By 2030, Coca-Cola's products are expected to release nearly 602 million kilograms of plastic waste into the oceans, according to environmental organization Oceana. This information was revealed in a report released on Wednesday.
Researchers say this enormous amount of plastic could fill the stomachs of 18 million whales, posing a significant threat to marine biodiversity.
Concerns over plastic pollution in the human body have also been growing. Scientists have linked microplastics to serious health risks, including cancer, infertility, and heart disease.
Matt Littlejohn, Oceana's policy director, commented, "Coca-Cola is the largest beverage company globally, so its impact on the oceans and the environment is huge."
A 2024 study published in Science Advances has ranked Coca-Cola as the leading branded plastic polluter worldwide, followed by PepsiCo, Nestle, Danone, and Altria. The study notes that 56 companies contribute to over 50% of global plastic pollution, with Coca-Cola alone responsible for 11%.
Oceana's statistics are based on Coca-Cola's published packaging data from 2018 to 2023, along with sales growth projections. The study predicts that the company's plastic usage will exceed 4.13 million tons per year by 2030.
Environmentalists believe that the most effective solution to reduce plastic pollution is to adopt reusable packaging. Returnable glass bottles can be reused up to 50 times, and durable plastic containers up to 25 times.
In 2022, Coca-Cola admitted that reusable packaging is a highly effective way to reduce waste and committed to making 25% of its products reusable by 2030. However, this goal was not included in their most recent sustainability plan released in December 2024.
The new plan instead focuses on improving the use and collection system of recycled plastic, with critics arguing that recycling is often a strategy used to shift responsibility onto consumers, which does not address the root of the problem.
"Recycling is a good thing, there's nothing wrong with it," said Oceana's Matt Littlejohn. "But if recycled plastic is used to make new single-use plastic, that's the real issue."
Plastic production relies on oil, a major contributor to climate change. However, there is some hope, as Coca-Cola has already successfully implemented reusable bottle systems in regions of Brazil, Germany, Nigeria, and the United States.
"They have the world's largest reusable packaging infrastructure, and by expanding this, they could set a precedent for the entire industry," Littlejohn added.
A Coca-Cola spokesperson told AFP that the company is working to improve the collection system and increase the use of recycled materials. "We have invested in developing reusable packaging and will continue to do so, as it's a key part of our consumer-focused strategy," the spokesperson said.
