Which Top Brands are Linked with Global Plastic Pollution?

Plastic pollution remains one of the most pervasive environmental threats today, with global production surpassing 400 million tonnes annually. 

Increases in plastic production are accompanied with increases in:

• Plastic waste
• Volumes of plastics
• Associated chemicals
• Byproducts

A recent peer-reviewed study published in Science Advances by Cowger et al. offers a powerful lens on where much of this pollution originates, holding producers accountable through five years of global data collected across 84 countries.

The global picture

Through 1,576 brand audit events conducted in 84 countries between 2018 and 2022, researchers recorded nearly 1.9 million plastic items, with 909,771 of these linked to brands. 

The results show that just 13 companies were responsible for more than 1% each of all branded plastic items with the top five accounting for 24% of all branded waste identified globally:

• The Coca-Cola Company (11%)
• PepsiCo (5%)
• Nestlé (3%)
• Danone (3%)
• Altria (2%)

The findings are a global wake-up call. 

They show that food and beverage giants, by volume, dominate plastic pollution. 

The study further reveals that 56 companies alone are responsible for more than half of all branded plastic pollution recorded worldwide.

Production scales with pollution

One of the study’s most striking conclusions is the clear relationship between plastic production and pollution – the more plastic a company produces, the more branded plastic is found polluting the environment. 

This is true regardless of geography or waste management infrastructure, highlighting production as a core driver of environmental harm.

In other words, even companies with strong recycling or waste mitigation programmes aren't escaping the statistical reality – higher production equals higher pollution.

The food and beverage sector in particular is referenced. 

Its products tend to be consumed quickly and often on-the-go, increasing the likelihood of single-use plastic being discarded in public places rather than properly managed.

Industry contributors

The Coca-Cola Company

Coca-Cola emerged as the single largest polluter, responsible for 11% of all branded plastic identified in the global audit. 

This figure is significantly higher than any other company, with confidence intervals confirming the statistical robustness of this finding.

"We remain committed to building long-term business resilience and earning our social license to operate through our evolved voluntary environmental goals," says Bea Perez, Executive Vice President and Global Chief Communications, Sustainability & Strategic Partnerships Officer at The Coca‑Cola Company.

"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."

Among Coca-Cola's initiatives is a UK-based pilot for plastic bottles without labels, designed to reduce packaging waste and simplify recycling logistics.

“Going label-less might seem like a small step, but it is one of several ways we are exploring making recycling easier, minimising waste, and minimising the impact of our packaging on the environment.” explains Dusan Stojankic, VP Franchise Operations, GB&I at Coca‑Cola Great Britain.

Javier Meza, President, Marketing & Europe CMO, Coca‑Cola Europe, says: “This trial could contribute to longer-term changes to the way brands communicate with their consumers.”

However, with more than 100,000 Coca-Cola-branded items collected in environmental audits, critics argue that small design changes must be accompanied by significant reductions in plastic production.

PepsiCo

PepsiCo ranked second, with 5% of the global branded plastic footprint. 

The company’s widespread consumer brands, such as Lay’s, 7UP and Quaker, are common in global waste streams, highlighting its vast environmental reach.

"As circumstances evolve, PepsiCo continually adapts how we source ingredients; make, move, and sell our products; and inspire people through our brands,” explains Ramon Laguarta, Chairman and CEO.

“Our goals must evolve with us to keep our ambition and to deliver on our long-term vision."

PepsiCo's sustainability programme, pep+, is designed to transform its entire value chain, but the data suggests more decisive action is needed to curb the company’s contribution to single-use plastic waste.

Nestlé, Danone and Altria each contributed 2–3% of branded plastic waste. 

All three of these companies are primarily food and beverage or tobacco producers – industries strongly associated with short-lived, single-use packaging.

Brands like Mayora Indah, Mondelez International, Mars Incorporated, Salim Group and British American Tobacco also made the top list of global polluters.

What needs to change?

The study argues that voluntary efforts are insufficient. 

Instead, it proposes a paradigm shift in global plastic regulation:

• Transparent reporting: An international open-access database where companies must disclose packaging outputs and environmental impact.
  
  
• Design standards: Mandated labelling that makes tracking pollution sources easier, even after weathering and degradation.
  
  
• Production caps: The most effective pollution prevention method is to produce less plastic—particularly single-use items.
  
  
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Governments and international bodies should enforce binding EPR policies that mandate clean-up and recovery investments.

Collaboration is crucial

“We know we will have more chapters in our journey and that we can’t do it alone,” says Bea.

“Continued collaboration, targeted investments and well-designed policies are crucial to help create shared value for all.”

This sentiment underscores the importance of harmonised efforts across the public and private sectors. 

As the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and other bodies have shown, corporate pledges must translate into measurable reductions in pollution, not just rebranding and reputational positioning.

The Cowger et al. study offers one of the clearest links yet between plastic production and pollution. 

It names names, quantifies impact and provides a strong foundation for policy reform, presenting an opportunity for renewed corporate responsibility and leadership that redefines sustainability in packaging and beyond.

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