Coca-Cola just weakened its goal to reduce single-use plastics

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Coca-Cola announced a shift in its sustainability goals, prioritizing recycled materials over reducing virgin and single-use plastics
• The company aims to use 30-35% recycled plastic in packaging by 2035 and support the collection of 70-75% of bottles and cans annually
• Critics argue this marks a retreat from more ambitious reuse and reduction targets

🔭 The context: Coca-Cola, one of the world’s largest plastic polluters, had previously committed to reducing virgin plastic by 3 million metric tons by 2025 and achieving 25% reusable packaging by 2030
• Between 2020 and 2023, no progress was made on reducing virgin plastic due to "business growth" 
• This announcement follows the inconclusive U.N. plastics treaty negotiations in South Korea

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Single-use plastics are a leading contributor to global pollution, with only 9% successfully recycled
• By focusing on recycling rather than reduction, Coca-Cola risks perpetuating a system where plastic waste continues to harm ecosystems and oceans

⏭️ What's next: Coca-Cola plans to increase recycled plastic use and boost collection rates, though its opposition to legislative measures like bottle bills raises doubts about its commitment
• Advocates call for renewed efforts to prioritize reuse over recycling

💬 One quote: “It’s bad news for the environment and the oceans.” – Matt Littlejohn, Senior Vice President, Oceana

📈 One stat: Coca-Cola was responsible for 11% of branded plastic pollution globally in 2023, according to an April study

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