Revealed: Which brands are responsible for most litter pollution in the UK

The worst packaging polluters in the UK have been revealed by a campaign group.

An annual waste audit by Surfers Against Sewage saw 4,000 citizen scientists collect over 30,700 pieces of rubbish along coastlines, canal paths and city streets.

Just 12 companies were responsible for 70% of the items that carried branding.

Coca-Cola topped the list for the fourth year running, despite the company launching initiatives to slash plastic pollution.

McDonald’s was in second place with PepsiCo third – and altogether, the three brands were responsible for 37% of the branded pollution collected.

Tesco, Haribo, Nestle, Heineken, Mars, Carlsberg and Red Bull were also named in what Surfers Against Sewage called “the dirty dozen”.

Izzy Ross, the group’s campaigns manager, described the results as “shocking, but sadly not surprising” – and called on big businesses to clean up their act.

“Year on year we’re seeing the same culprits responsible for disgusting amounts of plastic pollution on our beaches, and in our cities and countryside,” she warned.

Surfers Against Sewage is calling on these companies to be held accountable – and take further steps to slash their plastic use and carbon footprint.

Campaigners also want the government to enforce an “all-in” deposit return scheme for drinks containers of all sizes and materials.

While plans for a deposit return scheme have been announced in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, it won’t include glass – and its launch has been delayed until 2025.

Ms Ross accused the government of “stalling”, and added: “In doing so, it is condemning our ocean, beaches and rivers to a further eight billion extra pieces of plastic a year, as plastic gradually chokes these fragile ecosystems to death.”

A Coca-Cola spokesperson said it is clear the world is facing a packaging waste problem, and the drinks giant has a responsibility to help solve it.

“Here in the UK, all of our bottles are already recyclable, and all of our smaller packs are made with 100% recycled plastic, excluding cap and label,” they added.

McDonald’s said 90% of its packaging comes from recycled or renewable sources – and plastic McFlurry lids, straws, salad boxes, cutlery and Happy Meal toys have all been scrapped.

PepsiCo acknowledged litter on British beaches is a “huge problem” – and it must play a “significant role” in addressing it.

The business has vowed to reduce plastic used across all of its products, and phase out virgin fossil-based plastics in all crisp packets by the end of the decade.

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Nestle explained that plastic is used “in the interests of safety, freshness and affordability” – but it is “unacceptable for that packaging to end up as litter in the natural environment”.

The company says it’s aiming for close to 100% of its packaging to be designed for recycling within two years.

And Heineken said: “We understand the immediate impact of litter on the environment and we have taken some important steps to address this issue.”

Tesco, Haribo, Mars, Carlsberg, Red Bull – as well as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – have been contacted by the PA news agency for comment.