The U.S. Virgin Islands has filed a lawsuit against PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, accusing the beverage giants of fueling a plastic waste crisis through deceptive marketing and unchecked distribution of single-use bottles.
Melina Khan reports for USA TODAY.
In short:
- The lawsuit, filed April 11, claims PepsiCo and Coca-Cola misled consumers by branding single-use plastic bottles as environmentally responsible.
- Officials say the islands’ landfills are nearing capacity, and recycling is logistically and financially difficult due to the need for barge transport.
- The suit alleges both companies knew about plastic pollution risks and ran disinformation campaigns to maintain their public image as sustainable brands.
Key quote:
"Due in significant part to Defendants’ conduct in falsely promoting and distributing single-use plastic, the Virgin Islands faces a waste management crisis."
— Lawsuit filing in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands
Why this matters:
Island communities also face unique logistical challenges when it comes to plastic waste: recycling often requires exporting waste by sea, a costly and inefficient process. As global corporations increase plastic packaging under a veneer of green marketing, small communities bear the ecological and economic burden. Legal efforts like this one could test corporate accountability for environmental damage caused by misleading claims and unsustainable practices.
For more, check out EHN's guides on plastic pollution:
