Companies fail to reduce plastics

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Despite global commitments to reduce plastic consumption, new research shows that many companies have not only failed to meet their goals, but are using more plastic today than they did five years ago, all in the name of profitability, according to Edie . The report, titled Breaking Commitments (2024), issued by Business360—a competitive intelligence firm that provides research and analysis services—highlights a worrying trend: companies that should be leading the way toward more sustainable practices are, in fact, contributing to the problem of plastic pollution. What about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)? A plastic and CSR crisis Plastic pollution has reached alarming proportions around the world. Seas and oceans have become dumping grounds for plastic waste, seriously affecting marine fauna and generating irreparable consequences on aquatic ecosystems. In this context, the inability of companies to reduce their consumption and production of plastic contributes significantly to this crisis, compromising biodiversity and endangering the stability of not only the environment, but also humanity itself.

The data analyzed comes from both the Ellen MacArthur Foundation – an organization focused on promoting the transition to a circular economy – and from the income reports of companies that committed to the Foundation's Global Plastics Commitment Initiative in 2018. This initiative, supported by more than a thousand organizations, aims to address global plastic pollution through collective goals. Companies' plastic use efficiency was assessed by measuring grams of plastic per unit of revenue in real dollars. The results indicate that companies now use 8.4% more Thailand Phone Number List plastic than half a decade ago to generate each unit of income. Profits before sustainability Of the 37 companies evaluated, more than half reported an increase in plastic use between 2021 and 2022. Total plastic consumption increased 2%, rising from 11.4 million metric tons in 2021 to 11.7 million in 2022. The report also highlights that the consumer goods sector, especially in the food, beverage, home care and personal care categories, is almost 83% dependent on fossil fuel-based virgin content for its plastic packaging. Examining changes in actual plastic intensity and accounting for currency fluctuations highlights that most companies showing improvements do so at a rate of 3% or less per year.



However, large corporations, for the most part, which due to their financial capacity could accelerate their progress, show minimal improvement or are using more plastic per unit of income. Policies are essential to achieve the objectives Last year, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation revealed a notable lack of compliance among major brands and retailers participating in the Global Plastics Pledge Initiative, which aims for a 21% reduction in virgin plastic use by 2025. Despite incorporating an additional 1.5 million tons of recycled plastics annually, leading to the mitigation of around 2.5 million tons of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions that contribute to global warming, the report emphasizes the need to exponential progress to meet the 2025 goal, urging essential participation from policy makers. In September, the initial draft of the global plastics treaty was launched by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). This agreement aims to intensify global initiatives to eradicate plastic pollution, with a comprehensive vision that extends to 2040. A finalized treaty is expected to be ratified in .