Major Food and Beverage Companies Named Top Plastic Polluters in New Study
Source: The DairyNews
A recent report has identified leading food and beverage giants, including Nestlé, PepsiCo, Danone, and The Coca-Cola Co., as significant contributors to global plastic pollution.
The study, which surveyed plastic waste in various environments across 84 countries, found a staggering 28,570 brand names linked to plastic pollution. Notably, companies with extensive production volumes, particularly in the food and beverage sector, were singled out as "disproportionately large polluters."
Coca-Cola emerged as the top contributor, accounting for 11% of branded plastic waste discovered during the study's 1,576 inspections. Following closely behind were PepsiCo at 5%, and Nestlé and Danone, each at 3%.
Incidents such as the recent police inspection at a Nestlé water plant in France and a lawsuit against PepsiCo by the New York State Attorney General highlight the growing scrutiny over the environmental impact of plastic packaging.
The study attributed over 50% of branded plastic pollution to nearly 60 multinational corporations. Alongside the aforementioned companies, other food and beverage groups listed included Unilever, Mondelez International, and Mars.
Researchers underscored the need for enhanced transparency and accountability, advocating for the development of an international database for companies to report their plastic production and environmental releases.
In response to the findings, Nestlé, PepsiCo, and Danone emphasized their commitment to addressing plastic pollution. Nestlé reported a reduction in its use of virgin plastic, while PepsiCo highlighted investments in reducing packaging and promoting recycling. Danone stated its efforts to enhance collection and recycling infrastructure and increase the recyclability of its packaging.
While progress is evident, the companies acknowledged the complexity of building a sustainable circular economy and emphasized the necessity for collaborative efforts to combat plastic pollution effectively.
Coca-Cola emerged as the top contributor, accounting for 11% of branded plastic waste discovered during the study's 1,576 inspections. Following closely behind were PepsiCo at 5%, and Nestlé and Danone, each at 3%.
Incidents such as the recent police inspection at a Nestlé water plant in France and a lawsuit against PepsiCo by the New York State Attorney General highlight the growing scrutiny over the environmental impact of plastic packaging.
The study attributed over 50% of branded plastic pollution to nearly 60 multinational corporations. Alongside the aforementioned companies, other food and beverage groups listed included Unilever, Mondelez International, and Mars.
Researchers underscored the need for enhanced transparency and accountability, advocating for the development of an international database for companies to report their plastic production and environmental releases.
In response to the findings, Nestlé, PepsiCo, and Danone emphasized their commitment to addressing plastic pollution. Nestlé reported a reduction in its use of virgin plastic, while PepsiCo highlighted investments in reducing packaging and promoting recycling. Danone stated its efforts to enhance collection and recycling infrastructure and increase the recyclability of its packaging.
While progress is evident, the companies acknowledged the complexity of building a sustainable circular economy and emphasized the necessity for collaborative efforts to combat plastic pollution effectively.
23.09.2024
Carbon emissions in global milk production - the elephant in the room
I have been thinking to make this post yes/ no. I decided for yes and like to ask everyone to not "shoot the messenger". The chart shows an analysis of IFCN Dairy Research Network from the 2024 supporter conference in Poland.
