Study Finds Plastic Food Packaging Most Common Coastal Litter

Plastic food wrappers, bottles, lids and caps are the most common items of litter found on the world's shorelines, according to a study published in the journal One Earth. Researchers examined data from more than 5,300 coastal litter surveys drawn from 355 existing studies.

The information covered 94 countries, and the team extrapolated estimates for an additional 18 nations. Food and drink-related plastics appeared in shoreline data from 93 percent of the places examined. No other category of litter reached that level of prevalence.

Plastic bags were recorded in 39 percent of countries and cigarettes in 38 percent. Plastic bags showed higher prevalence in data from Asia. The study found that countries with plastic bag bans did not always record lower levels of such waste. Researchers suggested weak enforcement or waste imports from other nations as possible explanations.

The analysis excluded microplastics and unidentifiable fragments, noting that these items often originate from larger plastic pieces.

Negotiations for a global treaty on plastic pollution face delays. The chair of the talks stepped down in October after reports of pressure from the United Nations environment programme. Norway, the programme's largest donor, is reviewing its funding.

The next round of discussions may occur in late 2026 or 2027. Richard Thompson, founder of the University of Plymouth's international marine litter research unit, said policymakers could reduce plastic pollution by limiting plastics to essential uses and encouraging refillable containers.

Tamara Galloway, a professor of ecotoxicology at the University of Exeter who was not involved in the study, said current economic models treat many plastics as disposable. She added that reframing plastic as "plastic-lost-value" could improve policy discussions.