An analysis of almost two million plastics that pollute the environment revealed that half lacked a recognizable brand that would allow establishing its origin. Of the other half, approximately a quarter could be linked to five food and beverage companies: Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestlé, Danone and Altria.
International research led by the Moore Institute of Research on Plastic Pollution and what publishes Science Advances further points out that every 1 percent increase in plastic production is associated with an increase of the same value in plastic pollution in the environment.
Thus, from 2000 to 2019, the world production of this material has doubled to more than 400 million tons and waste has increased accordingly.
Researchers and volunteers from 84 countries audited, between 2018 and 2022, almost two million pieces of abandoned plasticin which they tried to identify brand names that could lead to their producer of origin.
The investigation showed that 52 percent of the million 873 thousand 634 items were unbranded and, Therefore, his trail could not be followed..
Of the 909,771 branded items, one 24 percent could be traced back to five multinationals:
- Coca-Cola: was responsible for 11 percent of the waste.
- PepsiCo: 5 percent.
- Nestlé: 3 percent.
- Danone: 3 percent.
- Altria/Philip Morris International: 2 percent.
The research, led by scientists from a dozen universities in the United States, Australia, the Philippines, New Zealand, Estonia, Chile, Sweden, Canada and the United Kingdom, found that 56 transnational companies are responsible for more than half of all pollution by plastics associated with company brands.
The authors argue that these findings highlight the need for mandatory product labeling plastic to enforce corporate responsibility.
The study concludes that FMCG companies contribute disproportionately more to the problem than consumer goods firms. household and retailreported Break Free From Plastic, a global movement calling for massive reductions in single-use plastic and promote lasting solutions to the plastic pollution crisis.
Part of this data coincides with that of a report published a year and a half ago by the environmental organization Greenpeace.
The new research is based on data generated in brand audits coordinated by Break Free From Plastic, corresponding to 1,576 events in 84 countries.
Brand audits are citizen science initiatives in which volunteers clean up trash and document the marks found on the collected waste.
The authors suggest that reduce plastic production in the consumer products sector fast is a viable solution for stop plastic pollution global.
“Our study highlights the fundamental role that corporate responsibility when it comes to addressing plastic pollution,” said Lisa Erdle, from the 5 Gyres Institute and one of the authors of the work.
Erdle stated: “We, as individuals, we are not responsible for the plastic crisis; the responsibility to take decisive action falls to these 56 global companies”.
