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Multinational beverage manufacturer Coca-Cola has again become the top polluter of single-use plastic in Bangladesh for the fifth time in a row, by generating 20.78 per cent of the total waste.
Another multinational beverage-producing company, Pepsico secured the second position by generating 15.60 per cent of single-use plastic, followed by Pran-RFL group with 9.63 per cent, Unilever with 6.50 per cent, and Partex Group with 5.08 per cent — making them the top five.
Meanwhile, Akij Group ranked 6th in the polluters’ list with 3.63 per cent of waste, followed by Nestle with 5.10 per cent, Bombay Sweets Limited with 3.07 per cent, BRAC Dairy with 1.84 per cent and Olympic Industries Limited with 1.52 per cent.
The rest of the total waste was generated by other multinational and local companies, according to the findings of a brand audit report by the Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) that was unveiled at a press conference at its office in Dhaka on Monday.
ESDO conducted this year’s audit in three different cities — Dhaka, Khulna and Chittagong. The audit was conducted in Dhaka on August 24 and 25, in Khulna on September 20 and in Chittagong on September 24.
More than 250 volunteers conducted the audit for around 10 hours in each location and collected a total of 30,862 pieces of single-use plastic waste, weighing 166.19 kilograms. The audit identified 220 types of products that are produced by 38 local and 14 international companies. Of the total, 6,413 pieces came from Coca-Cola, 4,969 from Pepsico, 2,971 from Pran-RFL, 2,174 from Unilever and 1,398 from Nestle.
Monday’s event was chaired by former government secretary and ESDO Chairperson Syed Marghub Murshed, who said that these companies have flooded the market with non-recyclable single-use items and multi-layer tiny sachets or packets. “They must take responsibility for the plastic pollution they are causing.”
Of the plastic wastes produced by Coca-Cola, Pepsico and Pran-RFL, around 30, 43 and 76 per cent, respectively, are multilayered items that are mostly non-recyclable. Also, 100 per cent of Unilever and Nestle’s wastes are multilayered items.
“Over 4,000 chemicals have been identified that are potentially present in plastic packaging or used during its manufacture. At least 148 of these chemicals have been identified as hazardous to human health and the environment,” said ESDO Executive Director Siddika Sultana.
She said that these harmful chemicals can cause endocrine disruption, which can lead to cancer, birth abnormalities, immune system disorders and developmental problems in children.
ESDO Secretary General Dr Shahriar Hossain added that the world is getting ready for a global treaty. “We have to start preparing right now on how to completely ban single-use plastic from our country and our lives.”
ESDO has carried out the audit in Bangladesh as part of a global audit that is being conducted in 138 countries by Break Free from Plastic (BFFP), a global movement.
However, ESDO recommended manufacturers focus on reducing plastic usage and pollution, rather than recycling and invest in the reuse and refill system.
According to ESDO, about 646 tonnes of plastic waste is collected daily in Dhaka, which is 10 per cent of all waste generated in Bangladesh. However, only 37.2 per cent of the plastic waste in Dhaka is recycled.
