Coca-Cola Co., already a target of frequent criticism regarding the company's use of plastic, is facing fresh criticism because of the firm's reported discontinuation of reusable packaging goals.
The Atlanta-based beverage giant is out with a new set of environmental goals covering areas such as packaging, water use and emissions.
But groups like Break Free from Plastic and Greenpeace USA are criticizing Coca-Cola for what's not in the new report.
The company, in 2022, made a splash through its World Without Waste campaign that indicated the company wanted to have "at least 25 percent of all beverages worldwide by volume sold in refillable/returnable glass or plastic bottles or in fountain dispensers with reusable packaging by 2030."
Coca-Cola's latest set of goals, released Dec. 2, does not mention a percentage goal for the use of reusable packaging.
"The company is focusing its efforts to use more recycled material in primary packaging and supporting collection rates, both of which require enabling policies and the growth of collection infrastructure. The company intends to continue to invest in refillable packaging where infrastructure already exists," the company said in a statement.
Greenpeace USA was quick to respond.
"Coke's abandonment of its reuse commitment is a disaster for the planet. Coke churns out more plastic bottles every year and is single-handedly responsible for 11 percent of the plastic debris polluting the environment worldwide," claimed Greenpeace USA Oceans Campaign Director John Hocevar in a statement.
"Coke is a huge part of our plastic pollution crisis but has just been paying lip service when it comes to real solutions. The company has repeatedly announced new goals to much fanfare, followed by quiet admissions that goals are being reduced or unceremoniously dropped," he alleged.
The lack of a reusable packaging goal also caught the attention of Break Free From Plastics, which calls itself a movement aimed at reducing single-use plastics and finding solutions for plastic pollution.
"Coke's latest move is a masterclass in green washing, ditching previously announced reuse targets, and choosing to flood the planet with more plastic they can't even collect and recycle effectively," claimed Von Hernandez, global coordinator of the group. "If they can't even keep their low-bar commitments, how can they claim to be serious about addressing the global plastic crisis?"
Coca-Cola, in an email response to a request for comment about the criticism, pointed to the portion of the company’s press release indicating plans to expand use of refillable packaging in certain markets where infrastructure is in place.