By 2030, Coca-Cola products are projected to contribute 1.33 billion pounds (602,000 metric tons) of plastic waste into the world's oceans and waterways annually, according to a new report by nonprofit Oceana. This staggering figure is equivalent to filling the stomachs of 18 million whales with plastic.
The report, published on Wednesday, highlights the growing environmental crisis linked to microplastics, which have been increasingly linked to serious health risks, including cancer, infertility, and heart disease.
"Coca-Cola is the largest beverage manufacturer and seller in the world, and because of its size, its impact on the ocean is significant," said Matt Littlejohn, who heads Oceana’s corporate campaigns.
Coca-Cola has long been identified as the world's top branded plastic polluter, followed by PepsiCo, Nestle, Danone, and Altria, according to a 2024 study published in Science Advances. Oceana's projections, based on Coca-Cola's publicly reported packaging data from 2018 to 2023, suggest the company’s plastic use will exceed 4.13 million metric tons annually by 2030.
The analysis estimates that 1.33 billion pounds of that plastic will reach aquatic ecosystems, based on a peer-reviewed method used by scientists. This figure is equivalent to nearly 220 billion half-liter bottles.
Oceana argues that the solution to this growing issue lies in the widespread adoption of reusable packaging, such as returnable glass bottles or durable PET plastic containers designed for multiple uses. The organization stresses that reusable packaging could significantly reduce waste, with glass bottles capable of being reused 50 times and thicker plastic containers designed for 25 uses.
While Coca-Cola acknowledged in 2022 that reusable packaging is one of the most effective ways to reduce waste, it quietly dropped a 2022 pledge to increase reusable packaging to 25% by 2030. Instead, the company’s new sustainability roadmap, released in December 2024, focuses on increasing recycled content in packaging and boosting collection rates, although experts argue that recycling alone cannot solve the problem.
"Recycling is important, but using recycled plastic to create more single-use plastic is still a problem," Littlejohn emphasized. He also pointed out that plastic production is oil-dependent, making it a significant driver of climate change.
However, there is some hope. Coca-Cola already operates large-scale refillable systems in countries such as Brazil, Germany, Nigeria, and parts of the United States. These systems are seen as an example of how the company could lead the industry in reducing plastic waste.
In response to the report, a Coca-Cola spokesperson told AFP that while the company’s current focus is on increasing recycled materials and improving collection systems, it remains committed to expanding refillable packaging options as part of its consumer-focused strategy.