Los Angeles County has filed a lawsuit against major beverage companies PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, alleging that they are contributing to significant plastic pollution and misleading consumers about the environmental impact and recyclability of their plastic containers.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, accused the companies of deceiving the public into believing that their single-use plastic bottles are recyclable, despite what the county claimed is a lack of viable recycling processes to mitigate the environmental damage.
According to the lawsuit, which is backed by the Democratic-governed county, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola have engaged in deceptive marketing campaigns that downplay the true environmental cost of their products.
The lawsuit argued that while the companies suggest their plastic bottles are recyclable, they are aware that recycling infrastructure and systems are not developed enough to recycle these plastics at a scale that would offset the environmental harm. Instead, most of these plastic bottles end up in landfills or as litter in the environment.
The county claimed that the plastic pollution linked to PepsiCo and Coca-Cola’s products has become a “public nuisance” and demands that the companies be held accountable.
As part of the lawsuit, Los Angeles County seeks penalties for what it describes as unfair and deceptive business practices.
“Coke and Pepsi need to stop the deception and take responsibility for the plastic pollution problems your products are causing,” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Lindsey Horvath, a Democrat, in a statement.
Representatives for PepsiCo and Coca-Cola did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Both companies have previously denied making misleading statements about their environmental impact and have stated that they are actively working toward sustainability goals.
PepsiCo is currently facing a similar lawsuit filed by New York’s attorney general in 2023. Last month, California’s attorney general also filed a lawsuit against Exxon Mobil, alleging the oil giant’s role in producing polymers used in single-use plastics.
The environmental impact of plastic waste is a global concern, with the United Nations Environment Programme reporting that over 400 million tons of plastic waste are produced worldwide each year, yet less than 10% is recycled.
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