Over a billion pounds of Coke plastic waste to enter waterways: Study
- On March 26, Oceana published an analysis estimating that Coca-Cola products will account for 1.33 billion pounds of plastic waste entering the world's oceans and waterways each year by 2030.
- The report was released amidst growing concerns about the human health risks associated with microplastics, which scientists are increasingly linking to conditions like cancer, infertility, and heart disease.
- Coca-Cola, ranked as the world's top branded plastic polluter, is projected to exceed 4.13 million metric tons of plastic use annually by 2030, with PepsiCo, Nestle, Danone, and Altria following in the plastic pollution ranking.
- Despite acknowledging in 2022 that reusable packaging was among the most effective ways to reduce waste and committing to 25 percent reusable packaging by 2030, Coca-Cola dropped this pledge in its December 2024 sustainability roadmap, focusing instead on increasing recycled content and boosting collection rates.
- Oceana's Matt Littlejohn stated, "Coca-Cola is by far the largest manufacturer and seller of beverages in the world" and has the largest reusable infrastructure of any beverage company, emphasizing that overreliance on recycling shifts blame onto consumers and doesn't address the root of the crisis, while a Coca-Cola spokesperson affirmed the company's commitment to expanding refillable packaging options as part of their consumer-centric strategy.
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62 Articles
The giant Coca-Cola could use 4 million tons of plastic per year by 2030, a record
The largest international organization dedicated exclusively to the defense of the oceans, Oceana, published a new report on Wednesday 26 March. According to it, the use of plastic by The Coca-Cola Company will reach 4.1 million tons per year by 2030 if this company does not change course. This would represent an increase of 20% compared to the company's consumption in 2023.

Over a billion pounds of Coke plastic waste to enter waterways: study
By 2030, Coca-Cola products will account for an estimated 1.33 billion pounds (602,000 metric tons) of plastic waste entering the world's oceans and waterways each year, according to a stark new analysis published Wednesday by the nonprofit Oceana.
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