New York state sued PepsiCo on Wednesday, accusing the beverage and snack giant of polluting the environment and endangering public health through its single-use plastic bottles, caps and packaging.
The lawsuit filed in state court in northern Erie County is among the first by a state to target a major plastic manufacturer.
Attorney General Letitia James accused PepsiCo of contributing to a public nuisance by generating the vast majority of plastic waste found in and near the upper Buffalo River, including more than 17% of the litter that can be easily traced to specific brands.
He also said the company failed to warn consumers about the potential health and environmental risks of plastic in its more than 100 brands, and misled the public about its efforts to combat plastic pollution.
James said such contamination can enter drinking water after spoilage, contributing to health problems.
The lawsuit seeks to force PepsiCo to stop causing the nuisance, clean up the pollution and provide other relief.REUTERS
“All New Yorkers have a basic right to clean water, but PepsiCo’s irresponsible packaging and marketing is endangering Buffalo’s water supply, environment and public health,” he said in a statement.
A PepsiCo spokesperson said the company is “serious about effective plastic reduction and recycling” and is committed to working with local communities.
PepsiCo has been working with stakeholders across the country to improve recycling infrastructure and increase consumer awareness of the importance of recycling, the spokesperson added.
The complaint says health problems can include early puberty in women, reduced sperm count, altered reproductive organ function, obesity, altered sex-specific behaviors, and increased rates of some types of cancer. Effects from plastic additives have been observed in mammals, and researchers expect similar effects to be observed in humans, the lawsuit says.
The New York lawsuit also says PepsiCo has misled consumers by announcing various targets to reduce the amount of non-recyclable plastic it uses in packaging, even though it has actually increased its use.
Attorney General Letitia James accused PepsiCo of contributing to a public nuisance by generating much of the plastic waste found in and near the upper Buffalo River.AP
In addition to Pepsi cola, its brands include Cheetos, Cracker Jack, Doritos, Fritos, Gatorade, Lay’s, Lipton, Mountain Dew, Ocean Spray, Quaker, Ruffles and Tostitos.
Environmental advocates are calling New York’s lawsuit an important step in the fight against plastic waste across the US that could create a template for other states, cities or counties looking to pursue similar litigation.
“Not only do other companies need to watch this closely, they need to proactively reduce their plastic pollution so they are not subject to the same lawsuits,” said Judith Enck, president of the advocacy group Beyond Plastics and current Environmental Protection Agency regional administrator. Obama administration.
Connecticut and Minnesota have previously filed plastic-related litigation as well, alleging companies falsely and deceptively marketed bags as recyclable when they could not be recycled at state facilities. California in 2022 announced it was conducting an investigation into the role of the fossil fuel and petrochemical industries in plastic pollution.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
