The ‘Break Free From Plastic Movement’ on October 9, 2018 revealed that Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestle are among the companies that contribute most to ocean pollution with single-use plastics.
As per the study, Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Nestle were the most frequent companies in contributing to ocean pollution, identified in 239 cleanups and brand audits spanning 42 countries and six continents.
| What is Break Free From Plastic Movement? |
| The ‘Break Free From Plastic Movement’ is a global movement that envisions a future free from plastic pollution. The movement was launched in September 2016 with nearly 1300 international organisations joining the movement to demand massive reductions in single-use plastics and to push for lasting solutions to the plastic pollution crisis. These organisations share the common values of environmental protection and social justice. |
Key highlights
• Between September 9 and 15, 2018, over 10000 volunteers carried out 239 plastic cleaning actions on coasts and other natural environments in 42 countries.
• Over 187,000 pieces of plastic trash were audited, identifying thousands of brands which package their products in the single-use plastics that pollute oceans and waterways globally.
• Coca-Cola was the top polluter in the global audit. The organisation discovered Coke-branded plastic used bottles in 40 of the 42 participating countries.
• The audit found that Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestle, Danone, Mondelez International, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Perfetti van Melle, Mars Incorporated, and Colgate-Palmolive were the most frequent multinational brands collected in cleanups.
• These brands were found in at least ten of the 42 participating countries.
• Overall, polystyrene, which is not recyclable in most locations, was the most common type of plastic found, followed closely by PET, a material used in bottles, containers, and other packaging.
Region-wise highlights
• The top polluters in Asia were Coca-Cola, Perfetti van Melle and Mondelez International brands. These brands accounted for 30 percent of all branded plastic pollution counted by volunteers across Asia.
• In Asia a week-long cleanup and audit at the Philippines’ Freedom Island in 2017 discovered that Nestle and Unilever are the top polluters.
• In North and South America, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestle brands were the top polluters identified, accounting for 64 and 70 percent of all the branded plastic pollution, respectively.
• In Latin America, brand audits put responsibility on the companies that produce useless plastics and the governments that allow corporations to place the burden from extraction to disposal.
• In Europe, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestle brands were again the top identified polluters, accounting for 45 percent of the plastic pollution found in the audits there.
• In Australia, 7-Eleven, Coca-Cola, and McDonald’s brands were the top polluters identified, accounting for 82 percent of the plastic pollution found.
• In Africa, ASAS Group, Coca-Cola, and Procter & Gamble brands were the top brands collected, accounting for 74 percent of the plastic pollution there.
| Few Facts on Plastic Pollution |
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• Every year, world uses 500 billion plastic bags and at least 8 million tonnes of plastic end up in the oceans, the equivalent of a full garbage truck every minute. • 50 percent of the plastic we use is single-use or disposable plastic. • Over 1 million plastic bottles are purchased in every one minute. • Plastic makes up 10 per cent of all of the waste generated in the world. |
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