Sierra Club vs. Coke – Judge rules lawsuit will proceed

The Sierra Club is now able to continue its lawsuit against recycling disinformation

April 10, 2024

SAN FRANCISCO-The fight to hold Coca-Cola accountable for misleading consumers will continue thanks to a district court judge's ruling on Monday. Judge Donato denied Coca-Cola's attempt to dismiss a Sierra Club lawsuit, meaning that the suit will now move forward.

The lawsuit was originally filed in 2021 by the Sierra Club and its law firm Gutride Safier LLP against the Coca-Cola Company (bottler of Dasani), BlueTriton Brands (bottler of Arrowhead, Poland Spring, Deer Park, and Ozarka), and Niagara Bottling (bottler of Niagara and store brands) for misleading consumers by labeling their plastic bottles as "100% Recyclable."

Most plastic cannot be recycled. Over 60 million plastic bottlesend up in landfills or incinerators every day, and an estimated 33 billion pounds of plastic enter the ocean every year - roughly the equivalent of two garbage trucks full of plastic every minute.

In response, Sierra Club California Zero Waste Committee Co-Chair Hoiyin Ip issued the following statement:

"The jig is up for Coke. For decades, Coca-Cola and other plastics companies have intentionally misled consumers about the feasibility of recycling, creating products that pollute our oceans, kill animals, and litter our wilderness. We cannot recycle our way out of this public health and environmental crisis.

"The Sierra Club will continue to fight for truth in recycling in the courts. Plastic companies' disinformation campaign must end now."

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.