‘Dirty dozen’ companies responsible for over two-thirds of branded pollution found in UK, according to charity report
Over two-thirds of the UK’s branded packaging waste comes from just a dozen companies, according to a damning report by Surfers Against Sewage (SAS).
The environmental charity analysed packaging litter collected by volunteers across the UK and found that giants Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and McDonald’s were the worst offenders for the third consecutive year – responsible for a staggering 38% of branded waste between them.
The survey found that 70% of branded packaging pollution came from just a dozen companies. Also on the list of worst offenders were Anheuser-Busch InBev, Mondelez International, Nestlé, Tesco, Red Bull GmbH, Suntory, Carlsberg Group, Heineken Holding and Mars.
Thousands of volunteers collected packaging pollution over the last year, through SAS’s Million Mile Clean.
The survey uncovered over 264 companies fuelling the packaging pollution crisis and filling up rivers and seas, with a shocking 28,727 items recorded overall, including both branded and unbranded items.
Coca-Cola was the worst offender for the third year running, as the company comes under continued pressure to improve their refill and recycling efforts.
The soft-drinks giant recently announced a new reusable packaging target, aiming for at least 25% of all beverages worldwide to be sold in refillable or returnable glass or plastic bottles and containers by 2030.
Surfers Against Sewage chief executive Hugo Tagholm says the charity will be watching carefully to see if those words are put into action.
“Year after year, our Citizen Science Brand Audit reveals the same huge companies are responsible for the packaging pollution choking our environment. Despite public sustainability commitments, these dirty brands are failing to take meaningful action to stop this harm,” said Tagholm.
“We cannot stand for this blatant greenwashing any longer. Systemic change is urgently needed to end the pollution swamping the land and ocean. Businesses need to take responsibility for their polluting products and transition to models of reduction and reuse.
“Legislation such as an ‘all-in’ deposit scheme needs to be introduced urgently and governments must hold these companies to account.”
Surfers Against Sewage is calling on companies to end their harmful pollution by taking responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their products, reducing their packaging and adopting circular business models.
The charity believes it is time for big polluters to act now to end their polluting ways.
Graphics courtesy of Surfers Against Sewage.
