Plastic Pollution Crisis: 50% of Abandoned Plastic Waste Untraceable to a Specific Brand, Study Finds

New research has shed light on the sources of plastic pollution in the environment, with half of nearly two million pieces of plastic waste found to be untraceable to a specific brand. Of those that could be traced, approximately a quarter were linked to five major food and beverage companies: Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestlé, Danone, and Altria. This international study, conducted by the Moore Plastic Pollution Research Institute and published in Science Advances, also revealed that each 1% increase in plastic production is associated with a corresponding 1% increase in plastic pollution.

The study found that global plastic production has doubled from 2000 to 2019, resulting in more than 400 million tons of waste. Researchers and volunteers from 84 countries conducted audits of almost two million abandoned plastic items between 2018 and 2022, trying to identify brand names to determine their origin. A staggering 52% of the items were unbranded and untraceable while only 24% could be linked back to the five major companies mentioned above.

The authors emphasize the need for mandatory labeling of plastic products to hold companies accountable for their plastic waste. They also suggest that reducing plastic production in the FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods) sector could be a solution to curbing global plastic pollution. The findings of this analysis align with a report published by Greenpeace and underscore the importance of corporate responsibility in tackling the plastic pollution crisis. The authors advocate for collective action by the 56 global companies responsible for the majority of plastic pollution, emphasizing that individuals are not solely responsible for the crisis. Initiatives such as brand audits conducted by volunteers are essential in documenting and addressing the plastic pollution problem on a global scale.