Coca-Cola is facing growing criticism after a United Nations report condemned the company’s decision to replace reusable glass bottles with single-use plastic packaging in Samoa. The move has reignited concerns about Coca-Cola’s environmental claims, particularly in regions highly vulnerable to waste mismanagement and plastic pollution.

The report, issued by the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights, highlights the 2021 transition made by Coca-Cola’s regional bottler in Samoa, abandoning a well-functioning deposit-return system that relied on refillable glass bottles. For decades, Samoan communities had embraced this circular model, returning bottles for reuse and dramatically reducing local waste.

According to Dr. Rufino Varea of the Pacific Island Climate Action Network, the decision marks a regressive shift: “For decades, the communities in Samoa participated in a circular system, returning glass bottles for a deposit, which ensured high reuse rates and minimized waste.”

The U.N. report underscores the severity of the issue, pointing out that Samoa lacks the infrastructure for large-scale recycling. With a population of just over 225,000, the country cannot achieve economies of scale necessary for efficient plastic waste management. As a result, much of the plastic ends up polluting the environment, contributing to an already overwhelming regional waste crisis.

“Samoa, and most Pacific Island states, are grappling with a monumental waste crisis, a significant portion of which is plastic,” the report noted.

The criticism comes amid mounting evidence of plastic pollution’s impact on global ecosystems. According to the U.N. Environment Programme, between 19 and 23 million tonnes of plastic waste enter aquatic ecosystems annually, disrupting habitats, altering ecosystems, and threatening biodiversity and human livelihoods.

Environmental advocates argue that Coca-Cola’s decision in Samoa reflects a broader inconsistency in its sustainability agenda. While the company has promoted initiatives like the development of 100% plant-based, recyclable PET bottles, it remains one of the world’s top plastic polluters — a title frequently highlighted in environmental audits and reports.

This case highlights the importance of regional context in packaging decisions. What might be logistically viable in high-capacity recycling markets becomes an environmental liability in small island nations lacking waste infrastructure. Critics say Coca-Cola should have maintained or upgraded Samoa’s existing glass reuse system instead of replacing it with a solution that increases plastic dependence.

As global awareness of plastic pollution continues to rise, the U.N. and various NGOs are pushing for legally binding international agreements to curb plastic production and waste. Meanwhile, citizens are encouraged to opt for non-plastic alternatives and embrace reuse practices that can collectively reduce demand for disposable packaging.

Coca-Cola has yet to issue a public response to the U.N. report’s findings. But as scrutiny intensifies, the situation in Samoa serves as a case study in how packaging decisions made by global corporations can have profound local impacts — especially in regions already on the frontlines of environmental degradation.