Coca-Cola, PepsiCo leave Plastics Association amid pollution pressure

Coca-Cola and PepsiCo dink bottles. (File photo)

WASHINGTON DC: US environmental group Greenpeace announced that drink manufacturers Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are leaving Plastics Industry Association, this year. The news was confirmed by Dow Jones. 

The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) is a purpose-driven organization that supports the entire plastics supply chain. It works closely with members, industries and encourages innovation to meet the needs of tomorrow.

Greenpeace said that the companies left the association as they were facing public pressure to transition away from single-use plastics.

Greenpeace USA represented the departures as a victory in a year-long effort to stop plastics industry campaigns in favour of state laws that prevent cities and counties from passing restrictions on plastic and other kinds of packaging.

“Companies understand that they cannot publicly say they want to end plastic pollution, while financially supporting an association that lobbies for our continued reliance on throwaway plastics. This is a victory for every person that spoke up and asked Coca-Cola and PepsiCo to put their money where their mouths are and tell the Plastics Industry Association to stop preventing plastic reduction efforts,” said John Hocevar, Greenpeace USA Oceans Campaign Director.

“We withdrew earlier this year as a result of positions the organization was taking that were not fully consistent with our commitments and goals,” a Coca-Cola spokesperson told CNBC.

Greenpeace is campaigning for companies to reduce and eventually eliminate single-use plastics. Though both PepsiCo and Coca-Cola have indicated a desire to reduce their plastic footprint, neither has put forth a comprehensive reduction strategy.

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