· 1 min read
illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Le Monde or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Coca-Cola, the exclusive beverage distributor for the Paris 2024 Olympics, promotes its commitment to reducing single-use plastic, yet over 40% of drinks will still come in plastic bottles
🔭 The context: While Coca-Cola and the Games' organizers highlight the use of water and soda fountains, returnable glass bottles, and eco-cups, a confidential memo reveals that three-quarters of the planned drinks for sale will be served from plastic bottles
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Despite using recycled plastic (rPET), the reliance on single-use bottles undermines efforts to reduce plastic waste, as recycled PET can degrade and absorb contaminants, limiting its reuse compared to glass bottles
⏭️ What's next: Environmental groups are pushing for more stringent measures to eliminate disposable plastics entirely, calling for increased use of truly reusable alternatives like glass bottles
💬 One quote: "Coca-Cola is using a subterfuge, eco-cups, to hide a reality – the persistence of the massive use of plastic bottles," said Axèle Gibert, coordinator of France Nature Environnment's waste network
📈 One stat: Three-quarters of the 9 million drinks planned for sale at the Olympics will come from plastic bottles
Click for more news covering the latest on greenwashing
