Coca Cola, Nestle and Danone Are Allegedly Greenwashing Customers
Nestle, Coca-Cola, and Danone have received a legal complaint about greenwashing for claiming their plastic bottles are “100% recycled.”
The accusation comes from The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), and two other eco-friendly groups.
This complaint focuses on the companies supplying single-use plastic bottles while claiming they are either 100% recyclable or 100% recycled when not.
Companies saying that products are more environmentally-kind than they are is greenwashing. It can be a misleading way for them to sell to people hoping to make sustainable purchases.
“Be it about buying new clothes, opening a bank account, or buying water bottles, consumers increasingly want to make the most sustainable choice and seek reliable information to do so,” – Ursula Pachl, the BEUC
Pachl went on to say that “displaying nature images and green visuals” to suggest that plastic is eco-friendly is “misleading”.
She said, “Using “100% recycled/recyclable” claims or displaying nature images and green visuals that insinuate that plastic is environmentally friendly is misleading consumers. The problem is that there’s no guarantee it will be fully recycled once it’s in the bin. Such claims, however, can be found on many water bottles sold across Europe. This greenwashing must stop.”
Eco-conscious groups, Environmental Coalition on Standards (ECOS), and Client Earth back the BEUC’s complaint. Rosa Pritchard, Lawyer for Client Earth, stated it’s “clear” that these companies don’t repeatedly recycle the water bottles. She said,
“The evidence is clear – plastic water bottles are simply not recycled again and again to become new bottles in Europe.”
A Nestle spokesperson responded to the complaint, saying, “We work hard to reduce the amount of plastic packaging we use; to lead investments and support packaging circularity alongside partners, and to communicate clearly with consumers who want to make informed choices.”
In a statement, Coca-Cola said it was “working to reduce the amount of plastic packaging we use, and we’re investing to collect and recycle the equivalent of the packaging we use.”
Danone said, “We strongly believe in the circularity of packaging – and will continue to invest and lead the campaign for better collection and recycling infrastructure alongside our partners.”
“the wild west of green claims”
However, ECOS Director James Wilkes called the alleged greenwashing “the wild west of green claims.” He was calling for governments to make “clear rules” against it.
Client Earth said that companies could change our consumption for the planet’s benefit. However, they complained that the organizations’ claims are “making it hard” for shoppers.
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