Coca-Cola has heavily promoted recycling as a solution to the problem of plastic pollution and environmental harm. This has unfairly shifted the burden of responsibility for plastic pollution onto consumers. Coca-Cola can continue to produce large quantities of cheap plastic bottles without any accountability, whilst the public takes the blame for litter. Recycling is a false solution to the plastic problem. Only 9% of plastic has ever been recycled. Many plastics can’t be re

While clothes made of recycled plastic may sound like a good idea, they can cause environmental harm at multiple levels. First, recycled polyester used to produce textiles comes mostly from plastic bottles rather than from textile waste. This means that recyclable plastic bottles get downcycled into clothes, which cannot be further recycled and instead end in landfill or incinerators. The second problem is the greenwashing of plastic-made garments by the fashion industry. Cur

Chemical Recycling is the process of converting plastic waste into raw materials to make new plastic, helping reduce the need for fossil fuels - the feedstock of most plastics. Chemical Recycling initially appeared to be a promising solution to the plastic waste crisis, however, concerns are growing about its effectiveness, environmental impacts and economic sustainability. The Reality Behind the Technology Chemical Recycling is proving to be a costly gamble. The most co

Plastic pollution fuels the climate crisis and social injustices, while also threatening human health and biodiversity. Tiny plastic particles, from micro to nanoscale, are found everywhere from oceans to human organs. Meanwhile, the production and disposal of larger plastics generate massive greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists warn that plastic production could triple by 2050, worsening waste, environmental toxicity, and climate impacts. Governments and communities all arou

Many corporations engage in ‘greenwashing’ tactics. Greenwashing involves marketing products to appear more environmentally friendly than they really are. Profit-driven corporations are aware that many consumers care about the environment and want eco-friendly products. To appeal to these consumers, they use terms such as ‘carbon-neutral’, ‘organic’, ‘farm-fresh’, ‘biodegradable’ and ‘sustainable’. They may also use circular or green imagery on their packaging and promotional

The Coca-Cola Company is a multinational beverage corporation. In 2022, Coca-Cola produced 134 billion single-use plastic bottles and were responsible for around one in five of the world’s PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) plastic bottles. It is the top plastic producing company in the world, with a plastic footprint of 3.45 million tonnes , estimated to increase to 4.13 tons by 2030. Since 2018, Break Free From Plastic (BFFP) member organizations and supporters have con

For a long time, the fossil fuel industry has been pushing the narrative that it is the fault of consumers that there is so much plastic pollution. They have said that the public is not recycling enough. They blame developing countries for the pollution that ends up in the sea. With the fall in revenue from fossil energy, the industry ramped up plastic production to mitigate its losses and focused on single use products to maximise turnover. They turned a blind eye to wha

Plastic pollutes our land and our oceans, disturbing wildlife and ecosystems. Microplastics have been found throughout the human body and have unknown health effects. Almost all plastics are produced from chemicals sourced from fossil fuels, with production contributing to climate change. Worryingly, plastic production is growing exponentially , approximately doubling every decade. Much of this is single-use plastic. Corporate Responsibility Profit-driven corporations are la

Sustainable’ is a widely known environmental term. However, it is often used loosely and without clear definition. Companies engaging in greenwashing tactics may misleadingly refer to their plastic products as ‘sustainable’. It is important then to understand what sustainability really means, why it is so important and if a sustainable plastics system is possible. The World Commission on Environmental Development (WCED) introduced the idea of ‘sustainable development’ in th

In April 2024, Coca-Cola, the largest beverage manufacturer in the world, launched an eye-catching campaign titled ‘ Recycle Me ’ in...

The average European drinks 118 litres of bottled water each year, 97% of which are in plastic bottles, a well-recognised source of...

Companies are claiming to be ‘plastic neutral’ by using ‘plastic credits’ to offset the plastic pollution they create. This model follows...

‘The Fraud of Plastic Recycling’ reveals plastic producers have known for decades that plastic recycling is not a real solution.

Voluntary carbon offsetting has exploded into an industry worth more than $2bn per year and may grow to $40bn per year by 2030. But does...

INEOS is a chemical giant, in the top 5 of the world’s largest chemical producers. It relies on fracking to produce ethylene and other...

Sachets are small, single-use sealed plastic pouches that contain one portion of a product. The developing world has seen an explosion of...