Plastic production directly linked to plastic pollution, study finds

A study undertaken by a consortium of global universities has found that for every 1% increase in plastic production there is an associated 1% increase in plastic pollution.

The results of a research study, which started five years ago and was led by scientists from a dozen different universities across the world, uncover a strong relationship between plastic production and pollution across geographies and widely varying waste management systems. 

The researchers claim this is the first robust quantification of the global relationship between plastic production and pollution.

The findings reveal that fast-moving consumer goods companies disproportionately contribute to plastic pollution more than household and retail companies. 

In fact, just 56 global companies are responsible for more than half of all branded plastic pollution. The biggest contributors are The Coca-Cola Company with 11%, followed by PepsiCo (5%), Nestlé (3%), Danone (3%) and Altria/Philip Morris International (2%). 

“This study underscores the critical role of corporate accountability in tackling plastic pollution. We, as individuals, are not responsible for the plastics crisis; the onus lies on these 56 global companies to take decisive action,” said Dr Lisa Erdle, director of science and innovation at the 5 Gyres Institute, a non-profit organisation focused on reducing plastics pollution, and one of the partners involved in the research. 

The five-year study used data from 1,576 brand audits, which is a participatory science initiative organised by the Break Free From Plastic movement in which more than 200,000 volunteers conducted plastic waste clean-ups across 84 countries. During these audits the volunteers document the brands found on the pollution collected to help identify the companies responsible for plastic pollution.

The researchers involved in this study hope the data will be used by organisations and governments to help inform ways to address plastic production and reduce plastic waste ending up in the environment.

Sybil Bullock, associate campaign manager at Break Free From Plastic, said: “This scientific study affirms what activists and communities impacted by plastic pollution have been saying for years: the more plastic is produced, the more plastic is found in the environment. It’s that simple.

“Yet again, plastic polluters like The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo and Nestlé continue to fail on their voluntary commitment to reduce their plastic footprint. We need a legally-binding Global Plastics Treaty that mandates significant cuts in plastic production and stops corporations from flooding the planet with single-use plastic.”