Op-ed: The Paris Olympics can be a massive opportunity for the global reuse movement. Will Coca-Cola and others step up?

Oceana’s Matt Littlejohn says a shift to global reuse of plastic could prevent up to 153 billion plastic containers from reaching the world’s waterways and seas. Will the Paris Olympics and its key sponsor, Coca-Cola, miss this opportunity to do their part?

It’s a good bet that you have not heard the news. During the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, beverages served to the millions of spectators attending the games will be in reusable cups. The fact that this is happening on such a large scale on the world’s most visible stage shows that it’s possible to move away from single-use at similar events worldwide and truly begin a global reuse movement that mitigates plastic waste.