LA County Sues PepsiCo, Coca-Cola Over Plastic Claims

Los Angeles County has filed a lawsuit against PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, alleging the companies misled the public about the recyclability of their plastic bottles and downplayed their environmental impacts. The lawsuit claims both companies engaged in 'disinformation campaigns' to promote the idea that their plastic bottles are fully recyclable, while in reality, they can only be recycled once, if at all. Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are accused of failing to disclose significant environmental and health harms associated with their plastic containers, contributing to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The county seeks restitution and civil penalties, highlighting that Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have been ranked as the world's top plastic polluters for consecutive years. The suit aligns with broader efforts to reduce plastic use, including LAX's ban on single-use plastic water bottles. Both companies have denied the allegations, with industry representatives asserting that their packaging claims are not misleading.