Coca-Cola abandons plastic pledge

Coca cola, one of the world’s most polluting brands when it comes to plastic waste, has been accused for its reported discontinuation of reusable packaging goals. The company seems to have abandoned previous commitments of encouraging refillable packaging and cutting virgin plastic use by citing business growth as a challenge.
All this comes just as negotiations on an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution concluded in Busan, South Korea.
In 2022, there was a promise made by Coca Cola to have 25% of its drinks sold in refillable or returnable glass or plastic bottles, or in refillable containers which could be filled up at fountains or freestyle dispensers.
Instead Coca-Cola has now announced that it would aim to use 35-40% recycled plastic in primary packaging (plastic, glass and aluminium) and ensure collection of 70-75% of bottles and cans by 2035. It plans to increase its investment in innovation and infrastructure solutions, and collaborate with bottling partners, industry peers, local governments and civil society to achieve its goals.
There is criticism that this pivot undermines global efforts to reduce plastic waste, with Coca-Cola responsible for 11% of branded plastic pollution worldwide. For every percentage increase in plastic produced, there is an equivalent increase in plastic pollution in the environment. More than 1,870,000 items of plastic waste across 84 countries over five years were collected and surveyed by an international team of volunteers; the bulk of the collection was single-use packaging for food, beverage, and tobacco products. Less than half of the plastic litter had identifiable branding that could be traced back to the company responsible for its packaging.
Campaigners have invoked companies such as Coca-Cola to move from recycled plastic targets to reusable bottle targets,since single-use items are the main problem, and recycled single-use items continue to contribute to environmental pollution most of the time.
This coincides with nearly 200 nations failing to reach an agreement to reduce the production of plastics at the fifth meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) in Busan. For many, this failure represents a profound setback, exposing the deep divisions among nations and the compromises made in pursuit of consensus.
The other brands responsible for plastic pollution globally apart from Coca-Cola were PepsiCo (5%), Nestlé (3%), Danone (3%), and Altria (2%), accounting for 24% of the total branded count.

Down to Earth is Science and Environment fortnightly published by the Society for Environmental Communication, New Delhi. We publish news and analysis on issues that deal with sustainable development, which we scan through the eyes of science and environment.

[oyedeepak]

They are intentionally selling coke in plastic bottles. If you notice, you'll hardly find glass bottles nowadays!

[venkatraoirla]

In 2018 it pledged that it will end it in 2025

[stevenmitchell]

There's nothing quite as irresponsible as Coca-Cola kicking its proverbial plastic bottle down the road. Its 2022 pledge said it would aim to hit 50% recycled materials by 2030. Now it's saying maybe 35-40% by 2035. Talk about a lazy company. The consumers of the world need to take action against Coke and put pressure on them. Ultimately, we need to have bottle bills around the world, and get consumers to create more effective recycling results.

[SdmPandey]

Tax per bottle and company buy again' back bottoles some money per kg... only it's solution

[lotus]

Why not banning the usage of plastics by the MNCs?

[HennyWho_]

We need permanent bottles that keep drinks chillier longer plus buy em back at a greater price….etch them for better carbonation and flavor

[beast]

Such acts of profit money company indicates ...dooms say is near.

[beast]

Hope such videos will encourage people to a oid using coca cola and opt for natural drinks

[AnirudhTammireddy]

This is not news.
This should've been obvious long before I was born.

[petergoves]

Thud this is not only coco cola there are other companies