I won’t sugarcoat it—2025 wasn’t a banner year for sustainable design. And it started with a bang when Coca-Cola said it would push out its sustainable packaging goals, while also increasing its use of virgin plastics. At the time, it felt like a move emblematic of the year to come, with many major brands staring down the prospect of outrageous tariffs or supply chain woes. 

Why not just kick the can down the road? Frankly, that’s what plenty of brands have  always done. 

And honestly, most brands have carte blanche to do whatever they please. There are no plastic pacts or federal EPR laws on the books, though they do exist in a handful of states. Deregulation is the order of the day, with the environment and public health and safety no longer a top priority, so of course, the world’s biggest polluters will kick the can plastic bottle down the road.