This is the first quantification of global plastic manufacturers’ products on the environment through audit events, which was led by Csiro, Australia’s national science agency, in conjunction with 12 other international organisations.

Scientists used data from a five-year program (2018-2022), spanning 84 countries, to identify brands found as plastic waste in the environment, according to an article published in the journal Science Advances.

Dr. Kathy Willis, a researcher at Csiro, explained that they found that 13 companies – all producers of food, beverages or tobacco products – have an individual contribution of one percent or more of the total branded plastic observed in the 1,576 events of audit carried out.

The study showed that the main brands worldwide were: The Coca-Cola Company, linked to 11 percent of branded items, followed by PepsiCo (five percent), Nestlé and Danone, with three percent each.

The prevalence of food and beverage companies, particularly those producing single-use plastic products, suggests that single-use packaging contributes significantly to branded plastic pollution.

Meanwhile, Dr. Win Cowger, research director at the Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research, stated that there is a relationship between very diverse geographies and waste management systems.

“This suggests that reducing plastic production could help curb plastic pollution. This would have a positive impact on the environment, as would the change towards more durable and reusable products,” said the specialist.

The study also found that 50 percent of the items were unbranded.

“International standards for packaging marking could help facilitate the identification and improve the tracking and management of plastic products,” Dr Willis highlighted.

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