communities, it is clear that a handful of large corporations are responsible for most of the plastic packaging pollution. A recent study found that 56 companies are responsible for 50% of the world's plastic pollution, with the top five being The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, Nestlé, Danone, and Altria-Philip Morris International. These companies, along with others like Unilever, Procter & Gamble, and Mars Inc., have made commitments to reduce their use of plastic packaging and transition to recyclable, reusable, or compostable materials. However, progress has been slow, and there is a gap between their promises and actions. With the economic rationale for inaction declining and consumer awareness growing, there is hope that innovation and entrepreneurship will spark systemic change in the way plastic is used and managed.
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What You'll Learn
- Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestlé, Danone, and Altria-Philip Morris are the top 5 plastic polluters
- Companies are reducing virgin plastic use and increasing recycled plastic use
- Companies are innovating with natural materials and alternative technologies
- Corporations are signing global commitments to reduce plastic waste
- Consumers are demanding companies reduce plastic packaging
Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestlé, Danone, and Altria-Philip Morris are the top 5 plastic polluters
Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestlé, Danone, and Altria-Philip Morris are the top five plastic polluters, according to a 2024 study. The research, which was conducted in 84 countries over five years, found that these companies were responsible for a significant proportion of the world's plastic pollution. Coca-Cola, for instance, was found to contribute 11% of branded plastic waste, while PepsiCo accounted for 5%, Nestlé and Danone each produced 3%, and the two tobacco companies, Altria and Philip Morris International, combined made up 2%.
Coca-Cola has faced criticism for its plastic pollution, particularly for its beverage bottles, which were the most frequently found discarded in various environments. In 2021, Coca-Cola was ranked the world's number one plastic polluter by Break Free From Plastic, outranking its competitors, PepsiCo and Nestlé. Coca-Cola's bottles were found to be the most littered in multiple countries, with its branding found on 13,834 pieces of plastic. The company has been accused of "zero progress" in reducing plastic waste and has faced backlash for its decision to continue using plastic bottles, despite environmental concerns.
PepsiCo, the second-highest plastic polluter, has also been called out for its contribution to plastic pollution. In 2021, 5,155 pieces of plastic were found to be branded with the PepsiCo logo. The company has stated that it is taking action to address the issue, setting plastic reduction goals and investing in recycling infrastructure. However, critics argue that more needs to be done by these major companies to tackle the plastic pollution crisis.
Nestlé, ranked third among the top plastic polluters, has pledged to make improvements. The company has committed to making all its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025 and aims to reduce its use of new plastic by a third. Similarly, Danone, contributing 3% of plastic pollution, has signed the Canada Plastics Pact (CPP) and is a founding member of the Circular Plastics Taskforce (CPT). Danone has also made strides in reducing its plastic use and increasing the recyclability of its packaging.
Altria-Philip Morris International, the combined entity of two tobacco companies, contributes 2% of branded plastic litter. Altria has contested the accuracy of the data in the 2024 study, arguing that its cigarette company, Philip Morris USA, only operates in the US. However, the study's authors defend their methodology and emphasize the role of corporations in plastic pollution.
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Companies are reducing virgin plastic use and increasing recycled plastic use
While companies are responsible for a significant amount of plastic pollution, many are taking steps to reduce their virgin plastic use and increase their recycled plastic use. This shift towards recycled plastic packaging offers several advantages for companies, including reducing their carbon footprint, achieving sustainability goals, and enhancing their reputation among environmentally conscious consumers.
Unilever, for example, has committed to cutting its use of virgin plastic in half and accelerating its use of recycled plastic by 2025. They have reduced their virgin plastic use by 23% since 2019, and 21% of their global product portfolio now uses recycled plastic. Dirt Is Good, one of Unilever's brands, has introduced cardboard containers for laundry detergents, which will keep 3,000 tonnes of plastic out of the environment. Similarly, Pot Noodle, another Unilever brand, is piloting new recyclable paper-based pots.
Nestlé, another large company, has pledged to make all its plastic packaging 100% recyclable or reusable by 2025. They aim to encourage the use of plastics that allow better recycling rates and eliminate complex combinations of plastic that hinder the recycling process. In addition, Nestlé plans to ensure that 70% of its plastic packaging is effectively recycled or composted. As of now, 88% of all Nestlé packaging and 62% of its plastic packaging are recyclable or reusable.
Danone, a food and beverage company, signed the Canada Plastics Pact (CPP) in January 2021, committing to making all its packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2025. Mars, Inc. has also partnered with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastic Economy initiative and plans to reduce virgin plastic use by 25% by 2025, making 100% of its plastic packaging reusable, recyclable, or compostable.
Small companies are also innovating in this field. A New York-based company has developed compostable packaging using waste organic material and fungal mycelium. This packaging can be shaped and has been used for shipping high-value goods, including Dell computers.
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Companies are innovating with natural materials and alternative technologies
Companies are increasingly aware of the environmental impact of plastic waste and are actively seeking alternative solutions. A notable shift is occurring in the technology sector, which has historically relied heavily on plastic due to its durability, lightweight properties, and low cost. However, with growing environmental concerns, tech companies are now prioritizing sustainability and reducing plastic waste in their products and packaging. This involves incorporating recycled and biodegradable materials, minimizing plastic packaging, and promoting circular economies. For example, Dell has partnered with The Lonely Whale, a non-profit focused on reducing ocean plastic pollution, to create laptop packaging made from 25% recovered ocean plastic.
The consumer goods industry is also witnessing a change, with companies like Nestlé and Unilever pledging to make their plastic packaging 100% recyclable or reusable by 2025. Additionally, Unilever aims to halve its use of virgin plastic and accelerate its utilization of recycled plastic within the same timeframe. These companies are also working to eliminate complex plastic combinations that hinder the recycling process.
In Britain, the UK Plastics Pact, which includes prominent companies like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, P&G, Unilever, and Nestlé, has set targets to eradicate unnecessary single-use plastic packaging. They aim to achieve this through redesign, innovation, or alternative delivery models, ensuring that 70% of plastic packaging is effectively recycled or composted.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has also examined the potential of replacing conventional plastics with natural materials, such as paper, cotton, wood, algae, and fungi. They have highlighted companies, from multinationals to startups, that are innovating with these materials. For instance, a New York-based company has developed compostable packaging using waste organic material and fungal mycelium, suitable for shipping valuable goods.
Furthermore, the Global Plastic Innovation Network (GPIN), supported by the Global Plastic Action Partnership and UpLink, aims to foster a community of innovators working to eradicate plastic pollution. They provide support and visibility to these innovators, such as Siklus in Indonesia, which delivers refills of everyday items to people's doors without generating plastic waste.
These initiatives demonstrate that companies are actively innovating with natural materials and alternative technologies to address plastic pollution and create a more sustainable future.
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Corporations are signing global commitments to reduce plastic waste
Corporations are increasingly recognising their role in reducing plastic waste and are signing global commitments to address this issue. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation's "New Plastics Economy Global Commitment", in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), is one such initiative that businesses and governments are signing up to. This commitment promotes a circular economy, where materials are reused and retain value, reducing plastic waste and pollution.
The pressure for change is coming from consumers, investors, and environmental organisations. For example, a group of 25 investors managing over $1 trillion in assets demanded that Nestlé, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, and Unilever reduce their plastic packaging. As a result, Nestlé pledged to make all its plastic packaging 100% recyclable or reusable by 2025, while Unilever committed to ensuring all its plastic packaging is fully reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025.
Many other companies are also taking action. Danone signed the Canada Plastics Pact (CPP) and committed to making all its packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2025. Mars, Inc. has partnered with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and plans to reduce virgin plastic use by 25% and make all its plastic packaging reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025. Colgate-Palmolive has a similar strategy, aiming to provide alternatives to plastic in its products by 2025.
Additionally, the UK Plastics Pact has around 60 signatories, including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, P&G, Unilever, and Nestlé. This pact aims to eliminate unnecessary single-use plastic packaging and ensure effective recycling or composting of plastic waste. These companies' commitments are significant steps towards reducing plastic pollution and meeting the targets set by global initiatives.
While some corporations are making progress, there is a need for acceleration and more ambitious targets. Voluntary commitments by the world's largest companies often focus on recycling and packaging solutions rather than upstream or downstream solutions. However, it is encouraging that the use of terms like "circular economy" and "plastic waste" in corporate reports has increased, indicating a growing awareness and willingness to address plastic pollution.
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Consumers are demanding companies reduce plastic packaging
Consumers are increasingly demanding that companies reduce plastic packaging. A 2023 survey found that 88% of US and UK consumers want brands to help them be more environmentally friendly in their daily lives. The same survey found that 72% of global consumers are actively buying more environmentally-friendly products than they did five years ago, and 81% expect to buy even more over the next five years. Another survey found that 63% of consumers are now less likely to buy products with packaging that is harmful to the environment, and 71% of shoppers deliberately chose products with sustainable packaging in 2023.
The consumer goods industry is aware that customers are voting with their feet, avoiding companies that do not reduce their use of throwaway plastic. In response, many large and small firms are making changes. For example, Nestlé has pledged to make all its plastic packaging 100% recyclable or reusable by 2025, and Unilever has made a similar pledge. In Britain, around 60 companies, including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, P&G, Unilever, and Nestlé, have signed up to the UK Plastics Pact, which includes targets to eliminate problematic or unnecessary single-use plastic packaging.
Some companies are going beyond reducing plastic packaging and are committing to eliminating plastic waste and pollution at their source. For example, Mars, Inc. has partnered with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastic Economy initiative and signed its Global Commitment to eliminate plastic waste and pollution. By 2025, Mars plans to reduce virgin plastic use by 25% and make 100% of its plastic packaging reusable, recyclable, or compostable. Colgate-Palmolive has a similar 2025 sustainability strategy, and Danone signed the Canada Plastics Pact in 2021.
Despite these positive steps, plastic pollution remains a significant problem, with trillions of pieces of plastic polluting our oceans and having a devastating impact on marine wildlife and ecosystems. Plastic can persist for many decades, continuously degrading into microplastics, which can be ingested by wildlife and later enter the human food chain. With the economic rationale for inaction declining, it is hoped that consumer demand for sustainable packaging will spark innovation and opportunity.
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Frequently asked questions
According to a 2024 study, the top 5 companies responsible for global plastic pollution are The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, Nestlé, Danone, and Altria-Philip Morris International. These companies have pledged to make changes and reduce their plastic use, but it is unclear if they are doing enough.
Many companies have made commitments to increase the recyclability of their packaging and reduce the amount of virgin plastic they use. Some companies are also working to eliminate single-use plastic packaging through redesign and innovation. Additionally, some corporations are partnering with sustainability organisations to create systemic change.
The UN Global Plastics Treaty negotiations are currently underway, urging governments to take a stronger stance on plastic reduction and freedom from corporate influence. Organisations like The Ocean Cleanup are also working to remove plastic from oceans and intercept plastic in rivers to prevent further pollution.
Individuals can support organisations working to reduce plastic pollution, such as The Ocean Cleanup, and advocate for government solutions and policies that address plastic pollution. People can also take part in initiatives like Plastic Free July, which challenges individuals to refuse single-use plastic for a month.
