An analysis of almost two million plastics that pollute the environment revealed that half lacked a recognizable mark that would allow their origin to be established. 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 Plastic Pollution Research Institute (USA) and published Science Advances It further notes that every 1% increase in plastic production is associated with an equal increase in plastic pollution in the environment.
Thus, from 2000 to 2019, global 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 abandoned plastic remains, in which they tried to identify brand names that could lead to their producer of origin.
The investigation showed that 52% of the 1,873,634 items were unbranded and therefore untraceable.
Of the 909,771 branded items, 24% could be traced back to five multinationals: The Coca-Cola Company was responsible for 11% of the waste; PepsiCo (5%); Nestle (3%); Danone (3%); and Altria/Philip Morris International (2%).
Need for mandatory labeling
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 for plastics associated with company brands.
The authors argue that these findings highlight the need for mandatory labeling of plastic products to enforce corporate responsibility.
The study finds that FMCG companies contribute disproportionately more to the problem than household goods and retail firms, reported Break Free From Plastic, a global movement calling for massive reductions in single-use plastic and boosting 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.
Citizen science initiatives
Brand audits are citizen science initiatives in which volunteers conduct litter cleanups and document brands found on collected waste.
The authors suggest that reducing plastic production in the FMCG sector is a viable solution to curb global plastic pollution.
“Our study highlights the fundamental role that corporate responsibility plays in tackling plastic pollution,” said Lisa Erdle of the 5 Gyres Institute and one of the authors of the work.
Erdle said: “We, as individuals, are not responsible for the plastic crisis; the responsibility to take decisive action lies with these 56 global companies.”
FEW (EFE, Science Advances)
