Transparent 2021

The Transparent 2021 report analyzes the plastic footprints of eight global companies (Amcor, Colgate-Palmolive, Keurig Dr Pepper, Kimberly-Clark, McDonald’s, Procter & Gamble, Starbucks, and The Coca-Cola Company). In 2020, these members reported a total of 4.60 million metric tons of plastic sold to retailers and consumers. The report finds that 31% of this plastic was estimated to be recycled, while 44% went to landfills and 16% was mismanaged. Key progress includes the elimination of polystyrene (PS) from Keurig Dr Pepper's K-Cup pods and a reduction in small plastics by Starbucks and McDonald's. However, the report highlights a significant gap in the availability of recycled content, with the aggregate portfolio containing only 7.9% recycled content. The document advocates for a binding global treaty on plastic pollution to harmonize waste management data and scale circular solutions.

• In 2020, ReSource Members reported a total of 4.60 million metric tons of plastic sold to retailers and consumers or discarded in-house, with an additional 2.36 million metric tons sold business-to-business.
• The aggregate waste management outcomes for the members' plastic footprints show that 31% was recycled, 44% was landfilled, 9.2% was incinerated, and 16% was mismanaged.
• Recycled content represents only 7.9% of the aggregate portfolio, with the vast majority (96%) of that recycled content found in bottles.
• The high aggregate landfill rate (44%) is primarily driven by the members' high volume of operations in the United States, where the regional landfill rate is 65%.
• China, Thailand, India, Philippines, and Nigeria are the top five countries for mismanaged plastic tonnages, with China having a mismanagement rate for all plastics of 76%.
• Keurig Dr Pepper fully eliminated polystyrene (PS) from its portfolio in 2020 by transitioning 100% of its K-Cup pods to polypropylene (PP).
• Starbucks and McDonald's have reduced the proportion of small plastics in their portfolios through the elimination of straws and the use of alternative materials for cutlery.
• The Coca-Cola Company's portfolio is highly concentrated, with 97% consisting of PET bottles, and it has increased its use of recycled PET to 11% in 2020.
• There is a critical need for a global monitoring framework and a binding UN treaty on plastic pollution to harmonize waste management data and track progress accurately.

APA

WWF International (2021). Transparent 2021. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/114/8yk49mjzca_Transparent_2021_12_1_21.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. Transparent 2021. 2021. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/114/8yk49mjzca_Transparent_2021_12_1_21.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Transparent 2021 |date=December 2021 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/114/8yk49mjzca_Transparent_2021_12_1_21.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2021transparent, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Transparent 2021}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2021}, month = dec, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/114/8yk49mjzca_Transparent_2021_12_1_21.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }