In this file photo from February 10, 2022, bottles of Pepsi are shown on shelves in an Illinois grocery store. The image was captured by Associated Press photographer Nam Y. Huh.
Los Angeles County has filed a lawsuit against PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, accusing the beverage giants of misleading the public about the environmental impact of their plastic bottles. The lawsuit claims that the companies have overstated the recallability of their products and downplayed the harm caused by plastic waste.
The suit, filed on Wednesday, calls for both companies to be transparent about the limited recallability of their plastic bottles. According to LA County supervisor Lindsey Horvath, these companies need to take responsibility for the “plastic pollution problems” caused by their products. Horvath emphasized that Los Angeles County is determined to hold them accountable for their business practices, which are alleged to be deceptive and damaging to the environment.
Coca-Cola, which owns brands such as Dasani, Fanta, Sprite, Vitamin Water, and Smart Water, and PepsiCo, known for Gatorade, Aquafina, and Mountain Dew, are reportedly the world's biggest plastic polluters, according to environmental group Break Free From Plastic. This organization has ranked Coca-Cola as the top plastic polluter globally for six consecutive years, with PepsiCo close behind. These corporations produce millions of tons of plastic annually—Coca-Cola at approximately 3.2 million metric tons and PepsiCo at around 2.5 million metric tons.
The lawsuit also claims that both companies have promoted an unrealistic “circular economy” for plastic bottles, suggesting that bottles can be recycled and reused indefinitely. In reality, plastic bottles can generally be recycled only once, if at all, making the notion of endless reuse misleading.
The American Beverage Association, representing PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, denied these accusations. Spokesperson William Dermody pointed to California’s high % bottle recycling rate of 71% in 2023, arguing that bottles are designed to be remade and can include up to 100% recycled plastic. However, the county argues that a significant amount of plastic waste continues to end up in landfills and oceans. In 2022, California’s plastic waste reached 179,656 tons, with plastics making up most of the litter found on beaches.
Microplastics—tiny particles of broken-down plastic—are another major concern cited in the lawsuit. These fragments, measuring five millimetres or smaller, spread into the soil, oceans, and even food chains, potentially affecting plant life, marine animals, and humans. Research indicates that microplastics have been found in human tissues, raising health concerns. A 2019 study by Australian researchers for the World Wildlife Fund estimated that people may consume around 5 grams of plastic weekly through food and drink. While the health impacts are still being studied, early concerns link microplastics to diseases such as Alzheimer’s, heart issues, and dementia.
The lawsuit seeks to end what it describes as “unfair and deceptive business practices” by PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, calling for penalties of up to $2,500 per violation and restitution for affected consumers. This case echoes other recent legal actions, such as New York’s 2020 lawsuit against PepsiCo for polluting the Buffalo River. While that case was ultimately dismissed, Los Angeles County’s suit reflects an ongoing effort to confront corporate practices around plastic pollution.
