Coca-Cola Tops UK Litter Leader Board for 6 Consecutive Years

According to a recent report by Planet Patrol, Coca-Cola has been the worst offender for branded litter in the UK, topping the leader board every year from 2019 to 2024. The soft-drinks giant accounted for 6.5% of all branded litter found across the country.

The report, based on nearly 300,000 pieces of litter collected by volunteers over the last six years, also found that the top 5 parent companies were responsible for a staggering 38% of all littered items. Besides Coca-Cola, the other major contributors included McDonald's, Walkers, Tesco, and Cadbury.

While plastic pollution has remained a persistent issue, accounting for up to 65.3% of all litter in 2022, the report noted a "notable" increase in the prevalence of metal cans. Reports of cans peaked in 2023, making up 16.82% of all rubbish items, up from just 9.44% in 2019. This could be attributed to a shift in consumer preferences towards canned beverages, which are often marketed as being more recyclable than plastic bottles.

Despite some progress, such as a 19% year-on-year reduction in cigarette butts, the researchers are calling for more restrictions on commonly littered items, including a ban on single-use plastic bags and acetylate cellulose cigarette filters.