We’re addressing the issue

Coca-Cola say they are “working to address”the critical global issue of cutting the amount of plastic waste it produces.

They say they’re working with partners, including Keep Scotland Beautiful, to operate“in the most sustainable way possible”.

A spokeswoman for Coca-Cola European Partners said:“Any time our packaging ends up in our oceans – or anywhere that it doesn’t belong – is unacceptable to us.

“In partnership with others, we are working to address this critical global issue, both to help turn off the tap in terms of plastic waste entering our oceans and to help clean up the existing pollution.

“At a global level, we are part of key coalitions that work together to clean up plastic pollution.”

She went on:“In 2017, we set out our company vision for a World Without Waste. This included a goal to recover 100 per cent of the cans and bottles we use, by 2030, so that none of our packaging ends up as waste and all of our bottles and cans are recycled.

“We are investing locally in every market to increase recovery of our bottles and cans. We’re also investing to accelerate key innovations that will reduce waste, including new enhanced recycling technologies that allow us to recycle poor quality PET plastic, often destined for incineration or landfill, back to high quality food packaging material.”

The company recently announced it was to stop plastic shrink-wrap across all multipack cans, replacing it with 100 per cent recyclable, sustainably sourced cardboard which will see more than 30 million packs each year no longer being wrapped in plastic, resulting in 4000 tonnes of plastic removed from circulation across Western Europe.

The spokeswoman added: “Our GLACEAU smartwater bottles are to be made from 100 percent recycled PET plastic by the end of the year and our iconic green Sprite bottle has also been replaced with a clear pack.

“These initiatives will ensure 23,000 tonnes of virgin plastic annually will no longer be used in the UK from 2020.

“These are just some of the steps we’ve been taking as part of our sustainability action plan, This is Forward, and we’ll continue to look for new ways to innovate and collaborate with other relevant organisations as we reach 2020 and beyond, helping to drive positive change and minimise the environmental impact of our operations.”