A new study finds that only 20 businesses produce 55% of disposable plastic waste. Research by the Minderoo Foundation tracked down polymers (a substance that has a structure built largely or completely from a number of similar bonded units) from the moment they left the factory until the moment they were thrown away.

Currently, disposable plastic makes up the bulk of the plastic that is disposed of each year. These wastes often end up in the oceans.

The report found that companies like ExxonMobil, a gas corporation, and DoW, a chemical manufacturer, top the list along with Sinopec, an oil and chemical company. Together these three companies generate 16% of global disposable plastic waste.

ExxonMobil, the worst single-use plastics generation and pollution company in the world, has contributed to the 5.9 million tonne plastic waste problem, while DoW, the world's largest chemical company, generated 5.5 million tonnes of plastic waste.

Of the 20 companies that turned out to be the worst polluters, three of them are based in Europe and have a total damage of 4.6 million tons.

European leaders have consistently debated single-use plastics within Europe and have made efforts to reduce marine litter by 2030 by ensuring that all plastic bottles will have to be made from at least 30% recyclable content.

Source: Euronews