Los Angeles County sues Pepsi and Coca-Cola over plastic bottles

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Yahoo! Finance/AP

Updated Thu, October 31, 2024 at 7:01 PM EDT


LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles County is taking on Pepsi and Coke for their role in plastic pollution. In a lawsuit filed Wednesday, the county alleged PepsiCo and Coca-Cola companies have misled the public about the recyclability of their plastic bottles and downplayed the negative environmental and health impacts of plastic disposal.

“Coke and Pepsi need to stop the deception and take responsibility for the plastic pollution problems your products are causing," LA County supervisor Lindsey Horvath said in a statement. "Los Angeles County will continue to address the serious environmental impacts caused by companies engaging in misleading and unfair business practices.”

Coca-Cola owns brands like Dasani, Fanta, Sprite, Vitamin Water, and Smartwater, while PepsiCo owns Gatorade, Aquafina, Mountain Dew, and more. The two companies have been ranked as the world's top plastic polluters for five consecutive years, and Coca-Cola has taken the number one spot for six years, according to global environmental group Break Free From Plastic.

PepsiCo produces approximately 2.5 million metric tons of plastic and Coca-Cola produces approximately 3.224 million metric tons of plastic annually, according to Break Free from Plastic.

Read more: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/la-county-sues-pepsi-coca-213412287.html

[no_hypocrisy]

1. What about Poland Spring?

At my supermarket, I see 24-bottle packages regularly on my cashier belt. Will California sue them too?

[LymphocyteLover]

3. probably not as they are unlikely to be such a major source of plastic bottles as Coke and Pepsi

[hardluck]

9. Poland Spring is owned by Blue Triton (formerly Nestle Water)

So maybe not as big as Coke and Pepsi but a large player in the bottled water business.

[wolfie001]

4. I got my Pur system so long ago. I had Brita before that. Since at least 1998 maybe years before.....

I never had a diary on what I consumed but as a 200lb male, how many water bottle was that? So stupid and thoughtless.

[LymphocyteLover]

2. Good-- plastic pollution is a massive problem and these people have not had to pay for any of the pollution they

have caused, much like oil and gas companies

[wolfie001]

5. Hear hear!!!

[ailsagirl]

6. GOOD!! n/t

[EllieBC]

7. They should sue tech giants too.

Some of the worst strip mining in the world occurs because of the rare earth metals needed for tech.

And also all that nice tech is housed in plastic. Are they suing them for that?

It’s all a show.

[LiberalArkie]

8. They have a distribution chain, why not manage going back to glass bottles with a deposit when you buy it unless you

bring an old one. You know from the 1950's, 60's, 70's. And where kids all over the US got their spending money collecting the discarded bottles and returning them to the stores for the deposit.

Maybe even have a little fun built in with the name of the bottling plant originating the bottle engraved on the bottom of the bottle.

Or maybe we do not have the technology to do it these days.