Twitter responds to Coca-Cola being named biggest plastic polluter, again

Each week, Packaging Gateway’s journalists select top tweets that summarise the social media buzz in our sector, underpinned by GlobalData’s analytics. These social media signals help us understand brand sentiments and the themes driving conversations on social platforms. This new, thematic coverage is driven by our underlying Disruptor data which tracks all major deals, patents, company filings, hiring patterns and social media buzz across our sectors.

The release of the dirty dozen list earlier this week named and shamed the twelve businesses whose packaging accounts for 70% of UK litter. Coca-Cola has once again been named the top polluter – having topped the list for four consecutive years – this year accounting for 17% of the sampled waste.

Released by Surfers Against Sewage on 21 July, the list calls for accountability, and other Twitter users have been encouraged to share it.

🚨 It's time to expose the polluters 🚨

These brands are responsible for 70%+ of branded pollution found on cleans of our blue and green spaces 😡

SHARE, SHARE, SHARE!

…and read the full Brand Audit report here https://t.co/qwiP3ZIXss #DirtyDozen #EndPlasticPollution pic.twitter.com/GCIcUnYFH0

— Surfers Against Sewage (@sascampaigns) July 21, 2023

Following the publication of the list, social media users have been putting pressure on the company. James Melville’s reminder to his followers that, despite being the biggest plastic polluter, Coca-Cola also sponsored COP27, was widely retweeted.

Greenwashing:
COP27 was sponsored by Coca-Cola – the world’s top plastic polluter, who produce 120 billion throwaway plastic bottles a year. pic.twitter.com/bghsb9iPu0

— James Melville (@JamesMelville) July 24, 2023

Influencer Lucy Woods also weighed in.

Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and PepsiCo named as worst packaging polluters in UK
The audit found that 12 are companies responsible for more than two thirds of branded pollution collected over the year.https://t.co/Q1yb6gafQ9

— lucy woods (@LucyWoodslucy70) July 22, 2023

According to research by GlobalData, discussions around the circular plastic economy and carbon emissions have been two of the top five packaging themes discussed across Twitter and Reddit this week.

Among accusations of greenwashing, proving genuine concern for environmental issues such as plastic pollution and littering is crucial for companies looking to convince consumers that their environmental, social and governance pledges are not solely marketing strategies.