Allegations of Greenwashing Against Plastic Waste Alliance

An investigation by Unearthed for Greenpeace reveals that the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW) has produced over 1,000 times more plastic than it has cleaned up since its inception in 2019. Members of the alliance, including major oil and chemical companies like ExxonMobil, Shell, and TotalEnergies, pledged $1.5 billion to remove plastic waste but have only provided $375 million and removed approximately 119,000 tonnes of plastic. In contrast, these five companies produced 132 million tonnes of plastic in the same period, with their production capacity increasing significantly. Environmental campaigner Bill McKibben criticized the initiative as a clear example of greenwashing, aimed at shifting the focus away from short-term bans on plastic. The AEPW has been a significant presence in UN negotiations on a global plastics treaty, yet its actions contradict its stated mission. Overall, the findings raise serious questions about the effectiveness and sincerity of the alliance's efforts to combat plastic pollution.