Corporations Commit to Reducing the Use of Plastics

Which companies are the WORST plastic polluters in the world? Drum roll please… for the fourth year in a row, the worst plastic polluter in the world is the Coca-Cola Company. Coca-Cola tops a list that includes PepsiCo, Nestlè, and Mars, Inc. in the ten corporations most responsible for plastic pollution.

The list is compiled by Break Free From Plastic, a global movement envisioning a future free from plastic pollution. Every year, the Break Free From Plastic international membership asks thousands of volunteers world-wide to collect and mark plastic garbage.

In 2021, the top ten worst plastic producers in the world according to Break Free From Plastic are:

• The Coca-Cola Company

• PepsiCo

• Unilever

• Nestlé

• Procter & Gamble

• Mondelēz International

• Philip Morris International

• Danone

• Mars, Inc.

• Colgate-Palmolive

But the companies on the top-ten list are taking steps to improve. Here’s some of what those corporations are doing:

• Coca Cola is collaborating with technology companies to make bottles completely from plant-based sources. 100% Plant-based Plastic Bottle - News & Articles (coca-colacompany.com)

• PepsiCo in 2019 announced that it planned to reduce plastic content by 35%, and in the process eliminate 2.5 million tons of cumulate virgin plastic, by 2025. PepsiCo Accelerates Plastic Waste Reduction Efforts

• Unilever, parent company for Ben & Jerry’s, Hellman’s, and Dove, is working to cut its use of virgin plastic in half and accelerate its use of recycled plastic by 2025 and collect and process more plastic packaging than it sells. Unilever announces ambitious new commitments for a waste-free world | Unilever

• Nestlè has committed to make all (100%) of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025. At the present time, 88% of all Nestle packaging and 62% of its plastic packaging is recyclable or reusable.Working toward a waste-free future (nestle.com)

• Proctor & Gamble has committed to reducing virgin petroleum plastic in its packaging by 50% by 2030. It estimates this commitment will avoid the use of 300,100 tons of virgin plastic. P&G ANNOUNCES NEW GLOBAL COMMITMENT TO REDUCE PLASTIC (pg.com)

• Mondelēz International has joined Circulate Capital Ocean Fund (CCOF) as a limited partner and is investing in CCOF’s business solutions to help develop infrastructure for the collecting, sorting and recycling of plastic waste, including flexible films. This is part of Mondelēz International’s Sustainable Futures investing strategy, which focuses on the collection of flexible films – lightweight, multi-layer plastics used by the snacking industry – that have traditionally been more difficult to collect, sort, recycle and ultimately reuse. Advancing Global Efforts in Plastic Waste Collection and Recycling | Mondelēz International, Inc. (mondelezinternational.com)

• Philip Morris International aims to reduce plastic litter from its products by 50% by 2025. It is using a data-driven approach to determine the prevalence of cigarette butt litter across the globe and work to decrease it by raising awareness, providing appropriate but disposable equipment, and pushing for change through teamwork with third-party organizations. Reducing plastic litter| PMI - Philip Morris International

• Danone food and beverage company in January 2021 signed the Canada Plastics Pact (CPP) as part of its commitment to make all its packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025. The company also is a founding member of the Circular Plastics Taskforce (CPT), a partner of the CPP. Danone signs Canada Plastics Pact to support recyclable packaging target (packaging-gateway.com)

• Mars, Inc., has partnered with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF) New Plastic Economy initiative and signed the foundation’s Global Commitment to eliminate plastic waste and pollution at its source. By 2025 Mars, Inc., plans to reduce virgin plastic use by 25% and make 100% of its plastic packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable. Plans For More Sustainable Packaging | Mars, Incorporated

• Colgate Palmolive’s 2025 Sustainability Strategy is to design and provide alternatives to plastic in its products. It plans to eliminate unnecessary packaging and problematic materials, make all packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable, and reduce use of new plastic by one-third. Plastic Commitment (colgatepalmolive.com)