The Swiss voice in the world since 1935
Top stories
Stay in touch with Switzerland

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

Climate solutions

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?

Popular Stories

News

Industrial production down slightly in the second quarter

More

Workplace

Swiss industrial production slips in Q2 2025

This content was published on Production in Switzerland's secondary sector fell in the second quarter of 2025. The decline was more pronounced in the construction sector than for industry.

Read more: Swiss industrial production slips in Q2 2025
Swiss grenadier recruits take part in an urban warfare exercise in Isone, canton Ticino, in 2013.

More

Swiss Politics

Swiss army recruits remain in hospital after gruelling test exercise

This content was published on Four potential recruits for the elite Swiss grenadier unit were hospitalised last week after taking part in a gruelling exercise in hot weather. Three remain in hospital with one placed temporarily in an artificial coma.

Read more: Swiss army recruits remain in hospital after gruelling test exercise
Swiss brands seek a response to customs duties

More

Workplace

Trump tariffs: Swiss brands struggle to adapt to 39% tariff

This content was published on Swiss brands like Victorinox, the manufacturer of the iconic pocket knife, are struggling to adapt to the 39% tariff imposed by the United States on imports of Swiss goods.

Read more: Trump tariffs: Swiss brands struggle to adapt to 39% tariff
Swatch withdraws "gook" advert after outrage in China

More

Workplace

Swatch withdraws ‘slanted eyes’ ad after China uproar

This content was published on The Swiss watch manufacturer Swatch has apologised and withdrawn an advertising campaign worldwide following accusations of racism in China. The ad features a model pulling the corners of his eyes.

Read more: Swatch withdraws ‘slanted eyes’ ad after China uproar
Bern exhibition reunites pair of Kirchner paintings after 92 years

More

Culture

Bern exhibition reunites Kirchner paintings after 92 years

This content was published on The painting Sonntag der Bergbauern (Alpsonntag) [Sunday of the Mountain Farmers (Alp Sunday) by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (1880-1938) is being transferred from Berlin to Bern to feature in an upcoming exhibition at Kunstmuseum Bern.

Read more: Bern exhibition reunites Kirchner paintings after 92 years
The population of the Upper Engadine approves the extension of its airport

More

Voters approve extension of Engadine Airport in Switzerland

This content was published on Residents in the Upper Engadine region gave the greenlight on Sunday to the expansion of the regional airport at Samedan, one of Europe’s highest airports (1,707 metres) that serves the nearby resorts of St Moritz and Davos.

Read more: Voters approve extension of Engadine Airport in Switzerland

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