Be A Reuse Champion
July 10, 2024
Open Letter from Athletes to Business Leaders and Major Sports Sponsors in the Beverage Sector: The World Needs More Reusable Packaging, and Less Single-Use Plastic That Pollutes Our Planet
Dear Mr. James Quincey, CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, Mr. Damian Gammell, CEO of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, and Mr. Ramon Laguarta, CEO of PepsiCo
We are requesting that you, leaders of the world’s largest beverage companies and major sponsors, in the spirit of the Olympics and sport, come together and commit to more reuse and less single-use plastic.
As athletes, we are defined by relentless training, unwavering discipline, and profound commitment. Our journey is one of constant challenge, where every day brings a new test of our limits. We sacrifice our personal lives, dedicating countless hours to perfect our craft in the pursuit of excellence. We understand that each drop of sweat and every moment of pain is a step closer to achieving our dreams.
We also have a profound connection with nature. We recognize it not only as the backdrop for our activities, but also for the role it plays in our performance and well-being. Escalating plastic pollution poses a significant threat to nature, compromising the health of our environment and, by extension, our own health and performance.
We live in a world that is facing unprecedented, catastrophic, irreversible changes due to both the plastic and climate crises. Plastic is made with fossil fuels, and it is everywhere: in the air and soil, on our beaches, on the surface of the ocean and in its deepest depths. Plastic kills marine animals. We eat, drink, and breathe in plastics. Plastic has been found in our hearts, lungs, and brains, and in our blood and placentas. Plastics, across their full lifecycle, pose a risk to human health — they contain many additives and chemicals linked to diseases such as cancer, respiratory illness, infertility, and endocrine disruption. Many health associations now recommend avoiding plastic packaging to maintain good health.
It is estimated that two garbage trucks of plastic enter the oceans every minute. We can’t recycle our way out of the plastic pollution crisis — only 9% of all plastic waste ever generated has been recycled. Instead, we need to reduce and reuse. Just a 10-percentage point increase in reusable beverage packaging globally between now and 2030 could eliminate over 1 trillion single-use plastic bottles and cups — preventing up to 153 billion of these containers from polluting our waterways and oceans. Reusable packaging can also be better for the climate compared to single-use plastic.
The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be the perfect opportunity for you and your companies to trigger a sea change in how the world understands packaging and light the torch for reuse. It will be the largest sporting event ever to use reuse at scale. The games will serve beverages in reusable cups, potentially replacing over 13 million single-use plastic containers.
Top global plastic polluters and major sport sponsors, like Coca-Cola and Pepsi, must act now to address the plastic problem. The good news is that reusable packaging is a workable solution for the beverage industry. Refillable bottles (also known as returnable bottles) were once the only way we could buy bottled beverages. They can be used as many as 50 times, and reusable cups over 100 times, with each use eliminating the need for a single-use plastic container. This is how we can eliminate single-use plastic at scale!
That’s why we’re asking you to #BreakFreeFromPlastic and choose reuse instead. Keep the torch lit for reuse following the Olympics by committing to:
- Make reuse an option for all your customers around the world and dramatically increase reusable packaging by 2030.
- Make future Olympics and other sporting events run on reuse rather than single-use.
- Advocate for the inclusion of legally binding targets and other mechanisms to increase reusable packaging in national legislation and in the United Nations plastics treaty.
The future of our environment, our climate, and our health depends on it.
Sincerely,
On behalf of:
Organizations (9):
Individual athletes (102):
Alana Nichols, USA, Wheelchair Basketball, Paralympian (2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016), Paralympic 3x Gold Medalist (2008, 2010, 2104), 2x Silver Medalist (2010, 2014), 1x Bronze Medalist (2010)
Alberto Rondina, Italy, Kitesurfing, 3rd World Tour
Alena Olsen, USA, Rugby 7s, Qualified for Paris 2024
Alessia Zecchini, Italy, Freediving, World Champion and Multiple World Records
Alexander Megos, Germany, Sport Climbing, World Cup Winner, 2nd Place World Championships, Olympian (2020), Qualified for Paris 2024
Andy Macdonald, UK, Skateboarding Park, Qualified for Paris 2024
Anke Brandt, Germany, Kitesurfing, World Record Longest Distance Kitesurfed Non-Stop
Annabel van Westerop, The Netherlands, Kitesurfing, Vice World Champion
Antoine Auriol, France, Kitesurfing, World Champion KPWT 2010
Astrid Holand, Norway, Climbing, 5th Place in Nordic Championships
Beth Gill, UK, Canoe, World Champion
Blaine Pedlow, USA, Sailing, US Sailing Senior Vice President
Carolien Millenaar, Denmark, Track and Field, #26 in Europe
Caroline Webb, USA, Track and Field
Charlie Enright, USA, Sailing, 2023 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year and 2023 Ocean Race Champion
Charline Picon, France, Windsurfing and Sailing, Olympian (2012, 2016, 2020), Olympic Gold Medalist (2016), Silver Medalist (2020), Qualified for Paris 2024
Christiana Butera, USA, Synchronized (Artistic) Swimming, Team USA 2011 World Championship Team
Christina Wolfe, USA, Offshore Sailing, 2023 US Sailing’s Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, Nigeria, Athletics Shot Put, Olympian (2020), Qualified for Paris 2024
Dee Caffari MBE, UK, Sailing, National Champion and Multiple World Records Holder
Dylan Fredriksson, Sweden, Climbing, V14 Boulder
Eliza McCartney, New Zealand, Athletics Pole Vault, Olympian (2016), Olympic Bronze Medalist (2016), Qualified for Paris 2024
Elizabeth Beisel, USA, Swimming, World Champion, Olympian (2008, 2012, 2016), Olympic Bronze and Silver Medalist (2012)
Elizabeth Timberlake, USA, Rowing
Ellis Spiezia, USA, Electric Motorsport, 3rd Overall in the 2023 NXT Gen Cup Championship
Emma Dornseif, USA, Women’s Ice Hockey, Division I
Eric Rienstra, USA, Kitesurfing, Top 10 Park League
Erica Miller, USA, Basketball, D3 National Champion
Etienne Stott, UK, Canoe Slalom, Olympian (2012), Olympic Gold Medalist (2012)
Ever Palma, Mexico, Athletics, 4th in World Walking Competition Türkiye 2024, Olympian (2012, 2016), Qualified for Paris 2024
Favour Ashe, Nigeria, Track and Field, Qualified for Paris 2024
Florian Gruber, Germany, Kitesurfing, European Champion
Genevra L. Stone, USA, Rowing, Olympian (2020), Olympic Silver Medalist (2020)
Grace Luczak OLY, USA, Rowing, World Record Holder, Olympian (2016, 2020)
Guilly Brandão, Brazil, Kitesurfing, 3x World Champion
Hannah McLoughlin, Ireland, Hockey, Olympian (2020)
Hannah Mills, UK, Sailing, Olympian (2012, 2016, 2020), 2x Olympic Gold Medalist (2016, 2020), Silver Medalist (2012)
Hélène Noesmoen, France, Windsurfing, World Champion, Qualified for Paris 2024
Ian Walker MBE, UK, Sailing, Olympian (1996, 2000), 2x Olympic Silver Medalist (1996, 2000)
Ivanna Anderson-Villlea, USA, Women’s Water Polo, Semi-professional
Izzy Petter, Great Britain, Hockey, Olympian (2020), Olympic Bronze Medalist (2020), Qualified for Paris 2024
Jamal Hill, USA, Swimming, Paralympian (2020) Paralympic Bronze Medalist (2020), Qualified for Paris 2024
Jamie Farndale, Scotland, Rugby, World 7s Series Tournament Winner
Jamie Haines Matthews, USA, Sailing, US Sailing Team member
Jamie Overbeek, The Netherlands, Kitesurfing, Winner Lords of Tram 2024
Jasmyne Spencer, USA, Soccer, Professional
Jean-Baptiste Bernaz, France, Sailing, World Champion 2022, Olympian (2008, 2012, 2016, 2020), Qualified for Paris 2024
Jerrie van de Kop, The Netherlands, Kitesurfing, Dutch champion. European champion
Jerome Cloetens, Spain, Kitesurfing, 4x Spanish Senior Champion, World Youth Champion
John Curtis, Canada, Sailing, Olympian (2004)
Joseph Klein, USA, Figure Skating, Junior National Silver Medalist, 13th Senior National Championships
Julia Castro, Spain, Kitesurfing, Vice World Champion Kitepark 2018
Juliette Blais-Savoie, Canada, Ice Hockey, USPORTS (collegiate) Silver Medalist, 2x Ontario University Athletics Champion
Katarzyna Lange, Poland, Kiteboarding, National Champion
Kate Rutherford, USA, Climbing, 15 years of professional climbing with highlights of climbing all of the Fitz Roy Skyline in Patagonia Argentina, as well as Cero Torre
Kate Strong, UK, Adventure Activism, 3x World Record cyclist, ag World Champion triathlete
Kelly McCafferty, USA, Rugby, 2x College rugby National Champion
Lara Dallman-Weiss, USA, Sailing, Olympian (2020), Qualified for Paris 2024
Lauren O’Connor, USA, Rowing, Qualified for Paris 2024
Laurent Guyot, France, Kitesurf, Snowkite, Landkite, Mountain Biking, World Champion and France Champion
Leonie Lenz, Belgium, Climbing, Top 5 National Championship
Lucia Dörffel, Germany, Climbing, German Champion, Qualified for Paris 2024
Maia Bouchier, England, Cricket, Scored a century of runs for England
Mallory Franklin, Great Britain, Canoe Slalom, Olympian (2020), Olympic Silver Medalist (2020), Qualified for Paris 2024
Manuel Selman, Chile, Surfing, Pan-American champion, Latin American champion, Olympian (2020)
Marcos Silva, Brazil, Kitesurfing
Margaret Hedeman, USA, Rowing, Qualified for Paris 2024
Marius Kitzmüller, Austria, Climbing
Martim Lopes, Portugal, Climbing, 66th European Youth
Monika Dukarska, Ireland, Rowing, Olympian (2020)
Nick Gracenin, USA, Wushu-Chinese Martial Arts, Bronze Medalist International Championships
Nicole Robison, USA, Beach Volleyball, NCAA Division I
Niki Uberoi, USA, Tennis, 819 WTA
Nora Goodwillie, USA, Rowing, Colligate Division 1
Offiong Edem, Nigeria, Table Tennis, 106, Qualified for Paris 2024
Oskar Johansson, Canada, Sailing, Olympian (2004, 2008), 4th Olympic Games Beijing 2008
Pablo Verdu Villaescusa, Spain, Climbing, Regional Champion
Paige Myatt, USA, Tackle Football, 2x National Champion of the Women’s Football Alliance Pro Division
Paul Jenft, France, Climbing, 6x World Champion, Qualified for Paris 2024
Paula Novotna, Czech Republic, Kiteboarding/ Wingfoiling, World Champion
Paula Rosales, Philippines, Kitesurfing, Asia Champion
Paulino Pereira, Portugal, Kitesurfing, 3rd world tour ranking
Philipp Zach, Austria, Kitesurfing
Rachel Krouse, USA, Running
Remy Finn, USA, Track and Field, Participation in ACC Indoor and Outdoor Championships
Rhydian Cowley, Australia, Athletics, Olympian (2016, 2020), Qualified for Paris 2024
Ron Rosenberg, USA, Sailing, Olympic Team Captain and 5x World Champion
Sara Kouskova, Czech Republic, Golf, Ladies European Tour, Qualified for Paris 2024
Sarah Ennis, Ireland, Equestrian (Eventing), World Medalist, Olympian (2020)
Sascha Lehmann, Switzerland, Climbing, Qualified for Paris 2024
Shaun Tomson, USA, Surfing, World Professional Champion
Sirena Carolina Rowe Cervantes, Colombia, Swimming, South American Vice-Champion
Susi Mai, USA, Kitesurfing, Winner Red Bull King of the Air (2003, 2004, 2005)
Suzy Leech, USA, Sailing, 3x World Champion
Thomas Maloney Westgård, Ireland, Cross Country Skiing, 6th in the World Championship, Olympian (2018, 2022)
Tiffany Clark, USA, Volleyball, Women’s Volleyball National Team Member 2021
Tina Muir, UK, Running, 49th in World Half Marathon Championships
Toby Cooper, USA, Canoe/Kayak, 1968 US Olympic Team
Yago Lange, Argentina, Sailing, Olympian (2016), 7th Olympic Games Rio 2016
Yannic Steinke, Germany, Rowing, 1st in the Junior Bundeliga
Yaroslav Tkach, Ukraine, Sport climbing, World Games 3rd, Qualified for Paris 2024
Zach Apple, USA, Swimming, Olympian (2020), 2x Olympic Gold Medalist (2020)
In collaboration with:
