It’s no secret that plastic pollution is a global crisis. From landfills overflowing with waste to microplastics infiltrating our Australian oceans and even our food supply, the impact of plastic is inescapable.
But what if we told you that just 100 companies are responsible for producing 90% of the world’s single-use plastics? Yep, that’s right, just a handful of corporate heavyweights are churning out enough plastic to wrap the Earth in waste, over and over again.
The Big Players in Plastic Production
A small club of petrochemical giants, including ExxonMobil, Dow, and Sinopec, dominate the production of single-use plastics. These companies refine crude oil and natural gas to create plastic resins, the raw material for everything from takeaway containers to cling wrap.
Their operations are not just massive in scale but also deeply tied to the fossil fuel industry, making the fight against plastic pollution inseparable from the fight against climate change.
Why Single-Use Plastics Are a Problem
Single-use plastics – like straws, coffee cup lids, and chip packets – are designed for convenience, but they come at a massive environmental cost. Unlike an apple core or a cardboard box, plastic doesn’t just disappear. Instead, it breaks down into microplastics that linger in our waterways, soil, and even in our food. Scientists have even found microplastics in human blood…so, congratulations, we’re basically part plastic now!
Here in Australia, we’re seeing the effects first-hand. Our beaches, once pristine, are littered with plastic waste, and our marine life is suffering. Turtles mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, seabirds feed plastic to their chicks, and we all bear the consequences of an industry that prioritises profit over the planet.
The Role of Corporate Responsibility
If just 100 companies produce nearly all the world’s single-use plastics, then they hold the key to fixing this mess. But instead of meaningful change, many of them keep pushing the tired old “recycling will fix it” story.
The truth? Less than 10% of plastic waste is actually recycled. The rest ends up in landfill, incinerated, or floating around in the ocean, making life harder for wildlife and future generations.
What Can Australians Do About It?
We might not own billion-dollar petrochemical companies, but we can still make a difference. Here’s how:
- Carry a reusable coffee cup, say no to plastic bags, and bring your own cutlery when you grab takeaway.
- Seek out brands that are serious about reducing plastic and supporting the circular economy.
- Australia has already started banning some single-use plastics, but there’s more to be done so make your voice heard!
- Use social media, petitions, and your spending power to demand real action from the worst offenders.
Name and Shame: Who’s Leading Australia’s Plastic Waste Problem?
While global corporations are major culprits, Australia has its own plastic offenders. These companies are among the biggest contributors to single-use plastic waste in the country:
- Qenos: The largest producer of polyethylene in Australia, supplying raw plastic materials to numerous industries. Whilst Qenos might not be a household name, familiar names and familiar packages that have relied on Qenos plastic for many years include:
- PURA milk
- Tip Top
- Saxa salt
- Tim Tams
- Smiths Crisps
- VB
- White King
- Glad
- Morning Fresh
- Willow
- Huggies
- Coles & Woolworths: Australia’s biggest supermarket chains continue to rely heavily on plastic packaging despite pledging to reduce waste. In fact, supermarkets are enticing customers to choose plastic-wrapped fruit and vegetables by charging less – what!!!
- Coca-Cola Amatil: Coca-Cola is consistently ranked as one of the top plastic polluters in Australia, contributing vast amounts of branded plastic litter.
- Honourable mentions: PepsiCo, Nestlé, and Danone.
If these companies are serious about sustainability, they need to step up their game! Until then, consumers can hold them accountable by reducing demand for their plastic-heavy products and pushing for stronger regulations.
Looking Ahead
Addressing the plastic crisis isn’t about blaming consumers for using a straw, it’s about demanding real, large-scale change from the companies responsible. Governments, businesses, and consumers all have a role to play, and we need to move fast before we drown in our own waste.
It’s time for these 100 companies to step up. But until they do, we’ll keep calling them out and making smarter choices ourselves. Because let’s be honest, we’d all rather be swimming in clear blue oceans than a sea of plastic.