Coca-Cola accounts largest share of plastic pollution in Bangladesh
Coca-Cola has been ranked first in plastic pollution in the country for the fifth time. Environmental research organization ESDO (Environment and Social Development Organization) gave this information after surveying 30 thousand 862 plastic wastes collected by themselves.
ESDO informed this information in a press conference organized at the organization’s office in Lalmatia, Dhaka, on October 22, 2022.
According to the organization, 30 thousand 862 pieces of plastic has found in the 116 kg of waste they collected from the three cities from August 25 to September 20, 2022.
Out of 220, 38 local and 14 international companies accounted for the highest 20.78 percent of these wastes.
Among all the plastics, Coca-Cola accounts for 15.60 percent, followed by Pran RFL Group (9.63%), Unilever (6.5%), Pertex Group (5.08%), Akiz Group (3.63%), Nestlé (5.1%) and Bombay Sweets Limited (3.7%).
Hridita Ferdous, Assistant program officer of the organization, presented this research information in a press conference presided over by Syed Marghub Morshed, former secretary of the Bangladesh government and chairperson of ESDO.
In the president’s speech, Syed Marghub Morshed said, ‘One-time use plastic is harmful to the environment and human health.
Corporations must take responsibility for the plastic pollution caused by them. Our market has been filled with these companies’ non-recyclable plastic products and sachets, pushing us towards more threats.
Dr. Abul Hashem, the Senior Technical Advisor of ESDO and Former Chairman of the Chemistry Department of Jahangirnagar University, said,
“It is surprising to see that the same corporate polluters are responsible for plastic pollution five times in a row in Bangladesh.
The government of Bangladesh is already working seriously on the plastic pollution crisis, and we hope to find a solution to this dangerous pollution through the upcoming Plastics Agreement.
Siddiqa Sultana, Executive Director of ESDO, said, “More than 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, causing endocrine problems, cancer, congenital disabilities, immune system problems, and developmental problems in children. “
She requested the government to emphasize this matter immediately.
Dr. Shahriar Hossain, Secretary General of ESDO, said, ‘The world is getting ready for a global agreement. Bangladesh is the first country to ban polythene bags.
So, of course, we do not want to hold back on any contractual decisions. We must start preparing to ban single-use plastics completely from our country and our lives.”
