The Coca-Cola Foundation, the philanthropic branch of Coca-Cola Group, has committed $15 million to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to enhance plastic waste management efforts across Asia. Asia is responsible for approximately 80% of the global plastic waste that ends up in oceans, with sixteen out of the top twenty most polluted rivers located in the region. A growing reliance on single-use plastics, plastic waste imports from the West, and inadequate waste management infrastructure have all contributed to the escalating plastic crisis.

As the world’s largest producer of plastic waste, Coca-Cola aims to play a part in addressing these issues through funding UNDP-led plastic waste management initiatives in nine Asian countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Maldives, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. The three-year programme, which launched in India last week, is designed to improve waste management, boost recycling efforts, reduce plastic leakage into the environment, and promote local solutions while fostering regional cooperation. By leveraging and sharing best practices across these countries, the initiative aims to inspire policy changes, enhance community action, and improve the livelihoods of waste workers.

In addition to expanding existing successful initiatives, the programme will focus on developing innovative business models for waste collection and recycling. It will also offer technical expertise on environmental best practices and leverage cutting-edge technologies to enhance the efficiency of plastic collection and recycling, minimizing leakage. “Addressing plastic waste isn’t just about cleanup; it’s about creating a more sustainable development model,” said Christophe Bahuet, UNDP deputy regional director for Asia and the Pacific. “Through our Zero Waste and Plastics initiatives, we are helping countries adopt circular economy principles, craft better policies, attract investments, and reduce single-use plastic consumption.”

Coca-Cola has undertaken several efforts to mitigate its environmental impact, such as increasing its use of post-consumer recycled content by 17% compared to 2019 levels. The company also launched the ‘World Without Waste’ initiative, aiming to design more sustainable packaging and collect and recycle the equivalent of a can or bottle for every one it sells by 2030. However, despite these efforts, the company increased its use of virgin plastic by 6% between 2019 and 2023 and discontinued its reusable packaging goals.

This partnership with the UNDP is part of Coca-Cola's broader effort to address the growing plastic waste crisis in Asia, aiming for lasting change through strategic investments and collaborative action.