Coca-Cola announced today its decision to make at least 25% of its packaging reusable. The multinational company, which produces over 120 billion plastic bottles a year, has faced criticism from Greenpeace and other environmental groups for the negative impact of its single-use plastic on the environment and communities located near petrochemical manufacturing plants and downstream of the plastic waste. Coca-Cola has been named the world’s worst plastic polluter for the fourth year in a row according to Break Free From Plastic’s brand audit.
In response to today’s announcement, Greenpeace USA Global Plastics Corporate Lead, Kate Melges said:
“It’s great to see Coca-Cola take this significant step to set global targets for reusable packaging. This is a long-awaited move in the right direction that other companies need to follow in order to tackle the plastic pollution crisis. Coke can build on this leadership move by doubling the commitment to 50% reusables by 2030. By embracing reuse, Coke has an opportunity to lead big brands out of their reliance on single-use plastic packaging into the low carbon, zero-waste economy that our planet, communities and climate desperately need.”
Coca-Cola is one of more than 70 signatories, including multinationals, that recently signed a statement calling for an ambitious global treaty that addresses the issue of plastic pollution. This month, national governments and multinationals will gather for the next session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.2), presenting the international community with a unique opportunity to take substantial decisions on the issue. Greenpeace USA and its Break Free From Plastic allies have called on President Biden to support a bold and binding treaty that addresses the entire lifecycle of plastics.
ENDS
Contact:
Tanya Brooks, Greenpeace USA Senior Communications Specialist, P: 703-342-9226, E: [email protected]
Capucine Dayen, Global Comms & Eng Manager, [email protected], +33647971819
