（2022年6月5日 Press Release Executive Summary）The Green Earth (TGE) released the annual brand audit findings (2020-2021) on the World Environment Day of 2022, themed #OnlyOneEarth, to address the environmental crisis of waste plastic bottles worldwide by calling on the local beverage producers and the government for immediate actions.
TGE has conducted the “Beverage Plastic Bottle Brand Audits” on shores and beaches for three consecutive years. This time, it has collected a record-breaking 43,726 waste plastic bottles. Consistent with the previous years, the top five plastic bottlers were CR Cestbon, Swire Coca-cola, Vita, Master Kong and Watsons Water, respectively, accounting for 52% of the total. The top 10 brands are tabulated below:
Moreover, the audit also showed that 66% of identifiable products were water beverages (mineral water, distilled water, etc.), while the other 34% are non-water beverages (eg. soda, tea, juices).
To deal with the problem, TGE believes that beverage manufacturers and the government should bear most of the responsibilities. We urge:
● Beverage manufacturers in Hong Kong and Mainland China to set aggressive plastic reduction targets with an implementation timeline. They should also publish data on source reduction and recycling regularly.
● The Hong Kong government to implement the Plastic Beverage Container Producer’s Responsibility Scheme (PPRS) as soon as possible with a return value of at least HK$1 per bottle.
● Guangdong and Hong Kong governments to strengthen regional marine litter pollution prevention and control.
● Manufacturers and the government to set up drinking water facilities widely in the community to reduce the consumption of water beverages packed in single-use packaging.
Media coverages:
in English:
RTHK English News：https://bit.ly/3x6IQGB
in Chinese:
東方日報：https://bit.ly/3at9v8G
HK01：https://bit.ly/3NuDs7i
Now新聞：https://bit.ly/3xlfCoN
港台《千禧年代》：https://bit.ly/3zlBl1m
獨立媒體：https://bit.ly/3GQCnnL
無線新聞：https://bit.ly/3awlUc4
經濟日報：https://bit.ly/3Mo2nrD
頭條日報：https://bit.ly/3xlvcAD
明報：https://bit.ly/393vYcs
AM730：https://bit.ly/3NUwxUr
信報：https://bit.ly/3Q5osyk
香港商報：https://bit.ly/3miry4d
文匯報：https://bit.ly/3NpXwr9
晴報：https://bit.ly/3NXpESA
Full set of data and Press Release (in Chinese): https://bit.ly/3GOzyDq
References (in Chinese)：
飲品膠樽品牌調查年度報告（2018-2019）
飲品膠樽品牌調查年度報告（2019-2020）
Media Enquiries：
Edmond Lau, Senior Project Officer
Edwin Lau, Founder & Executive Director
Tel：(852) 3708 8380
Credits:
For this project to be carried out smoothly, The Green Earth sincerely thanks the following groups and people for their kind contribution: Stanley Chan, @LiveLamma, Wing Chan, YC Leung, @Imsheeppoo, @myNatureDiary, Kaley Tam, Gray Lee
