Coca-Cola and PepsiCo ranked as world’s leading plastic polluters

NEW DELHI: ‘Break Free from Plastic’, a global movement to demand massive reductions in single-use plastics, released a report ranking world’s leading plastic polluters. For the fourth year in a row, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have been named the world’s biggest plastic polluters.

Other brands among the top polluters include Unilever, Nestle, Procter and Gamble, Mondeléz International, Philip Morris International, Danone, Mars, and Colgate-Palmolive. The report noted that global plastic production has increased from 20 million metric tons in 1966 to 381 million metric tons in 2015.

Referring to the report, Joanne Green, Senior Policy Advisor, Tearfund, said that even though companies have started focusing on recycling and pilot projects, it is not good enough. She added that the companies and the world needs to reduce their dependence on single-use packaging and “we want to see companies act to reduce it.” She added that companies should collect the items they sell. Referring to how Coca-Cola is already doing it globally, she mentioned that there is need to do it on a country-by-country basis.

The report offered a number of steps to address the rising plastic waste crisis. It called to reduce virgin plastic production, for example by establishing a national cap. Other recommendations included specific actions by developed nations to ensure that their export of domestic waste is minimised and is directed to countries where appropriate waste facilities are in place.