How Coca-Cola and Pepsi are Using More, Not Less Plastic

In a recent report by Oceana, based on data from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a surprising trend has been uncovered—Coca-Cola and Pepsi, two of the world’s leading beverage producers, have significantly increased their plastic packaging use. Despite global calls for environmental responsibility, these two giants have added hundreds of millions of pounds of plastic to their production lines.

Source: TED-Ed/YouTube

Coca-Cola saw over a 6% jump, equating to an excess of 454 million pounds, while PepsiCo’s plastic use rose by 4%, over 220 million pounds. This surge in plastic use not only impacts landfill volumes but also has profound repercussions for our oceans and marine life.

Alarmingly, this increase is in stark contrast to the companies’ environmental pledges. Promises to boost recycled content in packaging and reduce virgin plastic usage have seen only marginal progress. Moreover, the commitment to enhancing reusable packaging has not been met with any significant action. Reports show that Coca-Cola’s reusable packaging did not increase and remained at a low 1.3%, while Pepsi did not disclose any figures on their progress.

With the ocean’s health at stake, Oceana’s call to action is clear: Coca-Cola and Pepsi need to dramatically ramp up their use of refillable bottles. The advocacy group highlights that a mere 10% increase in refillable packaging in coastal countries could cut marine plastic bottle pollution by 22%. Such systems are not new; they have been working efficiently in several countries, and consumers have shown a preference for refillable bottles when a deposit-return system is in place.

The message is clear—adding recycled plastic to single-use bottles is not a sustainable solution. Real change will come from significant strides in reusable packaging, a move that will not only help the companies meet their environmental commitments but also safeguard our oceans. The time for action is now; the world’s oceans, and future generations, are counting on it.

For those who believe in a greener future and want to learn more about protecting our oceans, visit Oceana.org.

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