Coca-Cola Boycotted for Plastic Pollution Fueling Ocean Waste Crisis

As of November 17th, 2025, one of the biggest beverage companies on the planet, Coca-Cola, is being boycotted by consumers due to its environmental practices and plastic pollution. The company has held the dubious distinction of being named the worst plastic polluter in the world for six consecutive years.

Coca-Cola currently sells more than 100 billion single-use plastic bottles annually, with many of these ending up in landfills and oceans. A recent report from the nonprofit conservation organization Oceana projects that by 2030, Coca-Cola products will contribute approximately 602 million kilograms (about 1.32 billion pounds) of plastic waste to the world's oceans and waterways each year.

Environmental groups such as Greenpeace have heavily criticized the corporation's continued reliance on single-use plastics and its connections to fossil fuels. On social media platforms, consumers are actively sharing information about the company's environmental impact and calling for boycotts. Plastic waste is directly affecting communities and public health, as the microplastics from discarded bottles enter the food chain and drinking water.

While Coca-Cola has announced initiatives to address these concerns, including investments in recycling infrastructure and a commitment to recycle and collect the equivalent of every bottle it sells by 2030, environmental organizations continue to pressure the company to take more responsibility for its plastic waste.