New York sues PepsiCo over plastic pollution along river
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Ducks feeding in a mass of floating waste in New York's Buffalo River. Photo: New York Attorney General's office
New York's attorney general sued PepsiCo Wednesday, accusing the food and beverage giant of "endangering" people's health and the ecosystem with pollution from its single-use plastic products and making "misleading statements" about combating the problem.
The big picture: The lawsuit comes as negotiations on a landmark global plastic treaty kick into a new gear with a UN summit in Nairobi, Kenya, this week. PepsiCo was among over 70 brands that last year called for the adoption of the treat to cut production of the material.
- The company has pledged to aim to make all of its products 100% "recyclable, compostable, biodegradable or reusable" by 2025.
Driving the news: N.Y. AG Letitia James alleges in the suit that PepsiCo's single-use plastic products like Gatorade and Cheetos "significantly" contribute to high levels of plastic pollution along the Buffalo River, which she says is contaminating drinking water and harming wildlife.
- The lawsuit, filed in Buffalo, accuses the company of failing to warn consumers about the potential health and environmental risks of its single-use plastic packaging.
By the numbers: A 2022 waste survey found that of the 1,916 pieces of plastic trash collected with an identifiable brand, over 17% was produced by PepsiCo, according to James' office.
What they're saying: "No company is too big to ensure that their products do not damage our environment and public health," James said in a statement.
- "All New Yorkers have a basic right to clean water, yet PepsiCo's irresponsible packaging and marketing endanger Buffalo's water supply, environment, and public health."
- Representatives for PepsiCo did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
Go deeper: Global plastic waste expected to nearly triple by 2060
