September 4, 2024 (Washington, D.C.) − Earth Island Institute, represented by Richman Law & Policy received positive news that its lawsuit against Coca-Cola could proceed in Superior Court. The DC appeals court on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, issued a decision finding that Earth Island Institute sufficiently pleaded that Coca-Cola’s environmental and sustainability claims are in violation of the DC Consumer Protection Procedures Act (CPPA), which protects consumers against false, deceptive, or unfair business practices.
Earth Island Institute’s lawsuit will now go back to Superior Court for consideration on the merits. The court explained that Earth Island Institute will now have an opportunity to substantiate whether the environmental and sustainability claims made by Coca-Cola, which uses millions of metric tons of plastic annually, are anything more than “the proverbial lipstick on a pig,” according to the opinion written by Associate Judge Deahl. If successful, this lawsuit will prevent Coca-Cola from falsely advertising its business as sustainable, among other things.
“Coca-Cola knows that consumers care about the environment and consequently the company takes every opportunity it can to convince consumers that it cares as well. And yet for decades they have failed to do the one thing that would help align their actions with their words, which is reduce their use of plastic packaging. We are encouraged that our lawsuit can now move forward so that we can hold Coca-Cola accountable for these misrepresentations.” –Sumona Majumdar, CEO, Earth Island Institute
“Despite being an early leader in more sustainable glass-bottle reuse and refill systems, Coca-Cola has become the world’s number one plastic polluting company, and the largest consumer-facing global seller of plastics. Today’s Coca-Cola is not a ‘sustainable’ business, and portraying itself as one is misleading to consumers. Plastic pollutes from the moment its fossil fuel ingredients are extracted from the Earth through plastic production, use, and its eventual disposal in landfills, incinerators, the environment, and our bodies.” –Julia Cohen, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Plastic Pollution Coalition
Plastic pollution is an urgent global crisis threatening human, environmental, and climate health on a massive scale, from the plastic-producing petrochemical plants that disproportionately harm low-income, rural, and people of color communities; to the plastic pollution that is often dumped in Global South; to the toxic microplastics invading our bodies, which have been shown to contribute to cancer, neurotoxicity, reproductive issues, endocrine disruption, and genetic problems; and more. To solve this problem, our planet needs less plastic—not more.
Founded in 1982, Earth Island Institute is an international environmental organization and fiscal sponsor to more than 75 projects. The organization also includes a legal division, Earth Island Advocates; a youth program, New Leaders Initiative; and an award-winning magazine, Earth Island Journal.
About Plastic Pollution Coalition
Plastic Pollution Coalition is a non-profit communications and advocacy organization that collaborates with an extensive global alliance of organizations, businesses, and individuals to create a more just, equitable, regenerative world free of plastic pollution and its toxic impacts. Plastic Pollution Coalition is a project of Earth Island Institute.
About Richman Law & Policy
Richman Law & Policy is a socially conscious collective of lawyers and advocates with a unique policy-driven approach to impact litigation. As a Certified B Corp with a passion for enacting meaningful change for a better future, we work to hold large corporations accountable for actions that threaten public health, animals, workers, and the environment.
Find additional information about this lawsuit.
Press Contacts:
Erica Cirino
Communications Manager, Plastic Pollution Coalition
press@plasticpollutioncoalition.org
(323) 936-3010 x1
Raquel Trinidad
Director of Communications, Earth Island Institute
communications@earthisland.org
(510) 859-9161