Plastic pollution has become a major ecological problem that overwhelms landfills, litters Earth’s coastlines, and affects the health of animals, including humans, while also contributing to environmental degradation and climate change.

As public expectations for corporate responsibility grow, an increasing number of businesses have pledged to reduce their use of plastic.

But researchers publishing in the journal One Earth detail how the focus on recycling rather than virgin plastic reduction for the world’s largest and most powerful companies is making their commitments less meaningful.

The study focused on the top 300 Fortune 500 companies and found that 72 per cent had made a commitment to reducing plastic pollution.

“Most of the commitments emphasise plastic recycling and commonly target general plastics,” write the authors, led by Zoie Taylor Diana, an environmental researcher at the Duke University Marine Laboratory.

“They are important, but partial...