(PIN) PET GREENWASHING

The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), backed by environmental groups Client Earth and Environmental Coalition on Standards (ECOS), has taken action against major water bottle producers, such as Coca-Cola, Danone and Nestlé Waters/Nestlé, for alleged greenwashing.

Consumer groups from 13 countries have submitted an external alert to the European network of consumer authorities (CPC-Network) demonstrating that claims of “100% recycled” or “100% recyclable” on plastic water bottles can be misleading.

The legal action follows the publication of a report by ECOS and Client Earth, which found evidence that recyclability and PCR content claims are only partially valid for most plastic bottles, and scientific methodologies like LCAs are usually flawed.

“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. However, they are bombarded with incorrect and deceptive claims, so they do not know which claim or label to trust,” says Ursula Pachl, deputy director general of BEUC.

“Using ‘100% recycled/recyclable’ claims or displaying nature images and green visuals that insinuate that plastic is environmentally friendly is misleading consumers. Such claims, however, can be found on many water bottles sold across Europe. The problem is that there’s no guarantee it will be fully recycled once it’s in the bin. This greenwashing must stop.” more on this from Packaging Insights - link - more like this - link