(2 October 2018 Press release) Building a Clean Swell 2018 Report states plastic beverage bottles and their bottle caps take the 3rd and 4th position in their list of Top 10 Items Collected. We seldom question these bottles are belonging to which brands. To address the issue, The Green Earth consolidated multiple marine plastic waste surveys conducted for Asia by brands and found that the world’s leading beverage producer Coca-Cola has an unavoidable responsibility.
 
The Green Earth launched the “Short-Lived Plastic” beverage bottles survey by brands this summer, the results show the Coca-Cola “family” produces the most used plastic bottles, accounted for 23.4%. Similar surveys conducted in China, India and the Philippines shows plastic packaging waste from Coca-Cola takes the 5th, 7th and the 9th positions respectively. The Green Earth points out that these surveys are reflecting the globalization of Coca-Cola plastic waste. If the international leading brand refuses to reduce plastic waste, how can the ocean be calm!
 
The Coca-Cola Company announced its plastic reduction target early this year—100% recycling its beverage containers by weight of all produced containers by 2030. The Green Earth believes as the global leading beverage producer, Coca-Cola Company should raise the bar to accelerate the global anti-plastics movement, and it should achieve the following:
 
1. Source reduction: Coca-Cola Company did not have any target in reducing plastic usage for its containers, and this will not stop the continuous growth in global plastic waste. A more effective plastic reduction plan should consider selling beverages via dispensers, switch to reusable glass or other multiple-use containers; and to increase the use of rPET materials.
2. Environmentally friendly container design: use just one type of material for making beverage containers where possible. It is favourable for recycling and will increase the value of recyclables.
3. Be responsible for recycling:
  a. To lead the beverage industry to launch recycling schemes by setting aggressive targets to demonstrate corporate environmental responsibility before the government executes the producer responsibility scheme for beverage containers.
  b. On top of the 2030 recycling target, Coca-Cola Company should prevent its plastic waste from transferring to developing cities which may pollute their environment due to the lack of proper recycling technologies.
 
 
Credits:
Rendu Ocean and Break Free From Plastic. They provided plastic bottles survey data by brands of China, the Philippines and India.
 
Translated by: Edmond Lau
 
For details, please refer to Chinese version.