Coca-Cola Faces Continued Scrutiny Over Plastic Pollution Impact
Coca-Cola remains under increasing pressure from environmental advocates, following new reports underscoring its status as one of the largest contributors to ocean plastic pollution worldwide. The company has consistently topped global audits conducted by Break Free From Plastic, which have tracked branded plastic waste across hundreds of cleanups since 2018.
In the latest audit, Coca-Cola was found to be the single largest plastic polluter for the fifth consecutive year. The report surveyed 397 cleanups spanning 44 countries, during which over 31,000 pieces of Coca-Cola-branded waste were documented among more than half a million total pieces of plastic. The findings reinforce existing concerns over the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector’s role in driving plastic waste, particularly in regions lacking formal waste management systems.
The company’s heavy reliance on single-use plastic packaging, particularly in beverage bottling, has drawn criticism from NGOs and environmental organizations. Despite public-facing sustainability commitments — including Coca-Cola’s aim to collect and recycle the equivalent of every bottle or can it sells by 2030 — advocates argue that the brand continues to prioritize disposability through large-scale production of PET bottles and limited uptake of reuse systems.
According to Break Free From Plastic’s report, the world produces more than 400 million metric tons of plastic annually, much of which ends up in waterways and oceans. The FMCG sector, especially beverage and food categories, remains a key contributor to this trend, often relying on plastics due to its cost-efficiency and convenience for global distribution. However, long-term reputational risks and escalating regulatory scrutiny are prompting calls for brands to shift toward circular packaging models and invest in refillable plastic and non-plastic alternatives.
In response to criticism, Coca-Cola has pointed to its “World Without Waste” initiative and its transition toward 100% recycled PET use in some markets. Still, with only 9% of plastic waste globally being recycled, activists argue the company’s strategy falls short of meaningful systemic change. The mounting pressure signals a broader reckoning for FMCG brands: packaging sustainability is no longer a brand differentiator, but an operational imperative.