Three consumer giants have reportedly agreed to change recycling claims advertised on their plastic bottles.
The three are Coca-Cola, Nestlé, and Danone, among the world’s largest food and beverage companies.
The EU says that the move means “consumers can rely on fair and clear information about the recycling characteristics of the bottles.”
Announcing the decision, the Commission says it comes “in line with the requirements of EU consumer law.”
It comes after talks between the companies, the European Commission and the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) network.
According to the EU Commission the companies have committed to:
- Replace claims on bottles’ labels such as “I am a bottle made from 100% recycled plastic” with “This bottle is 100% recycled. Excluding cap and label” to ensure factually clear and correct information regarding recyclability and composition;
- Replace claims on bottles’ labels such as “Recycle me again” with “Recycle me”, so companies do not give consumers the false impression, when encouraging them to recycle the bottle, that the bottle was already recycled before purchase and can be recycled into another bottle again;
- Ensure that the overall impression of the label and the marketing is not misleading regarding the inherent environmental benefits of plastic bottles, for instance by combining them with other green claims or symbols; and
- Ensure that digital marketing campaigns on their respective websites and social media channels reflect the content of these commitments.
Coca-Cola and Nestlé, says the Commission, have “already implemented some of the commitments within the established deadlines, notably those relating to recycling claims advertised in digital campaigns.”
The EC says that national consumer protection authorities will monitor the implementation of these commitments and “may proceed with enforcement measures if companies fail to comply with them.”
Its spokesman said, “The Commission and the CPC network may engage with bottling industry associations, to ensure a level playing field where all companies operating in the Single Market abide by the same rules.”
In November 2023, consumer group BEUC issued an alert against bottling companies selling plastic bottles in the EU.
The dialogue with the Coca-Cola Company, Nestlé Waters, and Danone was coordinated by the European Commission and the authorities of the CPC network.
Following these dialogues, the European Commission and national consumer authorities assessed the commitments proposed by the companies at EU/EEA level and “found the companies’ improved claims to be in line with the requirements of EU consumer law.”
The CPC is a network of national authorities responsible for the enforcement of EU consumer protection laws.
Under the coordination of the European Commission, they take coordinated actions to tackle widespread and cross-border infringements of consumer law occurring in the EU.
Separately, members of the EU parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs committee MEPs will this week investigate working conditions at Amazon warehouses in Dortmund (Germany) and Katowice (Poland).
They will visit robotic and manual operation sites, and meet with workers and their representatives.
An EU parliament source said workers have described their working environment as excessively intense, with monitoring, deteriorating health conditions, and union-busting practices.
The visit takes places on Monday and Tuesday.
