More than 2.2 million plastics beverage bottles and caps were collected during Ocean Conservancy’s 2025 International Coastal Cleanup, as governments continue to introduce measures aimed at improving the collection and recycling of beverage packaging.
Volunteers collected 1,338,712 plastics beverage bottles and 885,854 caps during the annual cleanup. Bottles were the most commonly collected item, while caps ranked third.
The figures put a spotlight on two packaging formats that have been the subject of increasing regulatory attention, from the EU’s tethered-cap requirement to the expansion of deposit return schemes (DRSs) and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
Caps and lids
Under the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive, caps and lids on certain single-use beverage containers with a capacity of up to 3 litres must remain attached to the container during use. The requirement came into force in July 2024.
The EU has also introduced collection targets for single-use plastics beverage bottles through its Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. Ocean Conservancy’s report comes as the regulation begins to take effect, adding further pressure to improve the recovery of beverage packaging.
DRSs are another key part of the response. Ocean Conservancy said 10 US states currently have bottle deposit schemes, while four more have recently considered similar legislation.
EPR legislation
The organisation also pointed to the expansion of EPR. Since 2021, Maine, Oregon, Colorado, California, Minnesota, Washington and Maryland have passed EPR legislation, with nearly a dozen other states considering similar measures.
Under EPR systems, producers are made responsible for waste management costs associated with the products they create. Ocean Conservancy said bottle deposit schemes and EPR are among the most effective policies for reducing plastics beverage bottle pollution.
The latest cleanup data comes from an initiative that has been tracking marine debris for almost four decades.
Since the first International Coastal Cleanup in 1986, almost 20 million volunteers have taken part in cleanup activities, removing more than 405 million pounds of rubbish from beaches and waterways around the world.
Research and policy
Volunteers record each item collected, creating a database containing nearly 440 million individual pieces of marine debris. Ocean Conservancy said the data is used by scientists, conservation groups, governments and industry to inform research and policy.
The organisation said its latest results demonstrate the continuing prevalence of beverage bottles and caps in marine litter.
For the plastics packaging industry, the findings come against a backdrop of increasingly prescriptive measures covering beverage packaging. Tethered caps are changing the design of closures, while DRSs and EPR are putting greater emphasis on the collection and recovery of used bottles.
Ocean Conservancy said improving access to recycling, including bottle deposit schemes, alongside investment in reuse and refill infrastructure, could help reduce the amount of beverage packaging entering the environment.
