Coca-Cola has been accused of quietly abandoning a pledge to achieve a 25% reusable packaging target by 2030 in what campaigners call a “masterclass in greenwashing”.

The company has been previously found by researchers to be among the world’s most polluting brands when it comes to plastic waste.

In 2022, the company made a promise to have 25% of its drinks sold in refillable or returnable glass or plastic bottles, or in refillable containers that could be filled up at fountains or “Coca-Cola freestyle dispensers”.

But shortly before this year’s global plastics summit, the company deleted the page on its website outlining this promise, and it no longer has a target for reusable packaging.

  • paysrenttobirds
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    1 day ago

    I’m just going to be unpopular for a minute here and say if you find yourself drinking out of single use disposable containers everyday, take some time to see if you can change that, even a little bit.

    The future “goals” listed here are so lame I don’t think you can pretend there’s a sustainable way for billions of people to have that habit.

    • geissi@feddit.org
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      12 hours ago

      While it’s a commendable attitude for one person, trying to solve systematic issues by appealing to individuals does not work.
      That is exactly what governments and legislature are for.

    • overload@sopuli.xyz
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      16 hours ago

      Yeah, let’s try and change the habits of billions of people rather than the practises of 1 company. Way simpler and effective solution.

      In fact, let’s not even worry about the fact that the company in particular does everything in its power to keep people buying their product.

      • paysrenttobirds
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        14 hours ago

        I’m not trying to change billions of people’s habits, just a few that I know and love :)

        But, I don’t think I’m alone.

        Where is the button I push to dissolve CocaCola? Our pure hatred isn’t going to do it.

        Everyone wishes they could somehow multiply their own influence over the world, but being just one person is no reason to give in and do what they told you.

        Voting once a year with a Coke in your other hand is a recipe for status quo.

        • overload@sopuli.xyz
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          12 hours ago

          I’m not advocating for people not doing things within their power and influence (i.e. influence their friends and family), but I think it’s clear that systematic collective change is more effective than expecting billions of people to change their individual choices.

          Advertising works, and Coca Cola Company has effectively endless resources for advertisement.

          We have to push to influence legislation that will force companies to comply. Otherwise we’re just complaining endlessly about people not doing the right thing while these companies freely profit at the expense of the environment.

    • Nurse_Robot@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      Yeah, the people are to blame. Why won’t anyone ever think of the poor corporations trying their best?

      • paysrenttobirds
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        14 hours ago

        You’re the one giving them money every day for sugar water. I just said to maybe stop?

        • Nurse_Robot@lemmy.world
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          13 hours ago

          Me personally? Damn, I didn’t realize I was the one keeping them in business, despite not purchasing their products.

          Corporations and the upper class want infighting. They want us to fight each other and blame each other for their evil tactics. Stop playing into their hands. Blame them, not the average consumer.

      • HellsBelleOP
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        1 day ago

        Dunno why you’re getting downvoted, 'cause you’re right.

        Corporations sell products THEY’VE created in containers THEY’VE chosen using media THEY’VE hired to create profit for THEMSELVES.

        How in the fuck are regular people at fault here in any way, shape or form?

        • oldfart@lemm.ee
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          13 hours ago

          People choose to drink their rust dissolver. Coca Cola is not like Nestle which is almost impossible to avoid when you buy food. It’s one of many brands of soft drinks, all of which are as necessary in your diet as candy and cigarettes.

          • ms.lane@lemmy.world
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            12 hours ago

            They make quite a few other products.

            ie. Powerade (try working in the sun at 40+c for a few hours without some electrolyte water, you’d be as good as dead)

            I haven’t bought soft drink in years, but still end up buying products from Coca Cola.

            • oldfart@lemm.ee
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              11 hours ago

              There are plenty of electrolyte drinks to choose from, at least where I live. Also, water with some juice and a little bit of salt works.

        • slaacaa@lemmy.world
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          21 hours ago

          Exactly. If they weren’t manufacturing and selling plastic trash, people wouldn’t buy it. I try to limit my plastic use, and recycle what I use, but that is not enough.

          Single use plastics should be banned fully, coke and other companies could sell their stuff in glass or harder, reusable plastic.

        • SlopppyEngineer@lemmy.world
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          1 day ago

          It would help if they’d stop blasting people with ads and marketing, the stuff designed to override people’s choices.

    • Noodle07@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      I’d buy a soda stream syrup instead of buying coca cola bottles but last time I checked it was slightly more expensive to do so

      • ayyy
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        12 hours ago

        Also SodaStream is an Israeli company with ties to forced labor in the West Bank :(

        • thatKamGuy
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          15 hours ago

          The issue is more the blatant profiteering off people looking to do the right thing.

          There is absolutely no reason for a small bottle of syrup to cost more per serve than buying multiple giant plastic bottles made up of 95% carbonated water.

          Matter of fact, it’s counter-intuitive as you usually are charged more for a convenience (ie. a ready to go beverage), versus buying the ingredients separately.

        • JohnEdwa@sopuli.xyz
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          20 hours ago

          True. But it shouldn’t be. At all.

          Bottling, shipping and stocking hundreds and hundreds of bottles of soft drinks that are 98% just water on the store shelf costs a hell of a lot more than putting a hundredth of the amount of syrup in a small bag and selling that. A sachet of sugar-free cola syrup would be smaller than a McDonald’s ketchup pouch, and cost a few cents.

      • HellsBelleOP
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        23 hours ago

        As I have diabetes I make my own soda. Just buy some good quality flavorings from a reputable shop and add them to club soda … or, if you like 7-up, just add a few drops of lemon and lime juice to club soda.

        For a sweetener I use stevia, but if you want sugar for your drink, boil some water and add a few tablespoons of sugar. Add some of that mix to the club soda mixture, to taste.

      • Zerlyna@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        I have one but it’s just not the same to me. And yes I needed to use so much syrup it’s not cost effective for me either.