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Coca-Cola has been ranked as the UK's number one plastic polluter by Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) in their annual audit. The marine conservationists' 'Dirty Dozen' report reveals the leading brands responsible for 70% of the UK's plastic waste in the past year, with Coca-Cola at the helm for the fourth consecutive year. Other major contributors include McDonald's and PepsiCo, but even combined, they fall short of Coca-Cola's substantial environmental impact.
Analyzing 30,745 individual pieces of plastic litter collected between June 2022 and June 2023, SAS found that 36 percent (10,951 items) were identifiable branded waste. SAS's data shows that Coca-Cola has topped the list for the fourth consecutive year, accounting for approximately 17 percent of all branded plastic pollution reported in the audit by citizen scientists. In SAS's report, McDonald's and PepsiCo were identified as the second and third biggest polluters. Notably, McDonald's surpassed the drinks giant in this year's list for the first time.
The combined contribution of the three major polluters accounted for 37 percent of all branded pollution reported in the audit, only a marginal two percentage points lower than last year. According to SAS, other prominent brands contributing to the UK's plastic pollution issue include Tesco, Haribo, Nestle, Mars, Heineken Holding, Carlsberg Group, and Red Bull.
SAS urges corporations to take accountability for their products' lifecycles and step up their fight against plastic pollution. Additionally, the charity advocates for the government to introduce a comprehensive deposit return scheme (DPS) covering beverages of all sizes and materials.
McDonald's spokesperson expressed their commitment to reducing plastic waste by making significant changes to their packaging. Their efforts involve eliminating plastic McFlurry lids, straws, and salad boxes and transitioning to paper packaging for all new toys, thereby contributing to a more sustainable future.
Meanwhile, the Coca-Cola Company is actively exploring solutions to address plastic waste, including conducting pilot programs for reusable packaging in North America. In collaboration with start-up r.Cup, they are introducing reusable polypropylene cups to various venues and cities in the USA.
Photo: maria mendiola/Unsplash
