Photo: Greenpeace Canada / Twitter
On Tuesday, October 9th, Greenpeace announced that the Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, and Nestlé are the world's top polluters according their latest audit.
The organization stated in a press release that these companies were most frequently identified in the international report through the 239 cleanup audits held on World Clean Up Day. The Break Free From Plastic movement was held on World Clean Up Day in 42 countries.
In addition, Greenpeace Canada stated that Canadian Plastic Polluters Brand Audits found the top 5 polluting corporations are:
- Nestlé
- Tim Hortons
- PepsiCo.
- The Coca-Cola Company
- McDonald’s
Further, they state that these brands account for 46% of the 2231 pieces of identifiable branded plastic trash that they collected during the audit.
#ICYMI These are the 5 corporations responsible for nearly 46% of the plastic waste found during brand audit cleanups across Canada. @Nestle, @TimHortons, @PepsiCo, @CocaCola , @McDonald are the main offenders. Sign now to stop them! >> https://t.co/Cm3IRH2gaF pic.twitter.com/bAKM8u26Lp
— Greenpeace Canada (@GreenpeaceCA) October 9, 2018
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“It’s high time we shine a light on the role that throwaway plastic producers are playing in the plastic pollution crisis,” said Sarah King, Greenpeace Canada’s Head of Oceans and Plastics.
“Brand audits create undeniable evidence of how companies like Nestlé, Tim Hortons, PepsiCo., Coca-Cola and McDonald’s are trashing our shorelines and green spaces across Canada.”
Hey @McDonalds, @Nestle, @TimHortons - #IsThisYours? You’re respsonsible for a lot of the plastic trash we’ve found on our #WorldCleanupDay brand audit here in Toronto! #BreakFreeFromPlastic #GreenpeaceToronto pic.twitter.com/9gAWWbg6DJ
— Greenpeace Canada (@GreenpeaceCA) September 15, 2018
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While it was the 4th worst polluter in the Canadian audit, the Coca Cola company was the top global polluter in the international audit. In fact, Coke-branded plastic pollution found in 40 of the 42 participating countries.
The audit also found that Cigarette butts, which contain plastic, remain a major contributor to plastic pollution. In fact, 7228 cigarette butts were found in the Kitsilano Beach audit alone.
Greenpeace has been calling on plastic producing corporations and distributors to commit to phase out single-use plastics. Alternatively, they urge them to invest in new delivery models based on reuse and refill systems.
Greenpeace is also urging the Canadian government to hold corporations accountable for the environmental and social impacts of their products.
