An EU complaint filed against some of the biggest soft drinks brands would have ramifications for all food and drink packaging if upheld. Filed on 7 November by the Bureau Européen des Unions de Consommateurs (BEUC, the European Consumer Organisation), it is gaining coverage within the legal press.
The complaint alleges a breach of current law; it is not in anticipation of the new EU Green Claims Directive.
The basis of the complaint is that it is deliberately misleading to label plastic drinks bottles as “100% recyclable”, “made from 100% recycled material” or to use prominent recycling logos when the brand owners are aware that
- “100% recyclable” depends on many factors outside of the manufacturer’s control, including the available infrastructure, the sorting process and the recycling process
- “100% recycled” suggests that the bottle in its entirety is made from recycled materials, when bottle lids cannot be made of recycled materials by EU law and some brands also add non-recycled plastic to the body
- use of green imagery, such as closed loops, green logos or nature images, promotes the idea that the products have environmental neutrality or even a positive impact on the environment.
Photo by tanvi sharma on Unsplash
Comments