Slashdot: Coca-Cola, Nestle, and PepsiCo Are the Top 3 Plastic Polluters on the Planet

Coca-Cola, Nestle, and PepsiCo Are the Top 3 Plastic Polluters on the Planet
Published on October 31, 2019 at 11:44PM
An annual global audit from the Break Free From Plastic movement has found the largest sources of plastic pollution. Coca-Cola, Nestle, and PepsiCo are the top three most identified companies as sources of plastic pollution around the globe. From a report: As part of their audit, Break Free From Plastic conducted 484 cleanups in 50 countries, on six continents. According to the audit, part of the problem is that plastic is not recyclable. Only 9% of plastic produced since 1950 has been recycled. The rest is incinerated, in landfills or left pollution in oceans, land and other areas. When plastic is burned it causes toxic pollution. If not incinerated or recycled, it breaks down into microplastics, which cause harm to ocean life. 43% of collected plastic was marked with a clear consumer brand, like Coca-Cola or PepsiCo. Break Free From Plastic blames our "throwaway culture," for much of the consumer waste. They argue that this throwaway mindset is at the core of many companies' business model.

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