Coca-Cola has been named the UK’s worst plastic polluter for the fourth year in a row, with NGO Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) saying it is responsible for 17% of all branded plastic litter they collect.
The annual audit is carried out by the group, who gather data on items their volunteers have picked up. In total the group has reported picking up 7,000 plastic bottles, lids and cans with Coca-Cola branding in its cleans since 2019.
In addition, eleven other brands were named in this year’s ‘Dirty Dozen’ report including McDonald’s and Pepsico, who came second and third on the list. Combined, the three biggest polluters accounted for 37% of the plastic in the audit.
Also on the list were Tesco, Haribo, Nestlé, Mars, Heineken Holding, Carlsberg Group and Red Bull. Collectively the “dirty dozen” were responsible for 70% of plastic items collected.
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As well as branded plastic from the big name multinationals, other commonly found items included fishing industry objects like rope and fishing line, as well as cigarette butts and wet wipes.
SAS campaigns manager Izzy Ross told BusinessGreen the findings of the audit were “shocking, but sadly not surprising”.
“Year on year we’re seeing the same culprits responsible for disgusting amounts of plastic pollution on our beaches, and in our cities and countryside. This dirty dozen of polluting companies need to clean up their act.”
Many of the brands named in the SAS report have also been called out in a global audit from Break Free From Plastic, which has named Coca-Cola the world’s worst plastic polluter for five years in a row and has also featured Mondelez, Pepsico and Nestlé in the top five.
To help tackle the problem, the group are urging the government to introduce a deposit return scheme for drinks containers of all shapes and sizes.
A deposit return scheme is planned in England and Wales for 2025, the Scottish deposit return scheme was due to begin this year but has been delayed until 2025.
