Swiss perspectives in 10 languages

Nestlé shamed as third-largest plastic polluter

Greenpeace protesters
Greenpeace activists bring a monster made of plastic found in the water and on beaches to Nestle's headquarters on Lake Geneva in 2019 © Keystone / Laurent Gillieron

Greenpeace is once again calling on the big corporations to get rid of plastic. The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo and Nestlé have been the biggest plastic polluters in the world for five years in a row, it said.

As in previous years Swiss food multinational Nestlé occupies third place in the latest global Branded report from the “Break Free From PlasticExternal link” movement, Greenpeace said in a statementExternal link on Tuesday.

The voluntary commitments of the private sector are not enough to tackle the plastic crisis, the environmental organisation said. It is therefore calling for a global plastics agreement.

In response to a request from the Keystone-SDA Swiss News Agency, Nestlé said in a statement that between 2019 and 2021 it reduced plastic packaging by 35% by weight. Another way to reduce plastic is through reusable and refillable systems, it said. To this end, 20 pilot projects have been carried out in 12 countries. However, the company said it knew that more needed to be done.

By the end of 2021, 80% of plastic packaging had been designed for recycling; the ultimate goal is 100%, it said. The lack of recycling infrastructure is currently the main obstacle to a waste-free future, according to Nestlé. The Vevey-based company said it was therefore committed to the creation of the planned UN Global Plastics Treaty.

More

‘Trashiversary’

In response to what they see as corporate inaction, on Tuesday activists around the world are marking a five-year “Trashiversary” for these companies. They are sending or handing over their own rubbish to them, demanding urgent action.

The Coca-Cola company is at the top of the charts, according to the report. Over the past five years volunteers have collected more rubbish from this brand than from the next two biggest polluters, PepsiCo and Nestlé, combined.

Coca-Cola is the main sponsor of the COP27 climate conference.

More
Swissinfo journalist Susan Misicka with a pile of rubbish she collected

More

Why don’t the Swiss recycle more plastic?

This content was published on For 30 days, swissinfo.ch journalist Susan Misicka saved all of her plastic garbage, but found that not even half of it could be recycled.

Read more: Why don’t the Swiss recycle more plastic?

News

a doctor retrieves an egg with help from an ultrasound scan and a needle inserted into a woman who is laying on her back with legs held open. nurses assist in the background.

More

Swiss are open to assisted reproduction

This content was published on A majority of Swiss citizens have open attitudes towards various infertility treatments, including even egg donation, which is currently prohibited.

Read more: Swiss are open to assisted reproduction
View onto the Loetschberg Base Tunnel's southern ramp, pictured from a BLS Bombardier Transportation low-floor multiple unit named "Loetschberger" of the type RABe 535, driving from Spiez, Canton of Berne, to Brig, Canton of Valais, Switzerland, on May 16, 2017.

More

Train line between Brig and Domodossola interrupted

This content was published on One day after a derailment approximately 15 kilometres from the Swiss border, BLS is running buses for passengers between Preglia and Domodossola, in Italy.

Read more: Train line between Brig and Domodossola interrupted

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR