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PepsiCo gets New York plastic pollution lawsuit dismissed

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By illuminem briefings

· 2 min read


illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on ESG Dive or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: PepsiCo successfully dismissed a New York State lawsuit aiming to hold it liable for plastic pollution along the Buffalo River
The judge ruled that manufacturers shouldn’t be held accountable for consumer disposal behaviors, citing that doing so could set a precedent for broad liability in similar cases.

🔭 The context: This dismissal is part of a broader legal trend, as municipalities like Los Angeles County and Baltimore have recently filed lawsuits against PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, and others, arguing they contributed to public nuisance and misleading recycling claims
Meanwhile, U.S. states are increasingly pushing for plastic production caps and sustainable alternatives through international agreements

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Legal accountability for plastic pollution could reshape corporate responsibility, with ongoing lawsuits pressuring manufacturers to adopt more sustainable practices and address the environmental impacts of single-use plastics

⏭️ What's next: New York’s Attorney General, joined by other states, plans to support global plastic reduction initiatives and may continue litigation to hold companies accountable
Other states are encouraged to pursue similar actions against major plastic polluters

💬 One quote: “These are early days on plastics litigation… while we expect plastic polluters like Pepsi to work overtime to get cases dismissed, at some point, the facts…will be heard in a court of law,” - Judith Enck, President of Beyond Plastics.

📈 One stat:  A recent report from New York's Attorney General found that 40% of "green" claims made by consumer goods companies were misleading or exaggerated, highlighting a pervasive issue of greenwashing within the state

Click for more news covering the latest on ethical governance

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