Coca-Cola is dramatically Scaling Back its Plastic Promises

Coca-Cola has revised its sustainability targets, significantly reducing its commitments to plastic recycling and usage, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from environmental groups.

The company, consistently ranked among the world’s largest producers of plastic waste, announced updated voluntary environmental goals this week. Coca-Cola now aims to use 35% to 40% recycled materials in its packaging by 2035, a notable drop from its previous pledge of 50% by 2030.

The beverage giant also scaled down its recycling objectives. In 2018, it promised to recycle the equivalent of every bottle it produced by 2030. That goal has been replaced with a target to collect 70% to 75% of bottles and cans introduced to the market annually, with no specified timeline.

Coca-Cola justified the changes in a press release, citing challenges identified through years of sustainability efforts. “These challenges are complex and require us to drive more effective and efficient resource allocation and work collaboratively with partners to deliver lasting positive impact,” said Bea Perez, the company’s executive vice president for sustainability and strategic partnerships.

Environmental Groups Condemn the Move
Activists have denounced the scaled-back targets as inadequate in addressing the escalating plastic pollution crisis. Oceana, an ocean conservation group, described the revisions as “short-sighted and irresponsible.”

“The company’s new and weak recycling-related pledges won’t make a dent in its overall plastic use,” said Matt Littlejohn, Oceana’s senior vice president of strategic initiatives. He urged Coca-Cola’s investors and governments to hold the company accountable for its environmental impact.

Break Free from Plastic, an advocacy group that named Coca-Cola the world’s top plastic polluter for the sixth year in 2023, called the updated goals a “masterclass in greenwashing.” The organisation accused Coca-Cola of reneging on earlier promises to reduce plastic usage and instead contributing to increased environmental harm.

Plastic Pollution: A Growing Concern
Plastic waste remains a critical global issue, with single-use plastics dominating pollution statistics. A report from the Minderoo Foundation highlighted record levels of plastic production despite corporate sustainability pledges. Most plastic is made from fossil fuel-based polymers, further exacerbating climate concerns.

In 2023, Coca-Cola introduced bottles made from 100% recycled plastic for all its soda variants in the U.S., claiming this would reduce 83 million pounds of plastic annually. However, critics argue these measures fall far short of addressing the scale of the problem.

Coca-Cola’s recent changes have reignited debates about corporate responsibility in tackling environmental challenges. While the company maintains its commitment to building resilience and creating positive impacts, environmentalists and advocates remain sceptical, urging stronger action to combat the global plastic crisis.