International research has shown that Coca-Cola could dump an estimated 602 million kilograms of plastic waste into the oceans and waterways annually by 2030, enough to fill the stomachs of 18 million whales.
An analysis by the environmental organization Oceana has found that Coca-Cola is the world's most plastic-polluting brand. Scientific studies from 2024 confirm that the company is at the top of this indicator, ahead of PepsiCo, Nestlé, Danone, and Altria.
Researchers predict that in 2030, Coca-Cola will produce 4.13 million tons of plastic annually, equivalent to about 220 billion 0.5-liter bottles.
Interestingly, in 2022, Coca-Cola promised to reduce packaging by 2030, but in December 2024, this promise was secretly removed from the company's sustainability plan.
Oceana experts offer a simple solution: return to reusable packaging, such as glass bottles that can be used up to 50 times or more durable plastic containers that can be used 25 times.
According to the analysis's author, Matt Littlejohn, Coca-Cola, the world's largest beverage company, plays a significant role in environmental pollution.
