Coca-Cola, Nestlé, and Danone to revise plastic recycling claims

Coca-Cola, Nestlé, and Danone have committed to revising recycling claims on their plastic bottles following discussions with the European Commission and the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) network. The initiative, led by the Swedish Consumer Agency and the Hungarian Competition Authority, aims to prevent misleading environmental communications regarding packaging.

Key changes include updating labels from “I am a bottle made from 100% recycled plastic” to “This bottle is 100% recycled, excluding cap and label.” Additionally, the phrase “Recycle me again” will be changed to “Recycle me” to avoid implying that a bottle has been previously recycled or can be infinitely recycled.

The companies have also pledged to ensure that labels, commercial communications, and green symbols do not create a misleading impression of environmental benefits. These standards will extend to digital marketing on websites and social media platforms. Coca-Cola and Nestlé have already begun implementing several of these changes.