Virgin Islands sues Coca-Cola and Pepsi for “mass deception” and could lose millions of dollars

The government of United States territory, the Virgin Islands has launched a legal battle against Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, filing a lawsuit that accuses both multinationals of engaging in deceptive recycling practices and contributing to large-scale environmental pollution.

Corporate giants’ recycling claims challenged

According to the lawsuit, both companies have aggressively marketed their single-use plastic packaging while misleading consumers about their recycling processes which are explained on their plastic bottles.

The government alleges that their sustainability claims are nothing more than a marketing strategy designed to boost sales, while in reality, their plastic waste is accumulating and leaving a lasting environmental footprint on the islands.

The lawsuit alleges that Coca-Cola and PepsiCo‘s business practices have led to a waste crisis that local landfill and garbage disposal services in the US Virgin Islands are unable to manage or eliminate effectively. According to the claim, the beverage giants have produced millions of tons of plastic, much of which has ended up polluting coastlines, oceans, and public spaces across the archipelago.

No infrastructure to collect waste, misleading labeling

The legal argument asserts that both companies manufacture and bottle their soft drinks in single-use plastic containers, selling them in mass quantities without implementing or funding a responsible system for their disposal — one that wouldn’t pose an environmental threat.

It’s not the first time that Coca-Cola has been accused of “greenwashing”. Earlier this month the company agreed to modify the recycling stats printed on its plastic bottles, which claim that the bottles are “100% recyclable”.

However, in practice, their ability to be recycled depends on several other crucial factors including the available infrastructure to collect waste, the effectiveness of the sorting process and appropriate recycling processes. Other claims note that the bottle lids and labels are not made of recycled materials, as suggested.

“Greenwashing” is a tactic in which corporations promote recycling and environmental campaigns to boost sales while continuing to generate massive pollution through their production processes.

Impact on the environment, tourism and health

The legal filing also underscores the serious health risks posed by plastic contamination both locally and globally. Microplastics, which form as plastic breaks down in oceans, have harmful effects on both human health and marine life.

Additionally, the lawsuit states that plastic waste levels have reached critical proportions, with the territory’s two main landfills nearing collapse. As a result, plastic debris is now accumulating in public spaces, further exacerbating the crisis.

Pollution has also started to affect the tourism industry, which accounts for nearly 60% of the local economy. Polluted beaches and natural parks are causing travelers to choose other locations, leading to a decline in revenue for local businesses.

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