· 2 min read
illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on ESG Dive or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: A new investigation by Stand.earth and the Center for International Environmental Law reveals that over 25 major consumer brands—including Coca-Cola, Unilever, Nestlé, and Walmart (see sustainability performance)—use packaging materials linked to fossil fuel extraction from Texas’ Permian Basin
• The research exposes how single-use plastics continue to drive oil and gas demand, despite corporate pledges to reduce virgin plastic use
🔭 The context: While brands have made public commitments to sustainability and circularity, the report traces polyethylene and PET packaging back to ethane sourced via hydraulic fracturing (fracking)
• Just three suppliers—Dow, Ineos, and Reliance—serve as the petrochemical bridge between the Permian Basin and global consumer goods packaging
• The findings are supported by customs data, SEC filings, and supplier disclosures, but do not quantify plastic volumes due to proprietary limits
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Plastic production, almost entirely fossil-fuel-based, now accounts for 98% of all single-use plastic and is a fast-growing contributor to climate change
• According to the UN, by 2040, emissions from such plastics could consume nearly 20% of the remaining global carbon budget
• The investigation intensifies pressure on both companies and policymakers to address the dual crises of plastic pollution and fossil fuel dependency
⏭️ What's next: The findings bolster calls for a strong and binding Global Plastics Treaty, currently under UN negotiation but behind schedule
• The fifth round of treaty talks is set for August 2025 in Switzerland
• Meanwhile, corporate actors may face renewed scrutiny from investors and civil society over supply chain transparency and plastic reduction targets, especially as tools like the “Fracked Plastics Map” enable closer tracking
💬 One quote: “This research pulls back the curtain on the hidden supply chains behind plastic production, exposing the corporations fueling both the plastic and climate crises.” – Devyani Singh, Investigative Researcher, Stand.earth
📈 One stat: By 2040, emissions from single-use plastic could account for 19% of the global carbon budget needed to limit warming to 1.5°C
See on illuminem's Data Hub™ the sustainability performance of Coca-Cola and its peers: PepsiCo, Goodbean
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