LA County Files Lawsuit Against PepsiCo and Coca-Cola
Los Angeles County took a bold step this Wednesday by filing a lawsuit against beverage giants Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. The charges revolve around their substantial contributions to the growing problem of plastic pollution, which the county has labeled a public nuisance.
The lawsuit argues that the companies’ actions violate regulations related to unfair competition and misleading advertising.
Claims of Plastic Pollution
According to the county’s claims, plastic waste has emerged as California’s primary litter problem.
Unlike organic materials, plastic does not decompose; instead, it breaks down into tiny fragments.
The suit highlights that the plastic bottles manufactured by these two corporations are polluting both land and waterways, endangering wildlife, disrupting ecosystems, and threatening public health.
Furthermore, LA County asserts that both companies deceive customers into believing that purchasing their single-use plastic bottles is an environmentally responsible choice.
Violations and Legal Action
The lawsuit also addresses the companies’ supposed commitment to creating a “circular economy” for plastics.
For instance, it challenges Coca-Cola’s promises about infinite recyclability, arguing that in practice, their plastic bottles can usually only be recycled once.
Moreover, both companies have been accused of promoting ineffective solutions for the plastic waste crisis, such as chemical recycling, while failing to meet their own goals for increasing the use of recycled plastic.
Consumers have unknowingly become part of what the lawsuit describes as “theatre.” They wash and sort their plastic goods, believing their actions contribute positively to environmental efforts.
However, the complaint suggests that Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have knowingly overlooked the poor recycling rates of their products, failing to mitigate the environmental harm caused by their extensive use of plastic.
A recent Brand Audit by Break Free From Plastics revealed that Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are the top offenders in global plastic pollution, producing about 3.224 million metric tons and 2.5 million metric tons of plastic each year, respectively.
Disturbingly, these companies have maintained their position as the leading polluters for six consecutive years.
The lawsuit also draws attention to a troubling trend: the share of recycled plastics actually decreased from 1996 to 2018.
Plastic recycling faces significant hurdles, requiring materials to be clear, uncolored, and free from contaminants.
As a result, many plastic bottles never make it into recycling facilities or are downgraded into low-quality products, rendering them unrecyclable.
The lawsuit alleges that both companies have continued to market their products as environmentally friendly, even while fully aware of these recycling challenges.
In light of these findings, the lawsuit claims that both corporations have violated laws pertaining to public nuisance, unfair competition, and misleading advertising.
LA County is seeking to halt these alleged infractions and demands restitution along with civil penalties.
This legal action mirrors a similar lawsuit filed by New York State against PepsiCo in late 2023, emphasizing an increasing trend of legal scrutiny surrounding corporate responsibility for plastic pollution.
Source: Justia