Brand Audits Reveal Shocking Truth: Half of Plastic Pollution in Environment Untraceable Back to Companies

A recent study conducted by the Moore Plastic Pollution Research Institute has shown that half of the nearly two million pieces of plastic pollution in the environment cannot be traced back to a specific brand. Of the remaining half, approximately 24% were linked to five major food and beverage companies: Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestlé, Danone, and Altria.

Researchers and volunteers from 84 countries conducted audits of almost two million abandoned plastic items between 2018 and 2022 in an attempt to identify brand names and determine their origin. A staggering 52% of the items were unbranded and untraceable, while only 24% could be linked back to these five companies. The study highlights that transnational companies are responsible for more than half of the plastic pollution associated with branded items.

The research also shows that global plastic production has doubled from 2000 to 2019, resulting in over 400 million tons of waste. This highlights the urgent need for mandatory labeling of plastic products to hold companies accountable for their plastic waste. Furthermore, reducing plastic production in the FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods) sector could be a solution to curbing global plastic pollution.

This analysis aligns with a report published by Greenpeace, which emphasizes the importance of corporate responsibility in tackling the plastic pollution crisis. The authors advocate for collective action by the 56 global companies responsible for most of the plastic pollution associated with branded items. They emphasize that individuals are not solely responsible for this crisis but that initiatives such as brand audits conducted by volunteers are essential in documenting and addressing it on a global scale.

Overall, this study underscores the urgent need for collective action by governments, businesses, and individuals to address the growing problem of plastic pollution in our environment.