Coca-Cola has been branded the world’s worst plastic polluter for the third year in a row, in a damning report that further reveals the scale of the global plastic crisis.
In its annual audit of plastic waste found on beaches, rivers, parks and communities across the globe, Break Free From Plastic found Coca-Cola bottles were by far the worst offender.
The project, which is undertaken by 15,000 volunteers, collected almost 350,000 bits of plastic waste, of which 63 per cent was marked with an identifiable brand.
According to research by Changing Markets Foundation, Coca-Cola remains the biggest plastic polluter in the world, with a plastic footprint of 2.9 million tonnes per year.
“We need to stop plastic production, phase out single-use and implement robust, standardised reuse systems.
Coca-Cola said the company was “making progress” on the “critical issue” of plastic waste.
“Bottles with 100 per cent recycled plastic are now available in 18 markets around the world, and this is continually growing.”. »