A report looks at major companies’ plastic promises and finds them lacking

Corporations are continuously producing vast amounts of single-use plastic packaging, such as disposable yogurt cups, takeout containers, shopping bags, and more. This excessive plastic waste contributes to the 19 million metric tons of plastic that ends up in the environment annually. Many companies have made promises to address the plastic pollution crisis by increasing recyclability and decreasing virgin material usage, but these efforts fall short. As per a recent analysis by As You Sow, numerous global companies are lacking in both ambition and action to prevent plastic packaging from polluting landfills and the environment. It is crucial for companies to focus on reducing plastic usage rather than solely relying on recycled content to combat this issue. As You Sow evaluated 225 top companies across various sectors on their efforts towards advancing a circular economy for plastic packaging. The report highlighted the need for companies to set measurable sustainability targets for plastic, with a focus on reducing overall plastic use intensity. Despite some progress, the majority of companies have failed to meet set goals or show significant improvement in plastic sustainability efforts. This underscores the importance of government regulations in accelerating the progress towards a sustainable future. Companies should prioritize reusable packaging solutions and invest in alternatives to single-use plastics to truly make a difference in combating plastic pollution.